Prevalence of Leptospira interrogans antibodies in free-ranging Tayassu pecari of the Southern Pantanal, Brazil, an ecosystem where wildlife and cattle interact

Abstract

We surveyed a wild population of white-lipped peccaries (Tayassu pecari) in the Brazilian Pantanal for evidence of Leptospira interrogans. Serum samples from 71 free-ranging T. pecari were obtained between 2003 and 2005 in the southern Pantanal of Mato Grosso do Sul state. We used microscopic microagglutination to test for antibodies against 14 L. interrogans serovars (antibody titers ≥ 1:100 were considered seropositive). Seventy percent of captured animals tested positive for leptospirosis antibodies. Antibodies against icterohaemorrhagiae and autumnalis serovars were the most prevalent. We used log-linear analyses to test for associations among seropositivity, age class, and sex of captured animals. Seropositivity was strongly associated with animal age class, but independent of sex. Forty-six percent of animals less than 2 years old, 63% of adults during peak reproductive years, and 100% of the oldest age class were seropositive. A nonparametric multivariate procedure (MRPP) showed that the composition of serovar antibody types changed with age, and ANOVA models demonstrated that antibody titers increased with age, suggesting long-term exposure to a greater number and variety (i.e., serovar types) of L. interrogans infections. This study presents the first quantitative survey of antibodies against L. interrogans serovars in a T. pecari population of the Pantanal. The high prevalence of leptospirosis antibodies in free-ranging white-lipped peccaries and the potential impacts on reproduction and population dynamics emphasize the need for further studies investigating the roles of Pantanal wildlife and livestock in the transmission and maintenance of L. interrogans in the environment.

SWINE INFECTIOUS AGENTS INTAYASSU PECARIANDPECARI TAJACUTISSUE SAMPLES FROM BRAZIL

“…Antibodies against Leptospira spp. were found in 70% (50/71) of serum samples collected from free-ranging WLPs (Freitas et al 2010). The parasite Trypanosoma evansi was detected in the blood samples from 31% (11/68) and 51% (35/68) of WLPs tested by PCR and an immunofluorescence antibody test (IFAT), respectively.…”

“…Serologic surveys of free-ranging CP populations living in contact with human settlements and domestic animals in Brazil have shown high antibody titers against the infectious agents that cause leptospirosis, brucellosis, trypanosomiasis, and bluetongue (Herrera et al 2008;Freitas et al 2010;Gerber et al 2012). In addition to the work done on antibody prevalences, investigators have also detected trypanosome and Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae DNA in CPs and WLPs.…”

Leptospirose E Seu Aspecto Ocupacional - Revisão De Literatura

“…A leptospirose pode ser transmitida ao homem por animais domésticos e silvestres (BRASIL, 1995;FREITAS et al, 2010;MOLINA et al, 2014), entretanto, os roedores sinantrópicos e os cães desempenham o papel dos principais reservatórios da doença. Dentre as espécies de roedores de maior importância estão: o Rattus norvegicus (ratazana ou rato de esgoto), Rattus rattus (rato de telhado ou rato preto) e Mus musculus (camundongo) (POSSAS 2000;SARKAR et al, 2002).…”

ANTICORPOS CONTRA Leptospira spp EM CERVOS-DO-PANTANAL (Blastocerus dichotomus) NA BACIA DO RIO PARANÁ, ESTADOS DE SÃO PAULO E MATOGROSSO DO SUL, BRASIL

“…No entanto, Jorge et al (2011 encontraram resultados semelhantes ao do presente estudo, 42,7% de frequência em animais selvagens no pantanal Mato Grossense. Segundo Herholz et al (2006), tais diferenças podem ser devidas ao fato de que a ocorrência e a transmissão são influenciadas por características do agente infeccioso, suscetibilidade de hospedeiros, concentração demográfica, movimentação, interação entre espécies e populações e, principalmente, pelas condições ambientais que permitem sua multiplicação e manutenção.…”

“…MATHIAS et al (1999) encontraram Hardjo (24,0%), GIRIO et al (2004), Icterohaemorrhagiae e Copenhageni (9,7%), TONIN et al (2010), em um única amostra, encontraram Butembo e Bratislava, e ESPÍ et al (2010) encontraram Pomona (5,8%) e Muenchen (2,6%). Essa diversidade de sorovariedades que podem infectar cervídeos talvez esteja relacionada com o ambiente, pelo fato de conviverem com outras espécies em estado selvagem ou ainda por dividirem o mesmo espaço com rebanhos de bovinos e/ou com roedores, entre eles as capivaras.…”