Bats are a potential reservoir of pathogenic leptospira species in Colombia

Jose Mateus, Natalia Gómez, María Teresa Herrera-Sepúlveda, Marylin Hidalgo, Jairo Pérez-Torres, Claudia Cuervo

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

18 Scopus citations

Abstract

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.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)278-283
Number of pages6
JournalJournal of Infection in Developing Countries
Volume13
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 2019

Keywords

  • Bats
  • Leptospira spp.
  • Leptospirosis
  • Zoonotic disease

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