Detection of Leptospira in urine of apparently healthy dogs by quantitative polymerase chain reaction in Haryana, India.

Kanisht Batra,Aman Kumar,Preeti Rohilla,Rajesh Khurana,Renu Gupta

doi:10.14202/vetworld.2020.2411-2415

Kanisht Batra, Aman Kumar

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.14202/vetworld.2020.2411-2415

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Abstract

Background and Aim:Leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease caused by bacteria of the genus Leptospira. The organism can spread through the urine of infected animals, which can get into water or soil and can survive there for weeks to months. The study was undertaken to detect the pathogenic Leptospira in healthy dogs’ urinary shedding by real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR).Materials and Methods:Leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease caused by bacteria of the genus Leptospira. To detect the pathogenic Leptospira organisms in dogs’ urinary shedding, 239 urine samples were collected from healthy dogs from April 2018 to March 2019 from different areas of Haryana. All the urine samples were processed for DNA extraction and qPCR technique was used to detect the presence of Leptospira.Results:Out of 239 urine samples of dogs, none of the samples resulted in the detection of DNA of pathogenic Leptospira organisms.Conclusion:The present study indicated low risk of transmission of Leptospira organisms from dogs’ urine to human beings in Haryana.

Highlights

Leptospirosis is an emerging and anthropozoonotic disease that mostly occurs in an acute form
Out of 239 urine samples of dogs, none of the samples resulted in the detection of DNA of pathogenic Leptospira organisms
The present study indicated low risk of transmission of Leptospira organisms from dogs’ urine to human beings in Haryana

Summary

Introduction

Leptospirosis is an emerging and anthropozoonotic disease that mostly occurs in an acute form. It is globally found in all mammalian species [1,2]. The exposure to infection of leptospirosis is prevalent worldwide and the disease is endemic in some tropical and subtropical regions [3]. Rats, cattle, and buffaloes are the maintenance hosts for leptospirosis. In chronic form of the disease, pathogenic Leptospira colonize the renal tubules of maintenance hosts. It is an occupational disease; humans accidentally come in contact with carrier animals or environment contaminated with leptospires [4,5]. The study was undertaken to detect the pathogenic Leptospira in healthy dogs’ urinary shedding by real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR)

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