Dias Carla Silva, Pinna Melissa Hanzen
Postgraduate Program in Animal Science in the Tropics - Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil.
Appl Environ Microbiol. 2025 Feb 19;91(2):e0191424. doi: 10.1128/aem.01914-24. Epub 2025 Jan 10.
Leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease caused by bacteria, affecting humans and a broad range of wild and domestic animals in diverse epidemiological settings (rural, urban, and wild). The disease's pathogenesis and epidemiology are complex networks not fully elucidated. Epidemiology reflects the One Health integrated approach of environment-animal-human interaction, causing severe illness in humans and animals, with consequent public health burdens. Saprophytic and pathogenic leptospires have been shown to form biofilms , and in environmental samples. Biofilms are characterized by a polymeric matrix that confers protection against hostile environments (both inside and outside of the host), favoring bacterial survival and dissemination. Despite its significance, the role of this bacterial growth mode in leptospiral survival, transmission, and decreased antibiotic susceptibility remains poorly understood and underexplored. Even so, the literature indicates that biofilms might be correlated with lower antimicrobial susceptibility and chronicity in leptospirosis. In this minireview, we discuss the aspects of biofilm formation by and their significance for epidemiology and therapeutic management. Understanding the current scenario provides insight into the future prospects for biofilm diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of leptospirosis.
钩端螺旋体病是一种由细菌引起的人畜共患病,在不同的流行病学环境(农村、城市和野外)中影响人类以及广泛的野生动物和家畜。该疾病的发病机制和流行病学是尚未完全阐明的复杂网络。流行病学反映了环境-动物-人类相互作用的“同一健康”综合方法,会导致人类和动物患上严重疾病,从而带来公共卫生负担。腐生型和致病型钩端螺旋体已被证明能在环境样本中形成生物膜。生物膜的特征是具有一种聚合物基质,可保护细菌免受恶劣环境(宿主内外)的影响,有利于细菌的存活和传播。尽管其具有重要意义,但这种细菌生长模式在钩端螺旋体存活、传播以及抗生素敏感性降低方面所起的作用仍了解甚少且研究不足。即便如此,文献表明生物膜可能与钩端螺旋体病较低的抗菌药物敏感性和慢性病程相关。在这篇小型综述中,我们讨论了钩端螺旋体形成生物膜的相关方面及其在流行病学和治疗管理中的意义。了解当前情况有助于洞察钩端螺旋体病生物膜诊断、预防和治疗的未来前景。