Strong Evidence of the Role of Donkeys in the Epidemiology of Leptospira spp. in Semiarid Conditions
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Published:2023-07-22
Issue:7
Volume:11
Page:1853
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ISSN:2076-2607
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Container-title:Microorganisms
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language:en
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Short-container-title:Microorganisms
Author:
de Andrade Morais Davidianne1, Nunes Bruno Cesar1, Soares Rafael Rodrigues1, de Oliveira Murilo Duarte1, da Costa Diego Figueiredo2, de Araújo Hosaneide Gomes1, Júnior João Pessoa Araújo3ORCID, Malossi Camila Dantas3, Silva Maria Luana Cristiny Rodrigues1, de Azevedo Sérgio Santos1ORCID, Alves Clebert José1
Affiliation:
1. Centro de Saúde Tecnologia Rural (CSTR), Universidade Federal de Campina Grande (UFCG), Av. Universitária, s/n, Santa Cecília, Patos 58708-110, PB, Brazil 2. Centro de Ciências Agrárias (CCA), Universidade Federal da Paraíba (UFPB), Rodovia BR 079, Km 02, Areia 58397-000, PB, Brazil 3. Campus de Botucatu, Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Av. Prof. Mário Rubens Guimarães Montenegro, s/n, Botucatu 18618-687, SP, Brazil
Abstract
Donkeys (Equus asinus) are historically known for their close relationship to humanity, which raises the need to study zoonotic diseases that affect them. In this perspective, leptospirosis stands out as a disease with an economic and public health impact, and its occurrence is facilitated in times of higher rainfall indexes, especially in large urban centers. In view of the scarcity of information about leptospirosis in donkeys, the objective of this study was to detect the presence of Leptospira spp. and anti-leptospiral antibodies in donkeys rescued by a zoonosis center located in the Caatiga biome, Brazilian semiarid region. Overall, 30 donkeys of both sexes, aged between 4 months and 15 years, were used, from which 64 serum samples were collected and submitted to the microscopic agglutination test (MAT). In addition, 64 samples of urine, vaginal and preputial fluid, in duplicates, were subjected to the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and microbiological. Sixteen (53.3%) animals tested positive in at least one diagnostic test, 12 (40%) of which were positive at MAT and seven (23.3%) in the molecular and bacteriological detection (urine, vaginal, and preputial fluid samples). This is the first report identifying donkeys infected with Leptospira spp. by molecular and bacteriological diagnosis in Brazil, and the first in the world to detect this agent in their genital fluids. The study also shows that donkeys are commonly exposed to leptospires in the Caatinga biome, and this constitutes a One Health-based concern, demonstrating the importance of broad studies where large numbers of humans and animals coexist when investigating zoonotic infections and when planning and implementing control measures for donkeys-associated leptospirosis.
Funder
Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico
Subject
Virology,Microbiology (medical),Microbiology
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