EXPERIMENTAL LEPTOSPIROSIS IN CAPYBARAS (HYDROCHAERIS HYDROCHAERIS) INFECTED WITH LEPTOSPIRA INTERROGANS SEROVAR POMONA

Author(s)

Vianna Marvulo, Maria Fernanda ^{[1, 2]} ; Ramos Silva, Jean Carlos ^{[1, 2, 3]} ; Ferreira, Patricia Marques ^{[1, 2]} ; de Morais, Zenaide Maria ^[1] ; Moreno, Andrea Micke ^[1] ; Doto, Daniela Sabatini ^[1] ; Paixao, Renata ^[1] ; Baccaro, Maria Regina ^[1] ; Vasconcellos, Silvio Arruda ^[1] ; Ferreira Neto, Jose Soares ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Dept Med Vet Prevent & Saude Anim, Fac Med Vet & Zootecnia, BR-05508000 Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[2] Inst Brasileiro Med Conservacao Triade, BR-05514080 Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[3] Univ Fed Rural Pernambuco, BR-50171900 Recife, PE - Brazil

• Document type: Review article
• Source: JOURNAL OF ZOO AND WILDLIFE MEDICINE; v. 40, n. 4, p. 726-730, DEC 2009.
• Web of Science Citations: 8

Abstract

Capybara (Hydrochaeris hydrochaeris), the largest rodent in the world, is widely distributed in South America. These animals live in areas with abundant water. which makes them it potential reservoir for Leptospira. The objective of this study was to investigate seroconversion, leptospiremia. and leptospiruria in capybaras experimentally infected with a virulent strain of Leptospira interrogans serovar Pomona. Seven capybaras were used: one control and six infected. Agglutinins against serovar Pomona were initially detected in serum 6 or 7 day after innoculation with Leptospira (10(9)-10(11) organisms, given i.v.), peaked (titer, similar to 3,200) between 9 and 27 clays and were still present at 83 day (end of study). The earliest and latest isolation of leptospires from the blood was from 212 day and from urine, 9-19 day after exposure. However. polymerase chain reaction and isolation results from kidney and liver samples were negative for leptospires. The control animal tested negative on all diagnostic tests. Hence, the capybara can serve as a host for Leptospira. (AU)