Detection of leptospiral antibodies in wild animals in aquatic environments of Argentina

Abstract

Zoonoses are defined as diseases of animals that are transmitted naturally to hu mans, directly or indirectly. Indirect transmission can manifest itself through the pres ence of these pathogens in the environment. The vehicle of leptospires is water. Our aim was the serological study was to detect contact with leptospires in wild animals that live in aquifer environments, in oceans and in freshwater environments (rivers, estuaries and wetlands). 141 serum samples were analyzed from Eubalaena australis (3), Otaria flavescens (19), Arctocephalus australis (18), Mirounga leonine (15), Eu nectesnotaeus (20), Myocastor coypus (33), Caimán yacaré 15) and Blastocerus di chotomus (18). The sera were examined by microscopic agglutination test against Pomona Pomona, Icterohaemorrhagiae Copenhageni, Tarassovi Perepelicin, Caste llonis Castellonis, Canicola Hond Utrecht, Hardjo Hardjoprajitno, wolffi 3705, Grip potyphosa Moska V, Australis Australis, Autumnalis Autumnales, Bataviae Bataviae, Celledoni, Cynopteri Cynopteri, Djasiman Djasiman, Hebdomadis Hebdomadis, Ja vanica Javanica, Lousiana Lousiana, Mini Mini, Manaho Manaho, Panama Panama, Ranarum Ranarum, Sarmin Sarmin, Shermani Shermani and Bratislava Jez Bratislava. Initial title: 1/25. we observed 66.6% (2/3) positive whales (Eubalaena australis) whit titles:1/50, (L. weillii serovar Celledoni and L. kirschneri serovar Grippotyphosa); a 11.1% (2/18) posi tive two-haired fur seals (Arctocephalus australis) with title: 1/50-1/100 (L. Mini serovar Mini); a 36.3% (12/33) Coypo (Myocastor coypus) with titles: 1/100-1/800 (L. interrogans serovar Copenhageni, L. borgpetersenii serovar Castellonis); a 20% (3/15) Cayman (Caimán yacaré) with titles 1/100-1/1600 (L. interrogans serovar Pomona, L. serovar Sarmin), 33% (6/18) Marsh deer (Blastocerus dichotomus) with titles 1/100-1/800 (Lep tospira borgpetersenii serovar Castellonis, L. interrogans serovar Pomona and L. kirs chneri serovar Grippotyphosa); the 100% (19/19) fur seal (Otaria flavescens) were negatives and 100% (15/15) elephant seals (Mirounga leonina) negatives too. This study demonstrates the contact between the Leptospire and wild animals that live in the oceans, rivers, estuaries and wetlands of Argentina. knowledge of risk is essential to take appropriate preventive measures.