Antibody prevalence of Leptospira spp. and Brucella abortus in domestic cats from Araguaína, Tocantins, North Region of Brazil

Abstract

Leptospira spp. and Brucella abortus are bacterial pathogens that can infect humans and animals. The present study was developed with the objectives of detecting anti-Leptospira and anti-B. abortus antibodies and verifying the presence of factors associated with seropositivity in cats. One hundred and eighty serum samples were collected from domestic cats (Felis silvestris catus) from the urban area of ​​the municipality of Araguaina-Tocantins by phlebocentesis of the cephalic and jugular veins. The samples were subjected to anti-Leptospira and anti-Brucella abortus antibodies reasearch, respectively, by microscopic seroagglutination and buffered acidified antigen followed by confirmation by the 2-mercaptoethanol test and slow seroagglutination in tubes. Data from the epidemiological questionnaire (age, sex, origin, breed and presence of clinical signs) were collected and analyzed using the Epi Info® software with the seropositivity data found to search for associated factors using the chi-square test. There was a prevalence of 5.56% (10/180) against Leptospira spp. in the present study. However, no sample was reactive for B. abortus. None of the studied variables was associated with seropositivity for the pathogens evaluated. Therefore, there is contact of Leptospira spp. with the feline population of the municipality, indicating the possibility of the circulation of pathogenic serovars and that the presence of anti-Leptospira antibodies does not depend on the variables analyzed. Keywords: brucellosis; felines; leptospirosis; public health.