Detection of Antibodies against Tick-Borne Encephalitis Virus in Zoo Animals Using Non-Invasive Blood Sampling with Medicinal Leeches (Hirudo medicinalis).

Pavel Kvapil,Jožko Račnik,Nuša Jež,Tatjana Avšič-Županc,Marjan Kastelic,Nikola Kašpárková,Mateja Jelovšek,Eva Bártová,Kamil Sedlák

doi:10.3390/pathogens10080952

Abstract

Reports on non-invasive blood sampling are limited, and there are only a few studies on using kissing bugs (Reduviidae) and medicinal leeches (Hirudo medicinalis) for hematology and biochemistry testing in various zoo animal species. The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of non-invasive blood sampling with medicinal leeches for arbovirus epidemiological investigations in various animal species from one zoo collection. Medicinal leeches were manually applied on 35 animals of 11 species. Control blood samples were obtained by venipuncture of the jugular vein. Antibodies to tick-borne encephalitic virus (TBEV) were detected by using the immunoenzymatic method or an immunofluorescent assay (IFAT), depending on the animal species. One of the 35 animals (2.9%) was seropositive (Ovis aries), whereas the rest of the samples were seronegative in both methods of sampling (non-invasive by leeches vs. invasive by venipuncture). Blood sampling using medicinal leeches showed promising results. It is likely a good alternative to other more complex and invasive methods, and it can provide significant advancement in blood sampling for preventive medicine and epidemiological studies in zoo animals.

Highlights

Animal welfare in zoos depends on good health care for each individual animal, with infectious disease monitoring being one of the most important pillars of preventive veterinary medicine in the collection
The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of non-invasive blood sampling with medicinal leeches for arbovirus epidemiological investigations in various animal species from one zoo collection
This study investigated the usefulness of medicinal leeches for blood sampling and serological screening of arboviral infection in various animal species in a zoo collection

Summary

Introduction

Animal welfare in zoos depends on good health care for each individual animal, with infectious disease monitoring being one of the most important pillars of preventive veterinary medicine in the collection. Leeches were used for releasing bad humors in human and veterinary medicine [5,6]. They are used as additional therapy in plastic surgery and for treatment of osteoarthrosis and osteoarthritis [7,8,9,10]. Hirudin, excreted in leech saliva, is an anticoagulant agent secreted by the leech that prevents blood clotting and is used in current human medicine [11]. This study investigated the usefulness of medicinal leeches for blood sampling and serological screening of arboviral infection in various animal species in a zoo collection

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