Isolation of Leptospira Spp. From Kidneys of Sheep at Slaughter

Abstract

Attempts were made to isolate leptospires from kidneys of sheep slaughtered in the public slaughterhouse of the city of Patos, Paraíba state, Northeast region of Brazil. Kidneys from 80 sheep without clinical signs of leptospirosis were used. The Ellinghausen-McCullough-Johnson-Harris (EMJH) medium modified with the addition of 10% rabbit serum was used for leptospira isolation. Renal tissue samples were taken by renal perforation with a sterile Pasteur pipette after superficial cauterization. The cultures were observed weekly by dark field microscopy for up to 16 weeks. With this methodology, Leptospira spp. could be isolated from four renal tissue samples.