Molecular Characterization of Leptospira Species Detected in the Kidneys of Slaughtered Livestock in Abattoirs in Gauteng Province, South Africa.

was investigated in kidneys ( = 305) from slaughtered livestock in the Gauteng Province abattoirs, South Africa, using a culture medium to isolate , followed by the qPCR to detect DNA. The gene region was amplified, sequenced, and analyzed for qPCR-positive samples or isolates. The overall frequency of isolation of spp. was 3.9% (12/305), comprising 4.8% (9/186), 4.1% (3/74), and 0% (0/45) from cattle, pigs, and sheep, respectively ( > 0.05). However, with qPCR, the overall frequency of DNA was 27.5%, consisting of 26.9%, 20.3%, and 42.2% for cattle, pigs, and sheep, respectively ( = 0.03). Based on 22 sequences, the phylogenetic tree identified the cluster with serovar Icterohaemorrhagiae and the cluster with serovar Hardjo bovis strain Lely 607. This study is the first molecular characterization of spp. from livestock in South Africa. The reference laboratory uses an eight-serovar microscopic agglutination test panel for leptospirosis diagnosis, of which serovar Hardjo bovis is not part. Our data show that pathogenic and are circulating in the livestock population. Diagnostic use of molecular methods will eliminate or reduce the under-reporting of leptospirosis in livestock, particularly sheep, in South Africa.