Recovery of leptospires from miniature pigs experimentally infected with Leptospira interrogans serovar Manilae strain UP-MMC under immunosuppressive conditions by dexamethasone

J Vet Med Sci. 2012 Jul;74(7):955-8. doi: 10.1292/jvms.11-0537. Epub 2012 Mar 9.

Abstract

Leptospira interrogans serovar Manilae strain UP-MMC was inoculated into miniature pigs to assess its pathogenicity. Leptospires were recovered from the whole blood, kidneys, and livers in the acute phase without showing any clinical signs. Under immunosuppressive conditions by dexamethasone, leptospires were recovered from the kidneys and their genes were detected from the urine in the chronic phase. These results indicate that leptospires persisted in the kidneys until the chronic phase, and excretion of leptospires in the urine was enhanced under immunosuppressive conditions, resulting in horizontal transmission among pigs on farms.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bacterial Proteins / genetics
  • Bacterial Proteins / metabolism*
  • Body Temperature
  • DNA Primers / genetics
  • Dexamethasone / metabolism*
  • Female
  • Immunosuppression Therapy
  • Kidney / microbiology
  • Leptospira interrogans / pathogenicity*
  • Liver / microbiology
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Swine
  • Swine, Miniature / microbiology*
  • Virulence

Substances

  • Bacterial Proteins
  • DNA Primers
  • leptospirin
  • Dexamethasone