Sains Malaysiana 52(5)(2023): 1383-1395

http://doi.org/10.17576/jsm-2023-5205-05

Detection of Leptospira wolffii in Water and Soil on Livestock Farms in Kelantan After a Massive Flood

(Pengesanan Leptospira wolffii dalam Air dan Tanah di Ladang Ternakan di Kelantan Selepas Banjir Besar)

MOHAMMAD SABRI ABDUL RAHMAN^1,3, SITI KHAIRANI BEJO^1,*, ZUNITA ZAKARIA¹, LATIFFAH HASSAN² & MOHD AZRI ROSLAN¹

¹Department of Veterinary Pathology & Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia

²Department of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnostics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia

³Department of Veterinary Diagnostics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Malaysia Kelantan, 16100 Kota Bharu, Kelantan Darul Naim, Malaysia

Received: 13 August 2022/Accepted: 28 April 2023

Abstract

Pathogenic leptospires cause leptospirosis in both animals and humans around the world. Humans can be infected by leptospires through direct contact with infected animals or indirect contact with leptospires contaminated water or soil. Outbreaks of leptospirosis usually occur after heavy rainfall and flooding, particularly in endemic areas. The aim of this study was to detect the presence of leptospires in water and soil in livestock farms after a massive flood in Kelantan. Samples were collected from 28 livestock farms in Kelantan, comprising 62 water samples and 62 soil samples, respectively. The samples were filtered and inoculated into a semisolid EMJH medium containing 5-FU for the isolation of Leptospira spp. The Leptospira spp. isolates were then identified using classical methods (1M NaCl, 8-azaguanine, and 13 °C), serology (MAT), multiplex polymerase chain reaction (mPCR), and DNA sequencing. The classical identification methods showed varying results and failed to differentiate between pathogenic and non-pathogenic leptospires. MAT showed the isolates reactions against serovars Autumnalis, Hebdomadis, Pyrogenes, Bataviae, Patoc, and Wolffii. However, mPCR showed that all isolates were non-pathogenic Leptospira spp. Further identification using DNA sequencing found that all isolates were identified as Leptospira wolffii, an intermediate species of Leptospira. The presence of L. wolffii in water and soil provides evidence that this species is circulating in the environment and could potentially transmit to humans and animals.

Keywords: Flood; Kelantan; Leptospirosis; soil; water

Abstrak

Patogen Leptospira menyebabkan Leptospirosis pada haiwan dan manusia di seluruh dunia. Manusia boleh dijangkiti bakteria ini melalui sentuhan langsung dengan haiwan yang dijangkiti atau melalui sentuhan tidak langsung dengan air atau tanah yang tercemar. Wabak leptospirosis biasanya berlaku selepas hujan lebat dan banjir, terutamanya di kawasan endemik. Matlamat kajian ini adalah untuk mengesan kehadiran Leptospira dalam air dan tanah di ladang ternakan selepas banjir besar di Kelantan. Sampel diperoleh daripada 28 ladang ternakan di Kelantan yang masing-masing terdiri daripada 62 sampel air dan 62 sampel tanah. Sampel ditapis dan diinokulasi ke dalam medium EMJH separa pepejal yang mengandungi 5-FU untuk pemencilan Leptospira spp. Pencilan Leptospira spp. kemudiannya dikenal pasti menggunakan kaedah klasik (1M NaCl, 8-azaguanine, dan 13°C), serologi (MAT), tindak balas berantai polimerase multipleks (mPCR) dan penjujukan DNA. Kaedah pengesanan klasik memberikan hasil yang berlainan dan gagal membezakan antara Leptospira patogen dan bukan patogen. MAT menunjukkan tindak balas terpencil terhadap serovars Autumnalis, Hebdomadis, Pyrogenes, Bataviae, Patoc, dan Wolffii. Walau bagaimanapun, mPCR menunjukkan bahawa semua pencilan adalah Leptospira spp. yang tidak patogen. Pengecaman lanjut menggunakan penjujukan DNA mendapati bahawa semua pencilan dikenal pasti sebagai L. wolffii, spesies perantaraan Leptospira. Kehadiran L. wolffii dalam air dan tanah menunjukkan bahawa spesies ini beredar dalam alam sekitar dan berpotensi untuk menular kepada manusia dan haiwan.

Kata kunci: Air; banjir; Kelantan; Leptospirosis; tanah

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^*Corresponding author; email: skhairani@upm.edu.my