Culture-Independent Detection and Identification of Serovars.

Pathogenic , the causative agents of leptospirosis, comprise >200 serotypes (called serovars). Most have a restricted reservoir-host range, and some, e.g.

Serological and molecular epidemiology of leptospirosis and the role of dogs as sentinel for human infection in Nigeria.

Objective: Prospective cross-sectional study of dogs in Nigeria to study leptospirosis, inferred to be endemic in all regions of the country by researchers. Aim is to generate empirical updated evidence of leptospiral infection and delineate serovars involved.

Methods: Study determined the sero-prevalence and infection rate in 342 dogs using sero-assays, culture isolation and novel qPCR.

Experimental Infection of by the Group II Intermediate Pathogen, .

serovar Varillal, a group II intermediate pathogen species/serovar discovered in the Peruvian Amazon city of Iquitos, is commonly recognized in this region by sera from humans (at least 40% seroprevalence) without a known clinical history of leptospirosis. This high frequency of human seroreactivity remains unexplained. To test the hypothesis that the oral route of infection might explain the high rate of human seroreactivity against , an experimental infection model using was developed, given that rats were one of the original reservoir hosts identified as being colonized by this leptospire.