ABSTRACT
Leptospirosis is a worldwide zoonosis whose transmission is interlinked by multiple factors in the man-animal-ecosystem interface. This study aimed to evaluate the risk factors for the occurrence of anti-Leptospira antibodies in dogs in the capital Teresina (PI), and to determine their spatial distribution. Five hundred fifty-eight dog blood samples were submitted to the Microscopic Serum Agglutination (MSA) test. We applied semi-structured questionnaires to dog owners and obtained the area of residence for projection in geographical maps. Serum prevalence was 13.8%, in which the most common serovar was icterohaemorrhagiae, with 49.2%. Dogs with street access, failure to collect food bowl and low income of owners were risk factors. There was a higher number of seropositive dogs in the rainy season, with 87.1%, which is a probable risk factor for the occurrence of cases. The distribution of seropositive dogs was widely spread in the city, with predominance of cases in anthropized areas. These risk factors favor the occurrence of anti-Leptospira antibodies in dogs that are agent maintenance sources in the city and reinforce the need for epidemiological and environmental surveillance to prevent leptospirosis.
A leptospirose é uma zoonose mundial cuja transmissão está interligada por múltiplos fatores na interface homem-animal-ecossistema. Objetivou-se com este estudo avaliar os fatores de risco para a ocorrência de anticorpos antiLeptospira em cães na capital Teresina (PI), e determinar sua distribuição espacial. Amostras sanguíneas de 558 cães foram submetidas à prova de Soroaglutinação Microscópica (SAM). Aplicou-se questionários semiestruturados para os proprietários dos cães e obteve-se a localização geográfica da residência para a sua projeção em mapas geográficos. A soroprevalência foi de 13,8%, no qual o sorogrupo mais frequente foi o Icterohaemorrhagiae com 49,2%. Foram considerados fatores de risco os cães com acesso à rua, o não recolhimento da vasilha de alimento e a baixa renda dos proprietários. Foi observado maior número de cães soropositivos no período chuvoso com 87,1%, sendo um possível fator de risco para a ocorrência de casos. A distribuição dos cães soropositivos na cidade se apresentou de forma dispersa, com predominância dos casos em área antropizada. Esses fatores de risco favorecem a ocorrência de anticorpos antiLeptospiraem cães, os quais podem ser fontes de manutenção do agente na cidade e reforça a necessidade de vigilância epidemiológica e ambiental na prevenção da leptospirose.
Subject(s)
Antibodies, Bacterial/blood , Dog Diseases/epidemiology , Leptospira/immunology , Leptospirosis/epidemiology , Agglutination Tests , Animals , Brazil/epidemiology , Dog Diseases/microbiology , Dogs , Female , Humans , Income , Male , Prevalence , Risk Factors , Seroepidemiologic Studies , Surveys and QuestionnairesABSTRACT
Resumo A leptospirose é uma zoonose mundial cuja transmissão está interligada por múltiplos fatores na interface homem-animal-ecossistema. Objetivou-se com este estudo avaliar os fatores de risco para a ocorrência de anticorpos antiLeptospira em cães na capital Teresina (PI), e determinar sua distribuição espacial. Amostras sanguíneas de 558 cães foram submetidas à prova de Soroaglutinação Microscópica (SAM). Aplicou-se questionários semiestruturados para os proprietários dos cães e obteve-se a localização geográfica da residência para a sua projeção em mapas geográficos. A soroprevalência foi de 13,8%, no qual o sorogrupo mais frequente foi o Icterohaemorrhagiae com 49,2%. Foram considerados fatores de risco os cães com acesso à rua, o não recolhimento da vasilha de alimento e a baixa renda dos proprietários. Foi observado maior número de cães soropositivos no período chuvoso com 87,1%, sendo um possível fator de risco para a ocorrência de casos. A distribuição dos cães soropositivos na cidade se apresentou de forma dispersa, com predominância dos casos em área antropizada. Esses fatores de risco favorecem a ocorrência de anticorpos antiLeptospiraem cães, os quais podem ser fontes de manutenção do agente na cidade e reforça a necessidade de vigilância epidemiológica e ambiental na prevenção da leptospirose.
Abstract Leptospirosis is a worldwide zoonosis whose transmission is interlinked by multiple factors in the man-animal-ecosystem interface. This study aimed to evaluate the risk factors for the occurrence of anti-Leptospira antibodies in dogs in the capital Teresina (PI), and to determine their spatial distribution. Five hundred fifty-eight dog blood samples were submitted to the Microscopic Serum Agglutination (MSA) test. We applied semi-structured questionnaires to dog owners and obtained the area of residence for projection in geographical maps. Serum prevalence was 13.8%, in which the most common serovar was icterohaemorrhagiae, with 49.2%. Dogs with street access, failure to collect food bowl and low income of owners were risk factors. There was a higher number of seropositive dogs in the rainy season, with 87.1%, which is a probable risk factor for the occurrence of cases. The distribution of seropositive dogs was widely spread in the city, with predominance of cases in anthropized areas. These risk factors favor the occurrence of anti-Leptospira antibodies in dogs that are agent maintenance sources in the city and reinforce the need for epidemiological and environmental surveillance to prevent leptospirosis.
Subject(s)
Humans , Animals , Male , Female , Dogs , Dog Diseases/epidemiology , Leptospira/immunology , Leptospirosis/epidemiology , Antibodies, Bacterial/blood , Brazil/epidemiology , Agglutination Tests , Seroepidemiologic Studies , Prevalence , Surveys and Questionnaires , Risk Factors , Dog Diseases/microbiology , IncomeABSTRACT
Leptospirosis is an endemic disease in Latin America, caused by pathogenic bacteria of the genus Leptospira. It is considered one of the main causes responsible for the negative economic impact on global livestock by causing reproductive problems. The research aimed to determine the prevalence of leptospirosis in cattle, sheep, and goats at consorted rearing in the micro-region of Teresina, Piauí state, northeastern Brazil, as well as to identify prevalent serovars and risk factors associated with seroprevalence. Serum samples were analyzed in 336 sheep, 292 goats, and 253 cattle using microscopic agglutination test (MAT). Overall, 378 samples were positive to MAT, with seroprevalence of 42.9%. The prevalences in cattle, sheep, and goats were 50.5, 40.5, and 34.6%, respectively. All herds presented at least one seropositive animal; the Hardjo/Wolffi serovar association was the most common in cattle and Icterohaemorrhagiae in goats and sheep. Beef production (OR = 4.9), cattle herd over 35 animals (OR = 4.0), feeding on pasture (OR = 6.4), weir and/or stream as water source (OR = 2.1), and no veterinary services (OR = 2.9) were risk factors for cattle infection. For sheep, intensive management system (OR = 5.3), suspended slatted facilities (OR = 2.2), more than 20 sheep in reproductive age (OR = 1.9), and absence of deworming (OR = 3.5) were the risk factors, while for goats, the identified risk factors were sheep herd over 52 animals (OR = 1.9) and no veterinary services (OR = 1.8). We conclude that the infection was spreading in consorted herds in this region. Thus, it would be interesting and important to conduct educative activities to farmers on the economic impacts of this disease and the need of preventive and control strategies mainly focused on sanitary measures and animal handling.
