[Leptospiral antibodies in a Colombian zoo's neotropical primates and workers].
OBJECTIVE
Detecting antibodies against Leptospira spp. in Neotropical primates and workers in a Colombian Zoo and identifying the risk factors associated with the disease.


METHODS
A cross-sectional study was performed regarding 65 Neotropical primates and 20 zookeepers. The samples were processed by microagglutination test (MAT) using a reference strain collection consisting of 21 Leptospira serovars. The people being evaluated were given a structured survey to identify risk factors.


RESULTS
There was 25 % (5/20) Leptospira spp. infection seroprevalence in the staff and 23.07 % (15/65) in Neotropical monkeys. The most frequently occurring serovars in workers were bataviae, gryppotyphosa and ranarum; icterohaemorrhagiae, pomona and ranarum were the predominant serovars in non-human primates. The black spider monkey (Ateles fusciceps), white-fronted capuchin (Cebus albifrons) and white-footed tamarin (Saguinus leucopus) showed the highest reactivity. Most of the personnel were using protective clothing.


CONCLUSIONS
The contact between primates and zookeepers involving different Leptospira sp. serovars was evident. Zoo personnel using protective clothing and their length of experience were considered to be protective factors for the disease. There may be a risk of Leptospira transmission between zoo animals and staff, and it is therefore important to strengthen active surveillance and implement promotion and prevention programs.
Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias, Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias, Universidad de Caldas, Manizales, Colombia. marlyn.romero@ucaldas.edu.co
Marlyn H
MH
Romero
Miryam
M
Astudillo
Jorge A
JA
Sánchez
Lina M
LM
González
Néstor
N
Varela
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000372:Agglutination Tests; D000822:Animal Husbandry; D000818:Animals; D000836:Animals, Zoo / Q000276:immunology*; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood*; D003105:Colombia; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006801:Humans; D007919:Leptospira / Q000276:immunology*; D007922:Leptospirosis / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission / Q000662:veterinary*; D008875:Middle Aged; D008992:Monkey Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D051078:Platyrrhini / Q000276:immunology*; D011481:Protective Clothing; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D055815:Young Adult; D015047:Zoonoses / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial