Detection of anti-Leptospira spp. agglutinins in captive South American river turtles, Podocnemis expansa

Abstract

<jats:p>ABSTRACT Leptospirosis is a zoonosis transmitted by contact with infected urine or water contaminated with the agent. Searches for Leptospira spp. in reptiles are scarce although most species have contact with aquatic environments. We evaluated the presence of anti-Leptospira spp. antibodies in Podocnemis expansa housed at the Amazonian Zoobotanical Garden, in Belém, Pará state, Brazil. We analyzed 74 serum samples through the microscopic agglutination test using 31 live antigens from different Leptospira spp. serogroups. Thirty samples (40.5%) were positive against Leptospira spp., with titrations between 100 and 3,200 for one or more serogroups. The Hebdomadis serogroup was the most prevalent, with 26 (87%) out of the 30 positive samples, followed by Djasiman, with two (7%) and Celledoni and Bataviae with one (3%) sample each. The detection of anti-Leptospira spp. agglutinins in P. expansa suggests that the aquatic environment is a transmission route for this pathogen among chelonians.</jats:p>

Detection of Pathogenic Leptospira in Captive Chelonians (Kinosternon scorpioides—Linnaeus, 1766) in the Brazilian Amazon

“…The expansion of human activities into natural environments can result in increased contact between humans, domestic animals, and wildlife, potentially leading to the trans-mission of zoonotic agents [5,19]. Therefore, researchers are investigating the role of unknown hosts, including chelonians [20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30], as potential Leptospira reservoirs.…”

“…Serological investigations have been conducted on chelonians in the United States and Italy, revealing varying seroprevalences of anti-Leptospira antibodies [22][23][24][25]. Similarly, antibodies were detected in the Brazilian Amazon turtles of the Podocnemis unifilis, Podocnemis expansa, and Rhinoclemmys punctularia species [26][27][28].…”