Anti-leptospirosis agglutinins in Brazilian capybaras (hydrochoerus hydrochaeris)

 

Helio Langoni^1 3, Ivone Yumi Kuribara¹, Ana Paula Ferreira Lopes Correa¹, Leila Sabrina Ullmann¹, Gabriela Pacheco Sánchez¹, Simone Baldini Lucheis²

 

1 Department of Veterinary Hygiene and Public Health, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Husbandry, São Paulo State University (UNESP – Univ Estadual Paulista), Botucatu, SP, Brazil.

2 São Paulo Agency of Agribusiness Technology (APTA/SAA), Bauru, São Paulo State, Brazil.

3 Departamento de Higiene Veterinária e Saúde Pública, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, UNESP, Distrito de Rubião Jr, s/n, Botucatu, SP 18618-000, Brazil.

 

ABSTRACT

Background

The interest in commercial use of wild animals is increasing, especially regarding raising of capybaras. Although this wild species is potentially lucrative for the production of meat, oil and leather, it is suggested as a probable reservoir of leptospires.

 

Methods

Due to the economic importance of this species and the lack of studies concerning leptospirosis, the presence of anti-leptospirosis agglutinins was assayed in 55 serum samples of capybaras (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) from commercial and experimental breeding flocks located in São Paulo state, Paraná state, and Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil. Samples were obtained through cephalic or femoral venipunction (5 to 10 mL). Microscopic agglutination test was used according to the Brazilian Health Ministry considering as cut-off titer of 100.

 

Results

Out of the 55 samples analyzed, 23 (41.82 %) tested positive. The most prevalent serovar was Icterohaemorrhagiae (56.52 %) in 13 samples, followed by Copenhageni in nine samples (39.13 %), Pomona in four samples (17.39 %), Djasiman and Castellonis in three samples each (13.04 %), Grippotyphosa, Hardjo, Canicola, and Cynopteri in two samples each (8.7 %), and Andamana and Bratislava in one sample each (4.34 %).

 

Conclusions

These results suggest the evidence of exposure toLeptospira spp. and the need of new studies to evaluate a higher number of capybaras from different regions to better understand the importance of leptospirosis infection in these animals and verify the zoonotic role of this species as a possible source of infection to humans and other animals.

 

Key words: Leptospirosis; Capybaras; Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris; Serologic evaluation; Zoonosis

 

Ethics approval

This study was aproved by the Ethics Committee on Animal Use (CEUA) of São Paulo State University (UNESP) under registration no. 148–2007.

 

Received: August 15, 2015.

Revised: January 19, 2016.

Accepted: January 27, 2016.

 

Correspondence: hlangoni@fmvz.unesp.br

 

Competing interests

The authors declare that there are no competing interests.

 

Authors’ contributions

HL, IYK, APFLC and LSU participated in the design of the study, carried out the blood collection, performed the diagnostic tests, the analysis of the results and took part in the article writing. SBL participated in the design of the study, the analysis of the results and article writing. GPS participated in the article writing and revision of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

 

doi: 10.1186/s40409-016-0059-6