Serological and molecular investigation of Leptospira spp. In bats (Chiroptera, Mammalia) from Brazil
Bats play a crucial role in the ecosystem, yet concerns have arisen regarding their potential as carriers of zoonotic bacteria, including Leptospira spp. Due to the lack of knowledge about the carrier state of bats in Brazil, this study aimed to evaluate the presence of antibodies against Leptospira spp. and its DNA in bats from four Brazilian States (São Paulo, Paraíba, Pernambuco, and Ceará). Bats were captured using mist nets and categorized by sex, age, and species. Antibodies were searched in 22 bats via the microscopic agglutination test (MAT). Additionally, 168 kidney and nine urine samples were subjected to PCR for Leptospira spp. Out of 177 samples tested, two (1.13 %) were positive in PCR, while none showed reactivity in MAT. These results suggest a low prevalence of Leptospira spp. infection in bats, indicating a limited role in transmitting leptospirosis to humans, domestic animals, and wildlife in the studied region.
Authors
- Ricardo Augusto Dias (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8241-7699)
- Felipe Rodrigues Jorge (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3700-3574)
- Juliana Maria Nunes Batista (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5860-0418)
- Natália Carrillo Gaeta (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6397-605X)
- E. Vila
- Beatriz Gagete Veríssimo de Mello (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9573-2885)
- Israel Barbosa Guedes (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9843-1452)
- João Eduardo Cavalcanti Brito (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4811-1810)
- Adriana Cortéz (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8234-088X)
- Ênio Mori (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5228-6424)
- Stephanie Bergmann Esteves (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3819-9222)
- José Soares Ferreira Neto (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1286-6245)
- Marcos Bryan Heinemann
Institutions
- Universidade Estadual do Ceará (BR)
- Universidade Federal da Paraíba (BR)
- Fundação de Estudo e Pesquisa em Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia (BR)
- Universidade de Santo Amaro (BR)
- Institut Pasteur de São Paulo (BR)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Microbial Pathogenesis
- Published
- 2024-11-13
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.micpath.2024.107117
- Primary Topic
- Leptospirosis research and findings
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo
- Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico