Molecular diagnosis and isolation of Leptospira spp. from urine of bovines in slaughterhouse

• Grant number: 17/25522-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: June 01, 2018
• End date: November 30, 2019
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Veterinary Medicine - Preventive Veterinary Medicine
• Principal Investigator: Simone Baldini Lucheis
• Grantee: Suzane Manzini
• Host Institution: APTA Regional. Agência Paulista de Tecnologia dos Agronegócios (APTA). Secretaria de Agricultura e Abastecimento (São Paulo - Estado). Campinas , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Leptospirosis is a zoonosis of great importance in public health because it is an anthropozoonotic disease with high incidence and prevalence, often neglected and occupational. The greatest risks are related to the direct contact of the employees of the production line in the slaughterhouses, being able to infect themselves during their work activities, when the direct manipulation with the meat, blood and urine of these animals. Likewise, end consumers are at risk for improper preparation and ingestion of the contaminated product. This disease represents substantial economic damage to cattle and is of great importance for public health because it is a subclinical disease that is commonly asymptomatic in cattle. In this work, blood and urine samples from a total of 100 cattle slaughtered in a slaughterhouse located in the Center-West of São Paulo will be used for the detection of Leptospira spp. by culture in Fletcher medium from the urine samples via direct puncture of the bladder and the molecular investigation by the PCR technique from blood and urine samples. Thus, considering the importance of leptospirosis as zoonosis, we proposed the investigation of this disease in cattle slaughtered in a slaughterhouse, in order to diagnose this zoonosis and to alert to the need of sanitary control in the herds, making possible the creation of healthy animals and thus preventing the spread of leptospires to the animal environment and to humans, as well as to alert to the risk of infection in a slaughterhouse environment, by direct contact with the carcasses and organs. (AU)