| Autor: |
Freitas RS; Laboratory of Zoonoses and Public Health (LZSP), Graduate Program in Animal Health in the Amazon, Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Pará (UFPA), Castanhal 68743-970, PA, Brazil., Rocha KS; Laboratory of Zoonoses and Public Health (LZSP), Graduate Program in Animal Health in the Amazon, Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Pará (UFPA), Castanhal 68743-970, PA, Brazil., Monteiro LH; Laboratory of Zoonoses and Public Health (LZSP), Graduate Program in Animal Health in the Amazon, Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Pará (UFPA), Castanhal 68743-970, PA, Brazil., Alexandre TF; Laboratory of Zoonoses and Public Health (LZSP), Graduate Program in Animal Health in the Amazon, Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Pará (UFPA), Castanhal 68743-970, PA, Brazil., Monteiro TRM; Laboratory of Zoonoses and Public Health (LZSP), Graduate Program in Animal Health in the Amazon, Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Pará (UFPA), Castanhal 68743-970, PA, Brazil., Honorio BET; Laboratory of Zoonoses and Public Health (LZSP), Graduate Program in Animal Health in the Amazon, Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Pará (UFPA), Castanhal 68743-970, PA, Brazil., Gripp MC; Laboratory of Zoonoses and Public Health (LZSP), Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Pará (UFPA), Castanhal 68743-970, PA, Brazil., Guimarães CDO; Socio-Environmental and Water Resources Institute, Federal Rural University of the Amazon, Belém 66077-830, PA, Brazil., Palha MDDC; Socio-Environmental and Water Resources Institute, Federal Rural University of the Amazon, Belém 66077-830, PA, Brazil., Gonçalves TS; Laboratory of Animal Health, Graduate Program in Animal Health in the Amazon, Federal University of Pará (UFPA), Castanhal 68743-970, PA, Brazil., Scofield A; Laboratory of Animal Health, Graduate Program in Animal Health in the Amazon, Federal University of Pará (UFPA), Castanhal 68743-970, PA, Brazil., Moraes CCG; Laboratory of Animal Health, Graduate Program in Animal Health in the Amazon, Federal University of Pará (UFPA), Castanhal 68743-970, PA, Brazil. |
| Abstrakt: |
Leptospirosis is a zoonosis of great importance for One Health. In this context, the Amazonian biome may harbor numerous hosts for Leptospira spp. that contribute to the maintenance of the pathogen in the environment. Some reptiles, such as chelonians, have been little studied in terms of their involvement with leptospires. The objective of this study was to detect Leptospira spp. DNA in Kinosternon scorpioides turtles kept in captivity in a region of the Brazilian Amazon. A total of 147 samples of blood ( n = 40), cloacal fluid ( n = 27), cloacal lavage ( n = 40), and stomach ( n = 40) were collected from 40 chelonians. After DNA extraction, the samples were subjected to amplification of a 331 base pair product of the 16S rRNA gene using the Lep1 and Lep2 primers. PCR products were Sanger sequenced, assembled, and subjected to online blast search and phylogenetic analysis. Of the animals tested, 40% (16/40, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 25-55) had at least one or two samples positive for Leptospira spp. Considering the total number of samples collected, 12.93% (19/147) were positive, being blood clots (27.5%; 11/40), followed by cloacal washings (10%; 4/40), cloacal fluid (11.11%; 3/27) and gastric washings (2.5%; 1/40). Of these, 11 samples were sequenced and showed 99% to 100% identity with Leptospira interrogans sequences, which was confirmed by phylogenetic analysis. This is the first study to detect pathogenic Leptospira DNA in chelonians in a region of the Brazilian Amazon. It has been concluded that K. scorpioides turtles in captivity have been exposed to pathogenic Leptospira . |
