Challenging the Dogmata of Pathogenic Leptospira & leptospirosis.

Leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease affecting human and domestic animal populations worldwide. Leptospirosis is endemic in the U.S.A. and classified as a neglected disease. Domestic animals, including horses, cows, pigs and dogs can suffer acute disease, spontaneous abortion and failure to breed. There are dozens of species, and hundreds of serovars, of pathogenic Leptospira that can cause a range of (sub)clinical presentations limiting effective detection, diagnostics and vaccination efforts. Our understanding of pathogenic mechanisms of infection is inherently inadequate. In this lecture, I will describe recent advances that challenge, and reverse, three dogmata that limit our ability to work with, and understand pathogenic mechanisms of animal leptospirosis: 1) that pathogenic Leptospira can only be isolated from the mammalian host at 28-30oC, 2) that pathogenic Leptospira are not readily amenable to genetic manipulation which limits our ability to identify and characterize virulence factors, and 3) that macrophages, and not just monocytes, circulate in the blood of animal models of infection. The lecture will conclude with recent research results on studies that address equine leptospirosis.

Presented by: Dr. Jarlath Nally, USDA

CE Eligible: Yes

If attend in-person at the Gluck Center Auditorium. Parking restrictions have been lifted after 3:30pm for the Gluck parking lot.