Identification of antibodies to Leptospira spp. in the spot-legged turtle (Rhinoclemmys punctularia) maintained in captivity

Abstract

Leptospirosis is a zoonosis of worldwide distribution in which the agent can infect several animal species and accidentally humans. In view of the limited number of studies on anti-Leptospira antibodies in wild animal species, especially those living in aquatic environments, we sought in this study to investigate the presence of these antibodies in the spot-legged turtle (Rhinoclemmys punctularia) maintained in captivity in the Rodrigues Alves Botanical Garden-Amazon Zoobotanical Park, located in Belém, Pará State, Brazil. Serum samples were collected from 31 turtles, and identification of anti-Leptospira antibodies was performed using the microscopic agglutination test, using a collection of 31 live antigens which represent 19 serogroups of Leptospira. Among the analyzed samples, 54.83% (17/31) were observed to be reactive, and co-agglutination was detected in a further six samples which were not accounted for in the frequency of serogroups. The most frequently detected serogroups were Tarassovi 72.72% (8/11), Celledoni 18.18% (2/11), and Pomona 9.09% (1/11)], with titers ranging from 200 to 400, being this the first study to report infection of these serogroups in this species of chelonios. The animals were kept in water tanks, which probably favored the transport of the agent and allowed its transmission to the spot-legged turtle. We thus confirmed presence of anti-Leptospira antibodies in chelonians maintained in the Rodrigues Alves Botanical Garden.

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

“…Rhinoclemmys punctularia turtles kept in the same tanks as the P. expansa in our study showed a prevalence of 54.8% (17/31) of animals reactive to Leptospira spp. (Rocha et al 2019), a high frequency similar to that found in P. expansa. Although the animals were kept in the same environment, and blood collection was performed on the same day, only antigen-antibody reactions for the Celledoni serogroup occurred in both species.…”

“…In the Brazilian Amazon region, one turtle species, Rhynoclemmys punctularia, was found to test positive for anti-Leptospira spp. agglutinins, also in captive individuals (Rocha et al 2019).…”

“…infection in chelonians are limited and little is known about the relevance of these animals as reservoirs of the pathogen and their risk to public health (Andrews et al 1965;Glosser et al 1974;Lindtner-Knific et al 2013;Oliveira et al 2016;Fornazari et al 2018). In Brazil, there are a few studies conducted in zoos that provide information on the sanitary status of chelonians regarding leptospirosis (Esteves et al 2005;Brasil et al 2013;Rocha et al 2019). In the Brazilian Amazon region, one turtle species, Rhynoclemmys punctularia, was found to test positive for anti-Leptospira spp.…”

Detection of pathogenic Leptospira spp. in herpetofauna in Central Appalachia

“…A number of studies from Latin America and Europe have reported on evidence of leptospiral infection in herpetofauna, focusing primarily on reptiles, especially, turtles (Dezzutto et al., 2017; Lindtner‐Knific et al., 2013; Miranda et al., 2020; Oliveira et al., 2016; Rocha et al., 2019; Silva et al., 2009)and snakes (Biscola et al., 2011; Lindtner‐Knific et al., 2013). Serological studies in turtles from different regions in Brazil show a high positivity for leptospiral antibodies.…”

“…In previous studies, mainly from Latin America and Europe, leptospiral seropositivity has been described in different amphibian and reptilian species (Calle et al, 2001;Dezzutto et al, 2017;Lindtner-Knific et al, 2013;Miranda et al, 2020;Oliveira et al, 2016;Pérez-Flores et al, 2017;Rocha et al, 2019;Rodrigues et al, 2016;Rossetti et al, 2003;Silva et al, 2009). However, only a few studies have used leptospiral culturing or molecular techniques to test carriage status and establish a role of herpetofauna in maintenance of the pathogen (Biscola et al, 2011;Everard et al, 1990;Gravekamp et al, 1991;Rockwell et al, 2019).…”