Survey for Leptospira spp. in free-ranging wild mammals from Botucatu region, SP: implications in wildlife conservation and public health

• Grant number: 12/05285-0
• Support type: Regular Research Grants
• Duration: July 01, 2012 - June 30, 2014
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Collective Health - Public Health
• Principal researcher: Helio Langoni
• Grantee: Helio Langoni
• Home Institution: Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia (FMVZ). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Botucatu. Botucatu , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Leptospirosis is a zoonosis of great importance in animals and men. Studies in wild animals are scarce and, because of their role as reservoirs of other diseases, as well as the severity of the lesions caused by leptospirosis, the present study aimed to detect the infection by Leptospira spp. in free-ranging wild mammals from Botucatu region, São Paulo State. Nine fragments of forestland were selected to capture the animals, using tomahawk traps, baited with fruits and meat. The animals will be anesthetized, and blood and urine samples will be collected. The search for anti-Leptospira spp. antibodies will be performed by the Microscopic Agglutination Test (MAT). The Polimerase Chain Reaction (PCR) will be performed in blood and urine samples do detect DNA, and those who present positive results will be submitted to quantitative PCR (qPCR) to quantify the bacterial load. The health status of the animals will be realized by physical exam, hemogram, hepatic and renal enzymes analysis, and urinalisis. To compare the prevalence of infection in different species, as well as in different seasons of the year, the Qui-square test will be used. To analyze the correlation between the bacterial load and the antibody titers the Spearman test (r) will be realized. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

PAIZ, LAIS MORAES; FORNAZARI, FELIPE; MENOZZI, BENEDITO DONIZETE; OLIVEIRA, GABRIELA CAPRIOGLI; COIRO, CARLA JANEIRO; TEIXEIRA, CARLOS ROBERTO; CAMPANUCCI DA SILVA, VALDINEI MORAES; DONALISIO, MARIA RITA; LANGONI, HELIO. Serological Evidence of Infection by Leishmania (Leishmania) infantum (Synonym: Leishmania (Leishmania) chagasi) in Free-Ranging Wild Mammals in a Nonendemic Region of the State of Sao Paulo, Brazil. VECTOR-BORNE AND ZOONOTIC DISEASES, v. 15, n. 11, p. 667-673, NOV 1 2015. Web of Science Citations: 4.