title: Presence of antibodies against Leptospira serovars in Chaetophractus villosus (Mammalia, Dasypodidae), La Pampa province, Argentina.
abstract: Leptospirosis is a zoonosis of worldwide distribution. The aim of this study was to examine the presence of antibodies against 21 Leptospira reactive serovars in Chaetophractus villosus in La Pampa province, Argentina, using the microscopic agglutination test (MAT). Pathologic changes compatible with leptospirosis and in situ detection of the agent by immunohistochemistry were studied in 24 and 3 individuals respectively. Only 35/150 (23.3%) serum samples had antibodies against Leptospira sp. Six percent of the samples reacted with serovar Canicola, 4.7% with serovar Castellonis, 1.3% with serovar Icterohemorrhagieae and 0.7% with serovar Hardjo. Sixteen (10.6%) serum samples agglutinated with Castellonis-Icterohemorrhagiae and Canicola-Castellonis serovars, both with 4.7%, and Canicola-Hardjo and Castellonis-Canicola-Icterohemorrhagiae both with 0.6%. Fourteen animals had variable degrees of lesions, which were more severe in animals with higher serological titers (3200), and Leptospira sp. was detected in 3 animals by immunohistochemistry. These results represent the first record of the presence of Leptospira in C. villosus in La Pampa.
authors.affiliation: Chordate Biology, Department of Natural and Exact Sciences, UNLPam, Santa Rosa, La Pampa, Argentina. Electronic address: kinsusana@yahoo.com.ar.
authors.forename: Marta S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Kin
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pathobiology, CICVyA - CNIA, INTA, Morón, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Bibiana
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Brihuega
authors.affiliation: Animal Health Laboratory, INTA, Anguil, Anguil, La Pampa, Argentina.
authors.forename: Marcelo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fort
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pathobiology, CICVyA - CNIA, INTA, Morón, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Delgado
authors.affiliation: Animal Health Laboratory, INTA, Anguil, Anguil, La Pampa, Argentina.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bedotti
authors.affiliation: Chair Animal Physiology, Department of Biology, Biochemistry and Pharmacy, Universidad Nacional del Sur, CONICET, INBIOSUR, Bahía Blanca, Argentina.
authors.forename: Emma B
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Casanave
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood*; D001118:Argentina; D001135:Armadillos / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D007919:Leptospira / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D012703:Serotyping
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial
keywords: Animales silvestres; Chaetopractus villosus; Leptospira; Serovares; Serovars; Wildlife; Xenarthra