ARS | Publication request: CHARACTERIZATION OF LEPTOSPIRA ISOLATED FROM HUMANS AND ANIMALS DURING A LEPTOSPIROSIS EPIDEMIC IN NICARAGUA

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: September 13, 1996
Publication Date: N/A

Technical Abstract: Pathogenic leptospires were isolated from four humans, six dogs, a mouse, and a pig during a large outbreak of leptospirosis in rural Nicaragua during 1995. The outbreak was unusual in the Americas because of the presence of pulmonary hemorrhage as a predominant clinical sign in affected persons. Leptospiral isolates were characterized using serologic and molecular methods including 16s rRNA sequencing, restriction endonuclease analysis, and PCR. Isolates from two humans, five dogs, and a mouse were found to be similar to each other and to be in the Canicola serogroup. The porcine isolate was identified as L. interrogans serovar pomona type kennewicki. Two human isolates are members of L. santarosai by 16s rRNA sequencing and have serologic reactivity with members of serogroup Pyrogenes. One dog isolate has serologic reactivity with Canicola and Icterohaemorrhagiae serovars. These isolates are being identified by cross-agglutination absorption.