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Identification of Pathogenic Leptospira Strains in Tissues of a Premature Foal by Use of Polymerase Chain Reaction Analysis

2006; SAGE Publishing; Volume: 18; Issue: 2 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1177/104063870601800216

1943-4936

Albertine Léon, Stéphane Pronost, Jackie Tapprest, Nathalie Foucher, B. Blanchard, Geneviève André‐Fontaine, Claire Laugier, Guillaume Fortier, Roland Leclercq,

Veterinary medicine and infectious diseases

Studies were carried out to determine the cause of death in a prematurely born Thoroughbred foal that died 24 hours after birth. Necropsy revealed gross lesions suggestive of septicemia. A commercial Leptospira polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay designed to specifically amplify the hemolysis-associated protein 1 ( hap1) gene present only in pathogenic Leptospira strains detected the presence of Leptospira DNA in various tissues of the foal. Histologic examination of lung, liver, kidney, and myocardium revealed numerous spirochetes in Warthin–Starry-stained tissue sections. Results of PCR analysis and histologic examination suggested a leptospiral infection in the newborn foal. At the moment of death, the infection coexisted with a streptococcal-associated aspiration bronchopneumonia and postpartum septicemia. These findings indicate that the PCR assay based on the amplification of the hap1 gene represents a useful tool for specific detection of pathogenic leptospira in field samples taken from horses.