Soroepidemiologia da leptospirose canina na região metropolitana de Natal, estado do Rio Grande do Norte / Seroepidemiology of canine leptospirosis in the metropolitan area of Natal, Rio Grande do Norte State

Objetivou-se com este estudo determinar a frequência de cães soropositivos para anticorpos anti-Leptospira spp. no município de Natal e região metropolitana, estado do Rio Grande do Norte, e identificar fatores de risco associados à infecção. Foram examinadas 365 amostras de soro sanguíneo de cães atendidos na rotina de diversas clínicas veteri- nárias durante o período de março a novembro de 2011. O diagnóstico sorológico da leptospirose foi realizado pela técnica de soroaglutinação microscópica (SAM), utilizando-se 24 sorovares de Leptospira spp. como antígenos. Dos 365 cães, 25 foram soropositivos para pelo menos um dos sorovares de Leptospira spp., com frequência de 6,8%. Os sorovares com reações sorológicas mais frequentes foram Shermani (40%), Sentot (36%) e Copenhageni (20%). O perfil epidemiológico da leptospirose canina na região metropolitana de Natal, estado do Rio Grande do Norte, indica que a infecção ocorre com frequência baixa em comparação com outras regiões, provavelmente devido ao grande percentual de animais vacinados, bem como, sugere-se distribuição homogênea de animais soropositivos na região. Por outro lado, a presença de roedores pode ser um importante fator de risco, uma vez que sorovares mantidos por estes animais foram identificados entre os mais frequentes.

The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of dogs seropositive to anti-Leptospira spp. antibodies in Natal and metropolitan area, Rio Grande do Norte state, and to identify risk factors associated with the infection. A total of 365 blood samples were collected from dogs attended at the routine of several veterinary clinics during March to November 2011. Serological diagnosis of leptospirosis was carried out using the microscopic agglutination test (MAT) with 24 Leptospira spp. serovars as antigens. Of the 365 dogs 25 were seropositive for at least one of the Leptospira spp. serovars with frequency of 6.8%. Serovars with most frequent serological reactions were Shermani (40%), Sentot (36%) and Copenhageni (20%). The epidemiological profile of canine leptospirosis in the metropolitan region of Natal, Rio Grande do Norte state, indicates that the infection occurs in a low frequency compared with other regions, probably due to high percentage of vaccinated animals, as well as it is suggested homogenous distribution of seropositive animals in the region. Moreover, presence of rodents can be a significant risk factor since serovars maintained by these animals were identified among the most frequent.

Brucella canis infection in dogs attended in veterinary clinics from patos, Paraíba state, Brazil

To determine the frequency of anti-Brucella canis antibodies in dogs attended in veterinary clinics from Patos, Paraíba State, Brazil, as well as to identify risk factors and to isolate and identify the agent, 193 dogs were used. Agar gel immunodiffusion test (AGID) was used to detect B. canis antibodies in sera. Isolation of B. canis was carried out in blood and bone marrow from seropositive animals. Six animals tested seropositive in AGID, resulting in a frequency of 3.11 percent. B. canis was isolated from bone marrow of one seropositive animal, with confirmation by PCR. Lack of cleaning of the dog's environment was identified as risk factor (odds ratio = 7.91). This is the first report of isolation of B. canis in dogs from the Northeast region of Brazil.

Ocorrência e fatores de risco associados à leptospiroseem cães atendidos em hospital veterinário no semiáridoparaibano / Occurrence and risk factors associated with leptospirosis in dogs attended in a veterinaryhospital in the semiarid of the Paraíba State, Northeast region of Brazil

Investigou-se a ocorrência de leptospirose em cães da cidade de Patos, semiárido paraibano, e realizou-se um estudode fatores de risco associados à infecção. Foram examinadas 152 amostras de soro sanguíneo de cães atendidos emhospital veterinário no período de julho a novembro de 2008. O diagnóstico da leptospirose foi realizado pela técnica desoroaglutinação microscópica, utilizando-se uma coleção de 24 sorovariedades. A frequência de animais soropositivosencontrada foi de 19,73% (IC 95% = 13,73% - 26,96%), e as sorovariedades mais frequentes foram Autumnalis (13,16%)e Grippotyphosa (1,97%). A análise de regressão logística múltipla mostrou que os fatores de risco para a leptospiroseforam a não definição da raça (odds ratio = 3,67; P = 0,009) e o contato com caprinos/ovinos (odds ratio = 10; P = 0,034).

The occurrence of leptospirosis was investigated in dogs from Patos city, semiarid of Paraíba State, Northeast region ofBrazil, and the risk factors associated with the infection were analyzed. One hundred and fifty two blood samples werecollected from dogs attended in a veterinary hospital during July to November 2008. The diagnostic method carriedout for leptospirosis was the microscopic agglutination test, using a batch of 24 leptospiral serovars. The frequency ofseropositive animals was 19.73% (95% CI = 13.73% - 26.96%) and most frequent reactant serovars were Autumnalis(13.16%) and Grippotyphosa (1.97%). The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the risk factors forleptospirosis were mixed breed (odds ratio = 3.67; P = 0.009) and the contact with caprine/ovine (odds ratio = 10; P =0.034).