Premium
Leptospira interrogans infection of southern tamanduas ( Tamandua tetradactyla , Linnaeus, 1758) in Brazil
Author(s) -
Sousa Mônica S.,
Cristiny Rodrigues Silva Maria Luana,
Santos Azevedo Sérgio,
Araújo Júnior João Pessoa,
Malossi Camila Dantas,
Sabrina Ullmann Leila,
Nascimento Harlan Hallamys Lima,
Kommers Glaucia Denise,
Nery Thiago Ferreira Lopes,
Lucena Ricardo Barbosa
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
transboundary and emerging diseases
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.392
H-Index - 63
eISSN - 1865-1682
pISSN - 1865-1674
DOI - 10.1111/tbed.13523
Subject(s) - leptospira interrogans , interstitial nephritis , leptospirosis , histopathology , leptospira , pathology , biology , spirochaete , lethargy , kidney , virology , medicine , genetics , bacteria , endocrinology
Abstract Leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease of global importance caused by an obligate aerobic spirochaete that infects a wide variety of domestic and wild animals. Natural hosts are asymptomatic or show moderate signs of the disease. Accidental hosts develop a severe, often lethal, form of the disease. All young southern tamanduas died suddenly at the zoo in the city of João Pessoa, Brazil. The animals were found dead without any noticeable clinical signs. Necropsy revealed extensive haemorrhage in the subcutaneous tissues, kidneys, lungs in addition to the presence of red fluid in the thoracic, abdominal and pericardial cavities. Histopathology of kidneys exhibited acute interstitial nephritis and tubular necrosis. Immunohistochemical staining revealed typical leptospiral wavy forms and aggregates in the lumen of several kidney tubules and lungs. Pathological and molecular investigations confirmed Leptospira interrogans infection. The adult tamanduas did not present with clinical alterations. To our knowledge, this investigation is the first study to report that leptospirosis should be considered as a possible cause of death in tamanduas. This article warns of the risks of anthropization with respect to Leptospira transmission to tamanduas, other animals and humans.