Bats are a potential reservoir of pathogenic Leptospira species in Colombia

Introduction: Bats have become an epidemiologically significant source of pathogenic microorganisms, such as leptospires, the causative agents of leptospirosis. However, little information exists about bats and their potential role as a reservoir of pathogenic Leptospira spp. in Colombia. The aim o...

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Main Authors: Jose Mateus, Natalia Gómez, María Teresa Herrera-Sepúlveda, Marylin Hidalgo, Jairo Pérez-Torres, Claudia Cuervo
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: The Journal of Infection in Developing Countries 2019-04-01
Series:Journal of Infection in Developing Countries
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Online Access:https://jidc.org/index.php/journal/article/view/10642
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author Jose Mateus
Natalia Gómez
María Teresa Herrera-Sepúlveda
Marylin Hidalgo
Jairo Pérez-Torres
Claudia Cuervo
author_facet Jose Mateus
Natalia Gómez
María Teresa Herrera-Sepúlveda
Marylin Hidalgo
Jairo Pérez-Torres
Claudia Cuervo
author_sort Jose Mateus
collection DOAJ
description Introduction: Bats have become an epidemiologically significant source of pathogenic microorganisms, such as leptospires, the causative agents of leptospirosis. However, little information exists about bats and their potential role as a reservoir of pathogenic Leptospira spp. in Colombia. The aim of this study was to evaluate the presence of pathogenic Leptospira spp. in the kidneys of bats from the Caribbean region of Colombia deposited in the collection of mammals of the Museo Javeriano de Historia Natural (MPUJ-MAMM). Methodology: DNA was extracted from twenty-six kidney samples from a total of 13 species of bats captured in Colombia. First, 16S ribosomal RNA conventional PCR was performed to detect the presence of Leptospira spp. Then, in samples that tested positive, LipL32 PCR was performed to detect pathogenic Leptospira spp. by sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. Results: The presence of Leptospira spp. was observed in 7/26 (26.9%) bats from the following 6 species: Carollia perspicillata, Glossophaga soricina, Dermanura phaeotis, Uroderma bilobatum, Desmodus rotundus, and Lophostoma silvicolum, and pathogenic Leptospira spp. were detected in 4/26 samples (15.4%). Conclusions: This study suggests that bats present in the Caribbean region of Colombia could be potential reservoirs of pathogenic Leptospira spp.
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spelling doaj-art-d7deab4d08ae4bfc8d666b5446497d942025-08-20T02:27:09ZengThe Journal of Infection in Developing CountriesJournal of Infection in Developing Countries1972-26802019-04-01130410.3855/jidc.10642Bats are a potential reservoir of pathogenic Leptospira species in ColombiaJose Mateus0Natalia Gómez1María Teresa Herrera-Sepúlveda2Marylin Hidalgo3Jairo Pérez-Torres4Claudia Cuervo5Facultad de Ciencias, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, ColombiaFacultad de Ciencias, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, ColombiaFacultad de Ciencias, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, ColombiaFacultad de Ciencias, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, ColombiaUnidad de Ecología y Sistemática (UNESIS). Laboratorio de Ecología Funciona, Facultad de Ciencias, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, ColombiaFacultad de Ciencias, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, Colombia Introduction: Bats have become an epidemiologically significant source of pathogenic microorganisms, such as leptospires, the causative agents of leptospirosis. However, little information exists about bats and their potential role as a reservoir of pathogenic Leptospira spp. in Colombia. The aim of this study was to evaluate the presence of pathogenic Leptospira spp. in the kidneys of bats from the Caribbean region of Colombia deposited in the collection of mammals of the Museo Javeriano de Historia Natural (MPUJ-MAMM). Methodology: DNA was extracted from twenty-six kidney samples from a total of 13 species of bats captured in Colombia. First, 16S ribosomal RNA conventional PCR was performed to detect the presence of Leptospira spp. Then, in samples that tested positive, LipL32 PCR was performed to detect pathogenic Leptospira spp. by sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. Results: The presence of Leptospira spp. was observed in 7/26 (26.9%) bats from the following 6 species: Carollia perspicillata, Glossophaga soricina, Dermanura phaeotis, Uroderma bilobatum, Desmodus rotundus, and Lophostoma silvicolum, and pathogenic Leptospira spp. were detected in 4/26 samples (15.4%). Conclusions: This study suggests that bats present in the Caribbean region of Colombia could be potential reservoirs of pathogenic Leptospira spp. https://jidc.org/index.php/journal/article/view/10642Leptospira spp.batszoonotic diseaseleptospirosis
spellingShingle Jose Mateus
Natalia Gómez
María Teresa Herrera-Sepúlveda
Marylin Hidalgo
Jairo Pérez-Torres
Claudia Cuervo
Bats are a potential reservoir of pathogenic Leptospira species in Colombia
Journal of Infection in Developing Countries
Leptospira spp.
bats
zoonotic disease
leptospirosis
title Bats are a potential reservoir of pathogenic Leptospira species in Colombia
title_full Bats are a potential reservoir of pathogenic Leptospira species in Colombia
title_fullStr Bats are a potential reservoir of pathogenic Leptospira species in Colombia
title_full_unstemmed Bats are a potential reservoir of pathogenic Leptospira species in Colombia
title_short Bats are a potential reservoir of pathogenic Leptospira species in Colombia
title_sort bats are a potential reservoir of pathogenic leptospira species in colombia
topic Leptospira spp.
bats
zoonotic disease
leptospirosis
url https://jidc.org/index.php/journal/article/view/10642
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