Brihuega Bibiana, Samartino Luis, Auteri Carmelo, Venzano Agustín, Caimi Karina
Instituto de Patología, CICVyA, INTA Castelar (1712) Hurlingham, Buenos Aires Province, Argentina.
Rev Argent Microbiol. 2012 Jul-Sep;44(3):138-43.
Leptospirosis is a zoonosis of ubiquitous distribution caused by spirochetes. Leptospires exist either as saprophytic water-associated organisms or as animal pathogens that can survive in water. Previous works have demonstrated that both saprophytic and pathogenic leptospires are able to produce functional biofilms, which consist of a community of bacteria embedded in an extracellular matrix attached to a surface. This structure is believed to provide protection from environmental aggressiveness. In the present study, we analyzed the capacity of biofilm formation both of a a recent field isolate of Leptospira interrogans serovar Pomona obtained from an aborted swine fetus and of the saprophytic Leptospira biflexa serovar Patoc. We used light microscopy, immunofluorescence, and scanning electron microscopic examinations on glass and polystyrene plate models to evaluate the process in vitro. The ability to form bacterial aggregations in vivo was tested using pregnant guinea pigs infected with both strains. We obtained biofilms both on glass and plastic surfaces. Scanning electron microscopic analysis showed differences in the biofilm structure formed by both strains. L. interrogans serovar Pomona cell aggregations were observed in placental tissues by light microscopy. Biofilms and cell aggregations are consistent with the life of saprophytic strains in water and could help pathogenic strains to colonize the host and lead to abortion in pregnant animals.
钩端螺旋体病是一种由螺旋体引起的广泛分布的人畜共患病。钩端螺旋体既可以作为与水相关的腐生生物存在，也可以作为能在水中存活的动物病原体存在。先前的研究表明，腐生型和致病型钩端螺旋体都能够产生功能性生物膜，生物膜由嵌入附着在表面的细胞外基质中的细菌群落组成。据信这种结构能提供对环境侵害的保护。在本研究中，我们分析了从流产猪胎儿中获得的问号钩端螺旋体波摩那血清型的近期野外分离株以及腐生型双曲钩端螺旋体帕托克血清型形成生物膜的能力。我们在玻璃和聚苯乙烯平板模型上使用光学显微镜、免疫荧光和扫描电子显微镜检查来评估体外过程。使用感染了这两种菌株的怀孕豚鼠来测试在体内形成细菌聚集体的能力。我们在玻璃和塑料表面都获得了生物膜。扫描电子显微镜分析显示两种菌株形成的生物膜结构存在差异。通过光学显微镜在胎盘组织中观察到了问号钩端螺旋体波摩那血清型的细胞聚集体。生物膜和细胞聚集体与腐生菌株在水中的生存情况一致，并且可能有助于致病菌株在宿主体内定殖并导致怀孕动物流产。
