How Is Bovine Genital Leptospirosis Diagnosed Under Field Conditions?

Bovine genital leptospirosis (BGL) is a chronic reproductive disease in cattle, often causing significant economic losses, and is commonly associated with leptospiral strains belonging to the Sejroe serogroup. A two-step protocol was recommended, based on serological screening of the herds followed...

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Main Authors: Juliana Pedrosa, Julia Mendes, José Zambrano, Filipe Aníbal Carvalho-Costa, Maria Isabel Nogueira Di Azevedo, Luiza Aymée, Walter Lilenbaum
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-02-01
Series:Animals
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/3/443
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author Juliana Pedrosa
Julia Mendes
José Zambrano
Filipe Aníbal Carvalho-Costa
Maria Isabel Nogueira Di Azevedo
Luiza Aymée
Walter Lilenbaum
author_facet Juliana Pedrosa
Julia Mendes
José Zambrano
Filipe Aníbal Carvalho-Costa
Maria Isabel Nogueira Di Azevedo
Luiza Aymée
Walter Lilenbaum
author_sort Juliana Pedrosa
collection DOAJ
description Bovine genital leptospirosis (BGL) is a chronic reproductive disease in cattle, often causing significant economic losses, and is commonly associated with leptospiral strains belonging to the Sejroe serogroup. A two-step protocol was recommended, based on serological screening of the herds followed by an individual diagnosis with PCR of a genital sample. Although proposed, it has not been commonly applied under field conditions, leading to frustrating outcomes in disease control. In that context, the present study aimed to demonstrate the viability of that two-step protocol under field conditions for diagnosing BGL in eight herds with reproductive disorders. Blood samples were collected from 440 cows for serology. In addition, 304 cervicovaginal mucus (CVM) samples were collected for <i>lip</i>L32-PCR and 11 samples were sequenced of the <i>sec</i>Y gene. All herds showed high seroreactivity, mainly against the serogroup Sejroe. In addition, 113 of the 304 CVM samples (37.2%) were PCR-positive. DNA sequencing of 11 positive samples based on the <i>sec</i>Y gene revealed maximum identity (100%) with <i>L. interrogans</i> species. This study found CVM sampling quick and easy, making it practical for field use. Overall, the results support the two-step protocol serological screening followed by CVM-PCR testing as an efficient and reliable method for diagnosing BGL in herds with reproductive disorders in field conditions.
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spelling doaj-art-83ba6affd9754ad99bab1fba3abc46bb2025-08-20T02:48:09ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152025-02-0115344310.3390/ani15030443How Is Bovine Genital Leptospirosis Diagnosed Under Field Conditions?Juliana Pedrosa0Julia Mendes1José Zambrano2Filipe Aníbal Carvalho-Costa3Maria Isabel Nogueira Di Azevedo4Luiza Aymée5Walter Lilenbaum6Laboratory of Veterinary Bacteriology, Biomedical Institute of Fluminense Federal University, Niterói 24220-900, RJ, BrazilLaboratory of Veterinary Bacteriology, Biomedical Institute of Fluminense Federal University, Niterói 24220-900, RJ, BrazilZambrano Herd Consulting Corporation, Belo Horizonte 30421-300, MG, BrazilLaboratory of Epidemiology and Molecular Systematics, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro 21040-90, RJ, BrazilLaboratory of Veterinary Bacteriology, Biomedical Institute of Fluminense Federal University, Niterói 24220-900, RJ, BrazilLaboratory of Veterinary Bacteriology, Biomedical Institute of Fluminense Federal University, Niterói 24220-900, RJ, BrazilLaboratory of Veterinary Bacteriology, Biomedical Institute of Fluminense Federal University, Niterói 24220-900, RJ, BrazilBovine genital leptospirosis (BGL) is a chronic reproductive disease in cattle, often causing significant economic losses, and is commonly associated with leptospiral strains belonging to the Sejroe serogroup. A two-step protocol was recommended, based on serological screening of the herds followed by an individual diagnosis with PCR of a genital sample. Although proposed, it has not been commonly applied under field conditions, leading to frustrating outcomes in disease control. In that context, the present study aimed to demonstrate the viability of that two-step protocol under field conditions for diagnosing BGL in eight herds with reproductive disorders. Blood samples were collected from 440 cows for serology. In addition, 304 cervicovaginal mucus (CVM) samples were collected for <i>lip</i>L32-PCR and 11 samples were sequenced of the <i>sec</i>Y gene. All herds showed high seroreactivity, mainly against the serogroup Sejroe. In addition, 113 of the 304 CVM samples (37.2%) were PCR-positive. DNA sequencing of 11 positive samples based on the <i>sec</i>Y gene revealed maximum identity (100%) with <i>L. interrogans</i> species. This study found CVM sampling quick and easy, making it practical for field use. Overall, the results support the two-step protocol serological screening followed by CVM-PCR testing as an efficient and reliable method for diagnosing BGL in herds with reproductive disorders in field conditions.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/3/443bovineleptospirosisdiagnosismicroscopic agglutination testingPCR
spellingShingle Juliana Pedrosa
Julia Mendes
José Zambrano
Filipe Aníbal Carvalho-Costa
Maria Isabel Nogueira Di Azevedo
Luiza Aymée
Walter Lilenbaum
How Is Bovine Genital Leptospirosis Diagnosed Under Field Conditions?
Animals
bovine
leptospirosis
diagnosis
microscopic agglutination testing
PCR
title How Is Bovine Genital Leptospirosis Diagnosed Under Field Conditions?
title_full How Is Bovine Genital Leptospirosis Diagnosed Under Field Conditions?
title_fullStr How Is Bovine Genital Leptospirosis Diagnosed Under Field Conditions?
title_full_unstemmed How Is Bovine Genital Leptospirosis Diagnosed Under Field Conditions?
title_short How Is Bovine Genital Leptospirosis Diagnosed Under Field Conditions?
title_sort how is bovine genital leptospirosis diagnosed under field conditions
topic bovine
leptospirosis
diagnosis
microscopic agglutination testing
PCR
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/3/443
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