The seroepidemiology of a neglected zoonotic and livestock pathogen in free-ranging bovids: Leptospirosis in African buffaloes (syncerus caffer)

Wynand Goosen; Mark Hamish Moseley; Tanya Jane Kerr; Andrew Potts; Michele Miller

doi:10.3390/pathogens10091072

The seroepidemiology of a neglected zoonotic and livestock pathogen in free-ranging bovids: Leptospirosis in African buffaloes (syncerus caffer)

Wynand Goosen, Mark Hamish Moseley^*, Tanya Jane Kerr, Andrew Potts, Michele Miller

^*Corresponding author for this work

Aberdeen Centre For Environmental Sustainability

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

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Abstract

Multi-host pathogens are challenging to control and are responsible for some of the most important diseases of humans, livestock, and wildlife. Leptospira spp. are some of the most common multi-host pathogens and represent an important cause of zoonotic infections and livestock productivity loss in the developing world, where contact with wildlife species is common. Although there is increasing evidence that cattle in Africa harbour a broad diversity of Leptospira genotypes and serovars, little is known about the epidemiology of these pathogens in wild bovids, such as African buffaloes (Syncerus caffer). Using microscopic agglutination testing (MAT) on serum samples collected from free-ranging buffaloes (n = 98) captured in the Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park (HiP), South Africa, we demonstrated an overall seroprevalence of 21% with seropositivity almost exclusively limited to serovar Tarassovi (serogroup Tarassovi). Moreover, we found no evidence of seropositivity in unweaned calves and showed temporal-or herd-specific variation in exposure risk, and increased probability of seropositivity (OR = 5.44, 95% CI = 1.4–27) in female buffaloes. Together, these findings demonstrate that free-ranging African buffaloes are exposed to Leptospira spp. infections, providing insights into the epidemiology of an emerging Leptospira serovar in herds with an absence of any disease control and minimal management.

Original language	English
Article number	1072
Number of pages	9
Journal	Pathogens
Volume	10
Issue number	9
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens10091072 https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens10091072/s1
Publication status	Published - 24 Aug 2021

Bibliographical note

Funding: This research was funded by Wellcome Trust, grant number 216634/Z/19/Z to M.H.M and grant number 222941/Z/21/Z to W.G. Sample collection and W.G, T.K., and M.M. were funded by the South African government through the South African Medical Research Council and the National Research Foundation South African Research Chair Initiative [grant #86949]. The APC was funded by the Wellcome Trust.

Author Contributions: Conceptualization, M.H.M., W.G. and M.M.; methodology, M.H.M., W.G., A.P. and M.M.; formal analysis, M.H.M. and W.G.; writing—original draft preparation, M.H.M.; writing—review and editing, W.G., A.P., T.J.K. and M.M.; visualization, M.H.M.; supervision, M.M.; project administration, M.H.M. and M.M.; funding acquisition, M.H.M. and M.M. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

Data Availability Statement

Supplementary Materials: The following are available online at https://www.mdpi.com/article/10.3390/pathogens10091072/s1, File S1: MAT results and metadata.csv.

Keywords

Africa
Disease ecology
Leptospirosis
Microscopic Agglutination Typing
One Health
Spillover
Zoonosis

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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Cite this

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title = "The seroepidemiology of a neglected zoonotic and livestock pathogen in free-ranging bovids: Leptospirosis in African buffaloes (syncerus caffer)",

abstract = "Multi-host pathogens are challenging to control and are responsible for some of the most important diseases of humans, livestock, and wildlife. Leptospira spp. are some of the most common multi-host pathogens and represent an important cause of zoonotic infections and livestock productivity loss in the developing world, where contact with wildlife species is common. Although there is increasing evidence that cattle in Africa harbour a broad diversity of Leptospira genotypes and serovars, little is known about the epidemiology of these pathogens in wild bovids, such as African buffaloes (Syncerus caffer). Using microscopic agglutination testing (MAT) on serum samples collected from free-ranging buffaloes (n = 98) captured in the Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park (HiP), South Africa, we demonstrated an overall seroprevalence of 21% with seropositivity almost exclusively limited to serovar Tarassovi (serogroup Tarassovi). Moreover, we found no evidence of seropositivity in unweaned calves and showed temporal-or herd-specific variation in exposure risk, and increased probability of seropositivity (OR = 5.44, 95% CI = 1.4–27) in female buffaloes. Together, these findings demonstrate that free-ranging African buffaloes are exposed to Leptospira spp. infections, providing insights into the epidemiology of an emerging Leptospira serovar in herds with an absence of any disease control and minimal management.",

keywords = "Africa, Disease ecology, Leptospirosis, Microscopic Agglutination Typing, One Health, Spillover, Zoonosis",

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note = "Funding: This research was funded by Wellcome Trust, grant number 216634/Z/19/Z to M.H.M and grant number 222941/Z/21/Z to W.G. Sample collection and W.G, T.K., and M.M. were funded by the South African government through the South African Medical Research Council and the National Research Foundation South African Research Chair Initiative [grant #86949]. The APC was funded by the Wellcome Trust. Author Contributions: Conceptualization, M.H.M., W.G. and M.M.; methodology, M.H.M., W.G., A.P. and M.M.; formal analysis, M.H.M. and W.G.; writing—original draft preparation, M.H.M.; writing—review and editing, W.G., A.P., T.J.K. and M.M.; visualization, M.H.M.; supervision, M.M.; project administration, M.H.M. and M.M.; funding acquisition, M.H.M. and M.M. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript. ",

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The seroepidemiology of a neglected zoonotic and livestock pathogen in free-ranging bovids: Leptospirosis in African buffaloes (syncerus caffer)

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Data Availability Statement

Keywords

UN SDGs

Access to Document

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