Title
Comparative seroprevalence of leptospira interrogans in colombian mammals along a climatic gradient
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1638/2011-0103R2.1
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
12-14-2012
Publication Title
Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine
Abstract
Leptospirosis is a widespread zoonotic disease with well-established impacts on human health in tropical and subtropical regions. Although Leptospira spp. are known to readily infect many wildlife species, the understanding of interspecies and climatic variability in patterns of infection in Neotropical mammals is limited. To improve the understanding of this interplay, 85 mammals representing 17 species were sampled from four Colombian zoos along a climatic gradient. Prevalence of the 21 primary serovars against Leptospira interrogans was determined using the microagglutination test. Individuals were considered positive for a given serovar if antibodies were observable at a 1:100 dilution or greater. Overall prevalence was 9.52%, with positive titers to serovar hurstbridge in Carnivora (Canidae); serovar sarmin in Primata (Atelidae); and serovars australis, mini, autumnalis, pomona, icterohaemorrhagiae, and seramanga in Primata (Cebidae). Prevalence was positively correlated with humidity and temperature, with significantly higher prevalence at the site characterized by high humidity, severe flooding because of rainfall, and warm weather throughout the year. All positive animals were classified as clinically asymptomatic, meaning that antibodies from a current or past infection were detected but no overt symptoms were apparent. The diversity of serovars observed and the taxon-specific nature of these associations suggest that the epidemiology of Leptospira transmission is likely to be complex and multidimensional. The strong association observed between prevalence and climate suggests that the important role of climate as an indicator of Leptospira infection risk in humans may also be applicable to wildlife. Future studies in both wild and captive populations of Neotropical wildlife will further elucidate this disease interplay. © 2012 American Association of Zoo Veterinarians.
Volume
43
Issue
4
First Page
768
Last Page
775
ISSN
10427260
Recommended Citation
González Astudillo, Viviana; Wehdeking Hernández, Dave; Peña Stadlin, Juliana; Arias Bernal, Leonardo; Lombo Rodríguez, Dora Adriana; and Astudillo Hernández, Miryam, "Comparative seroprevalence of leptospira interrogans in colombian mammals along a climatic gradient" (2012). Scopus Unisalle. 555.
https://ciencia.lasalle.edu.co/scopus_unisalle/555
PubMed ID
23272343
Identifier
SCOPUS_ID:84871506115