title: Experimental leptospirosis in capybaras (Hydrochaeris hydrochaeris) infected with Leptospira interrogans serovar Pomona.
abstract: Capybara (Hydrochaeris hydrochaeris), the largest rodent in the world, is widely distributed in South America. These animals live in areas with abundant water, which makes them a potential reservoir for Leptospira. The objective of this study was to investigate seroconversion, leptospiremia, and leptospiruria in capybaras experimentally infected with a virulent strain of Leptospira interrogans serovar Pomona. Seven capybaras were used: one control and six infected. Agglutinins against serovar Pomona were initially detected in serum 6 or 7 day after innoculation with Leptospira (10(9)-10(11) organisms, given i.v.), peaked (titer, approximately 3,200) between 9 and 27 day, and were still present at 83 day (end of study). The earliest and latest isolation of leptospires from the blood was from 2-12 day and from urine, 9-19 day after exposure. However, polymerase chain reaction and isolation results from kidney and liver samples were negative for leptospires. The control animal tested negative on all diagnostic tests. Hence, the capybara can serve as a host for Leptospira.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil. fernanda@triade.org.br
authors.forename: Maria Fernanda Vianna
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Marvulo
authors.forename: Jean Carlos Ramos
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: Patrícia Marques
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Ferreira
authors.forename: Zenaide Maria
authors.initials: ZM
authors.lastname: de Morais
authors.forename: Andrea Micke
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Moreno
authors.forename: Daniela Sabatini
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Doto
authors.forename: Renata
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Paixão
authors.forename: Maria Regina
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Baccaro
authors.forename: Silvio Arruda
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Vasconcellos
authors.forename: José Soares
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Ferreira Neto
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood; D041401:Leptospira interrogans serovar pomona; D007922:Leptospirosis / Q000097:blood / Q000382:microbiology / Q000652:urine / Q000662:veterinary*; D012377:Rodentia
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial