Molecular characterization of pathogenic Leptospira sp. in small mammals captured from the human leptospirosis suspected areas of Selangor state, Malaysia
Leptospirosis is caused by the spirochetal bacterium Leptospira of which rodents are considered the most important reservoir. This study aims to determine and characterize virulent Leptospira species among rodents and small mammals found in human settlements and recreational spots within the Hulu La...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2018
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| Online Access: | http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/75015/ http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/75015/1/Molecular%20characterization%20of%20pathogenic%20Leptospira%20sp.%20in%20small%20mammals%20captured%20from%20the%20human%20leptospirosis%20suspected%20areas%20of%20Selangor%20state%2C%20Malaysia.pdf |
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| author | Azhari, Nurul Natasya Ramli, Siti Nur Alia Joseph, Narcisse Philip, Noraini |
| author_facet | Azhari, Nurul Natasya Ramli, Siti Nur Alia Joseph, Narcisse Philip, Noraini |
| author_sort | Azhari, Nurul Natasya |
| building | UPM Institutional Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | Leptospirosis is caused by the spirochetal bacterium Leptospira of which rodents are considered the most important reservoir. This study aims to determine and characterize virulent Leptospira species among rodents and small mammals found in human settlements and recreational spots within the Hulu Langat and Gombak districts of Selangor, Malaysia; regions that frequently report probable human leptospirosis cases. Molecular analysis revealed an overall Leptospira detection rate of 14.3% among the 266 small mammals captured, and the human settlements were found to have the highest number of isolates (15.1%), followed by recreational sites (14.5%). The molecular characterization conducted based on the lipL32, secY genes and MLST revealed that the strains belonged to four different species, including; Leptospira interrogans (29; 76.3%; ST50, ST238, ST243), L. kirschneri (5; 13.15%; ST110), L. borgpetersenii (3; 8%; ST143) and L. weilii (1; 2.63%; ST242). The study revealed genotypes of circulating strains among small mammals in Malaysia, which include Leptospira locus ST110 L. kirschneri, ST 50 L. interrogans, ST143 L. borgpetersenii and ST242 L. weilii. Among the small mammals studied, 17/105 (16.2%) Rattus norvegicus, 7/59 (11.9%) of Rattus rattus, 5/24 (20.8%) of Maxomys whiteheadi, 4/18 (22.2%) of Sundamys muelleri, 2/22 (9%), Tupaia gliss, 2/16 (12.5%) Rattus tiomanicus and 1/4 (25%) of Suncus murinus carried pathogenic leptospires. The data from the present study may imply that, in addition to rodents, other small mammals also serve as maintenance hosts for Leptospira. Hence, much remains unknown about Leptospira maintenance hosts, and there is need for further investigation to ascertain the prevailing serovars of pathogenic Leptospira in Malaysia. This will assist in the development of efficient diagnostic assays with improved microscopic agglutination test (MAT) panels, and in the implementation of suitable prevention and control measures. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-15T11:59:56Z |
| format | Article |
| id | upm-75015 |
| institution | Universiti Putra Malaysia |
| institution_category | Local University |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-15T11:59:56Z |
| publishDate | 2018 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
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| spelling | upm-750152019-11-28T06:54:39Z http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/75015/ Molecular characterization of pathogenic Leptospira sp. in small mammals captured from the human leptospirosis suspected areas of Selangor state, Malaysia Azhari, Nurul Natasya Ramli, Siti Nur Alia Joseph, Narcisse Philip, Noraini Leptospirosis is caused by the spirochetal bacterium Leptospira of which rodents are considered the most important reservoir. This study aims to determine and characterize virulent Leptospira species among rodents and small mammals found in human settlements and recreational spots within the Hulu Langat and Gombak districts of Selangor, Malaysia; regions that frequently report probable human leptospirosis cases. Molecular analysis revealed an overall Leptospira detection rate of 14.3% among the 266 small mammals captured, and the human settlements were found to have the highest number of isolates (15.1%), followed by recreational sites (14.5%). The molecular characterization conducted based on the lipL32, secY genes and MLST revealed that the strains belonged to four different species, including; Leptospira interrogans (29; 76.3%; ST50, ST238, ST243), L. kirschneri (5; 13.15%; ST110), L. borgpetersenii (3; 8%; ST143) and L. weilii (1; 2.63%; ST242). The study revealed genotypes of circulating strains among small mammals in Malaysia, which include Leptospira locus ST110 L. kirschneri, ST 50 L. interrogans, ST143 L. borgpetersenii and ST242 L. weilii. Among the small mammals studied, 17/105 (16.2%) Rattus norvegicus, 7/59 (11.9%) of Rattus rattus, 5/24 (20.8%) of Maxomys whiteheadi, 4/18 (22.2%) of Sundamys muelleri, 2/22 (9%), Tupaia gliss, 2/16 (12.5%) Rattus tiomanicus and 1/4 (25%) of Suncus murinus carried pathogenic leptospires. The data from the present study may imply that, in addition to rodents, other small mammals also serve as maintenance hosts for Leptospira. Hence, much remains unknown about Leptospira maintenance hosts, and there is need for further investigation to ascertain the prevailing serovars of pathogenic Leptospira in Malaysia. This will assist in the development of efficient diagnostic assays with improved microscopic agglutination test (MAT) panels, and in the implementation of suitable prevention and control measures. Elsevier 2018-12 Article PeerReviewed text en http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/75015/1/Molecular%20characterization%20of%20pathogenic%20Leptospira%20sp.%20in%20small%20mammals%20captured%20from%20the%20human%20leptospirosis%20suspected%20areas%20of%20Selangor%20state%2C%20Malaysia.pdf Azhari, Nurul Natasya and Ramli, Siti Nur Alia and Joseph, Narcisse and Philip, Noraini (2018) Molecular characterization of pathogenic Leptospira sp. in small mammals captured from the human leptospirosis suspected areas of Selangor state, Malaysia. Acta Tropica, 188. 68 - 77. ISSN 0001-706X, ESSN: 1873-6254 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0001706X18308143?via%3Dihub 10.1016/j.actatropica.2018.08.020 |
| spellingShingle | Azhari, Nurul Natasya Ramli, Siti Nur Alia Joseph, Narcisse Philip, Noraini Molecular characterization of pathogenic Leptospira sp. in small mammals captured from the human leptospirosis suspected areas of Selangor state, Malaysia |
| title | Molecular characterization of pathogenic Leptospira sp. in small mammals captured from the human leptospirosis suspected areas of Selangor state, Malaysia |
| title_full | Molecular characterization of pathogenic Leptospira sp. in small mammals captured from the human leptospirosis suspected areas of Selangor state, Malaysia |
| title_fullStr | Molecular characterization of pathogenic Leptospira sp. in small mammals captured from the human leptospirosis suspected areas of Selangor state, Malaysia |
| title_full_unstemmed | Molecular characterization of pathogenic Leptospira sp. in small mammals captured from the human leptospirosis suspected areas of Selangor state, Malaysia |
| title_short | Molecular characterization of pathogenic Leptospira sp. in small mammals captured from the human leptospirosis suspected areas of Selangor state, Malaysia |
| title_sort | molecular characterization of pathogenic leptospira sp. in small mammals captured from the human leptospirosis suspected areas of selangor state, malaysia |
| url | http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/75015/ http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/75015/ http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/75015/ http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/75015/1/Molecular%20characterization%20of%20pathogenic%20Leptospira%20sp.%20in%20small%20mammals%20captured%20from%20the%20human%20leptospirosis%20suspected%20areas%20of%20Selangor%20state%2C%20Malaysia.pdf |