Development of a recombinant protein based dot-blot for the diagnosis of canine leptospirosis

Background Leptospirosis is a globally disseminated zoonosis, recognized as a re-emergent neglected disease [1] and the causative pathogens are spirochetes from genus Leptospira [2]. In Brazil, more than 100.00 leptospirosis cases are reported annually, with outbreaks emerging especially during floods [3]. The microscopic agglutination test (MAT) is considered the standard serological test for the diagnosis of leptospirosis, but it requires paired serum samples, is demanding, difficult to analyse and the results can be variable when compared between laboratories [2]. The absence of an adequate laboratorial diagnosis is the main barrier for the implementation of disease surveillance for the control of both human and animal leptospirosis. Hence, there is an urgent need for the development of an adequate laboratorial test that is both quick and reliable. Apart from the danger connected to rodents, which are leptospires main vectors, occurrence of the disease in dogs can generate a higher risk of infection for humans [4]. In the current study, selected recombinant proteins from L. interrogans were tested for their diagnostic potential using a Dot-Blot technique against a canine serum panel previously characterized by the MAT and a whole-cell Leptospira indirect ELISA.