Seroprevalencia de anticuerpos anti-Leptospira spp. en estudiantes de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia de la Costa Grande de Guerrero, México / Seroprevalence of anti-Leptospira spp. antibodies among Veterinary Medicine and Zootechnics students from Costa Grande of Guerrero, Mexico

Introducción: La leptospirosis humana es una enfermedad zoonótica con manifestaciones clínicas inespecíficas (cefalea y mialgia), las cuales pueden confundirse con otras enfermedades febriles como: gripe, malaria, dengue, fiebre amarilla, hepatitis vírica y rickettsiosis. Objetivo: Determinar la prevalencia de anticuerpos anti-Leptospira en estudiantes de la carrera de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia de la Costa Grande de Guerrero. Métodos: Se aplicó un cuestionario a los estudiantes de la Escuela Superior de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia No. 3 con la finalidad de conocer algunos factores de riesgo asociados a la presencia de anticuerpos anti-Leptospira spp. La determinación de anticuerpos anti-Leptospira y la identificación de las serovariedades se realizaron con la técnica de microaglutinación. Se consideró un suero positivo cuando se observó una aglutinación en una dilución igual o mayor a 1:100. Resultados: En el estudio la seroprevalencia de anticuerpos anti-Leptospira spp. fue de 12,1 por ciento (8/66). Se detectaron anticuerpos a 8 serovariedades de Leptospira spp. El 62,5 por ciento (5/8) de los sueros presentó más de una serovariedad. Las serovariedades y frecuencia fueron icterohaemorrhagiae 25 por ciento (4/16), hardjo 18,8 por ciento (3/16), pyrogenes 18,8 por ciento (3/16), pomona 12,5 por ciento (2/16), canicola 6,2 por ciento (1/16) wolffi 6,2 por ciento (1/16) tarassovi 6,2 por ciento (1/16) y bratislava 6,2 por ciento (1/16). Los factores de riesgo estudiados no se relacionaron con la presencia de anticuerpos anti-Leptospira. Conclusiones: En el presente estudio se encontraron anticuerpos a Leptospira spp. en estudiantes de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia. Por tanto, es pertinente proporcionar información a los estudiantes para prevenir el contacto con el agente causal de la leptospirosis(AU)

Introduction: Human leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease of unspecific clinical manifestations (headache and myalgia) which may be confused with those of other febrile diseases, such as influenza, malaria, dengue, yellow fever, viral hepatitis and rickettsiosis. Objective: Determine the prevalence of anti-Leptospira antibodies among Veterinary Medicine and Zootechnics students from Costa Grande de Guerrero. Methods: A questionnaire was applied to students from the Higher Education Veterinary Medicine and Zootechnics School No. 3 to obtain information about risk factors associated to the presence of anti-Leptospira spp. antibodies. Microagglutination technique was used to determine anti-Leptospira antibodies and identify serovars. A serum sample was considered positive when agglutination was observed at a dilution equal to or greater than 1:100. Results: Seroprevalence of anti-Leptospira spp. antibodies was found to be 12.1 percent (8/66). Antibodies were detected for 8 serovars of Leptospira spp. Of the serum samples analyzed, 62.5 percent (5/8) contained more than one serovar. The serovars and their frequency were the following: icterohaemorrhagiae 25 percent (4/16), hardjo 18.8 percent (3/16), pyrogenes 18.8 percent (3/16), pomona 12.5 percent (2/16), canicola 6.2 percent (1/16), wolffi 6.2 percent (1/16), tarassovi 6.2 percent (1/16) and bratislava 6.2 percent (1/16). The risk factors studied were not related to the presence of anti-Leptospira antibodies. Conclusions: Leptospira spp. antibodies were found in Veterinary Medicine and Zootechnics students. It is therefore advisable to provide students with the information required to prevent contact with the causative agent of leptospirosis(AU)

Serological survey of anti-Leptospira spp. antibodies in Barbary sheep (Ammotragus lervia) at the Curitiba Zoo, southern Brazil / Estudo sorológico de anticorpos anti-Leptospira spp. em aoudads (Ammotragus lervia) no zoológico de Curitiba, sul do Brasil

Leptospirosis is a worldwide zoonosis, affecting humans, domestic and wild animals. The present study aimed to evaluate prevalence of anti-Leptospira spp. antibodies in Barbary sheep at the Curitiba zoo. Microscopic agglutination test (MAT) was performed using 17 serogroups. Antibodies against Leptospira spp. were observed in 23.5% samples and Icterohaemorrhagiae was the only prevalent serogroup. The presence of anti-Leptospira antibodies in Barbary sheep indicates exposure to leptospires; thus monitoring and preventive measures are necessary in zoo's captive animals, since they can act as sentinels of environmental exposure in an area with high movement of people.(AU)

A leptospirose é uma zoonose mundial que afeta seres humanos, animais domésticos e selvagens. O presente estudo objetivou avaliar a prevalência de anticorpos anti-Leptospira spp. em aoudads do zoológico de Curitiba. Foi realizado o teste de Soroaglutinação microscópica (SAM) utilizando 17 sorogrupos. Anticorpos contra Leptospira spp. foram observados em 23.5% das amostras de aoudads e Icterohaemorrhagiae foi o único sorogrupo prevalente. A presença de anticorpos em aoudads indica exposição a leptospiras portanto monitoramento e medidas preventivas são necessários em animais confinados em zoológicos, uma vez eles podem atuar como sentinelas de exposição ambiental em uma área com alta circulação de pessoas.(AU)