SOROPREVALÊNCIA E DETECÇÃO MOLECULAR DE Leptospira spp. E Brucella spp. EM Podocnemis expansa CRIADAS EM CATIVEIRO

Abstract

In order to delect anti-Lepstopira and anti-Brucella antibodies in captive bred Podocnemis expansa blood serum samples and to investigate the presence of the bacterial DNA in these reptiles and in the samples of the environment where they live, blood samples, stomach wash, kidneys, urine and gonads were collected from 60 specimens and water and sediment samples from the breeding dam. For the identification of the anti-Leptospira antibodies was used the microscopic agglutination test (MAT) and antibodies anti-Brucella detection used the rose bengal plate test (RBPT). The DNA detection of the agents was performed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). At MAT, five reagents animals for the Sentot serovar was found with titles between 50 and 200. There weren't reagents in the RBPT. The PCR revealed that three P. expansa contained the agent DNA in the kidneys samples and only in the gonads samples of a reptile found the bacterial. Of individuals with Leptospira spp. DNA present only one of them had anti-Leptospira antibodies, being the highest title, 200. The results demonstrate that P. expansa can be a maintenance host of the serovar Sentot found in the enviromental where they live, and also be a natural host of Brucella spp. allowing a spread of the agent.