<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<sec>
<h3>Introduction</h3>
<p>Strains of <italic>Leptospira interrogans</italic> belonging to two very closely related serovars, Icterohaemorrhagiae and Copenhageni, have been associated with disease in mammalian species and are the most frequently reported agents of human leptospirosis. They are considered the most pathogenic serovars and represent more than half of the leptospires encountered in severe human infections.</p>
</sec>
<sec>
<h3>Material and Methods</h3>
<p>Nineteen such isolates from the United Kingdom – human, domestic and wildlife species – were typed using three monoclonal antibodies (F12 C3, F70 C14 and F70 C24) in an attempt to elucidate their epidemiology. They were further examined by restriction endonuclease analysis (REA), multiple-locus variable-number tandem repeat analysis (MLVA) and lic12008 gene sequence analysis.</p>
</sec>
<sec>
<h3>Results</h3>
<p>Monoclonal antibody F12 C3, which is highly specific for Icterohaemorrhagiae and Copenhageni, confirmed that all the strains belonged to these two serovars. Sixteen strains were identified as Copenhageni and three as Icterohaemorrhagiae serovar. Only one restriction pattern type was identified, thus confirming that REA is not able to discriminate between the Icterohaemorrhagiae and Copenhageni serovars. Variable-number tandem-repeat analysis found three loci with differences in the repeat number, indicating genetic diversity between British isolates. Sequences of the lic12008 gene showed that all isolates identified as the Icterohaemorrhagiae serotype have a single base insertion, in contrast to the same sequences of the Copenhageni serotype.</p>
</sec>
<sec>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>Copenhageni is the predominant serovar in the Icterohaemorrhagiae serogroup isolated in British Isles. There is a genetic diversity of MLVA patterns of the isolates but no genetic tool used in the study was able to determine serovars.</p>
</sec>
</abstract>

Introduction
Strains of Leptospira interrogans belonging to two very closely related serovars, Icterohaemorrhagiae and Copenhageni, have been associated with disease in mammalian species and are the most frequently reported agents of human leptospirosis. They are considered the most pathogenic serovars and represent more than half of the leptospires encountered in severe human infections.


Material and Methods
Nineteen such isolates from the United Kingdom – human, domestic and wildlife species – were typed using three monoclonal antibodies (F12 C3, F70 C14 and F70 C24) in an attempt to elucidate their epidemiology. They were further examined by restriction endonuclease analysis (REA), multiple-locus variable-number tandem repeat analysis (MLVA) and lic12008 gene sequence analysis.


Results
Monoclonal antibody F12 C3, which is highly specific for Icterohaemorrhagiae and Copenhageni, confirmed that all the strains belonged to these two serovars. Sixteen strains were identified as Copenhageni and three as Icterohaemorrhagiae serovar. Only one restriction pattern type was identified, thus confirming that REA is not able to discriminate between the Icterohaemorrhagiae and Copenhageni serovars. Variable-number tandem-repeat analysis found three loci with differences in the repeat number, indicating genetic diversity between British isolates. Sequences of the lic12008 gene showed that all isolates identified as the Icterohaemorrhagiae serotype have a single base insertion, in contrast to the same sequences of the Copenhageni serotype.


Conclusion
Copenhageni is the predominant serovar in the Icterohaemorrhagiae serogroup isolated in British Isles. There is a genetic diversity of MLVA patterns of the isolates but no genetic tool used in the study was able to determine serovars.

The serological and genetic diversity of the <italic>Leptospira interrogans</italic> Icterohaemorrhagiae serogroup circulating in the UK

Journal of Veterinary Research

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

The serological and genetic diversity of the  Icterohaemorrhagiae serogroup circulating in the UK

Introduction
Strains of Leptospira interrogans belonging to two very closely related serovars, Icterohaemorrhagiae and Copenhageni, have been associated with...

The serological and genetic diversity of the Leptospira interrogans Icterohaemorrhagiae serogroup circulating in the UK

Published Online: Dec 19, 2023

Page range: 529 - 536

Received: Jun 12, 2023

Accepted: Nov 06, 2023

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/jvetres-2023-0063

Keywords
leptospirosis, Icterohaemorrhagiae, Copenhageni, animal pathogens

© 2023 Zbigniew Arent et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

The serological and genetic diversity of the Leptospira interrogans Icterohaemorrhagiae serogroup circulating in the UK

Published Online: Dec 19, 2023

Page range: 529 - 536

Received: Jun 12, 2023

Accepted: Nov 06, 2023

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/jvetres-2023-0063

Keywordsleptospirosis, Icterohaemorrhagiae, Copenhageni, animal pathogens

© 2023 Zbigniew Arent et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
leptospirosis, Icterohaemorrhagiae, Copenhageni, animal pathogens