Occurrence of antibodies to Leptospira spp and Toxoplasma gondii in captive wild animals in the Zoobotanical Park of Petrolina, PE, Brazil

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Leptospirosis and toxoplasmosis are cosmopolitan zoonoses affecting domestic and wild animals that can inhabit urban environments acting as reservoirs of infectious agents, increasing the risk of zoonotic diseases transmission to humans. The present study aimed to detect serum antibodies to Leptospira spp. and Toxoplasma gondii in captive wild animals from the Zoobotanical Park, located in the city of Petrolina, State of Pernambuco, Brazil. METHODS: Samples were collected from 72 wild animals, including 12 mammals, 26 birds, and reptiles. Serological diagnosis for anti-T. gondii antibody detection was performed on birds and mammals using the modified agglutination test (MAT Toxo). Anti-Leptospira spp. antibodies were detected in reptiles and mammals by microscopic agglutination test (MAT Lepto). RESULTS: The occurrence of T. gondii antibodies was 56.4% (22/39), with positive animals from the genera: Procyon cancryvorus (1/2), Ara ararauna (4/4), Patagioenas picazuro (5/5), Amazona aestiva (5/5), Aratinga acuticaudata (3/3), Tayassu tajacu (2/2), Nasua nasua (1/1) and Cerdocyon thous (1/1). Anti-Leptospira spp. antibodies were found in 4.4% (2/45) of the animals, with one out of the two Tamandua tetradactyla positive for the subgroup Australis and one out of the 23 Geochelone carbonaria positive for the subgroup Hebdomadis. CONCLUSION: Captive wild animals from zoos can take part in the life cycle of these agents, acting as reservoirs, thus assuming an important role in the epidemiological chain of these important zoonotic agents.