Survey of Leptospira spp. and Brucella abortus in Free-Ranging Armadillos from Pantanal, Brazil.
Out of the 20 recognized species of armadillos in the world, 11 are found in Brazil, and five of them are found in Pantanal, one of the world's largest wetlands. Beef cattle (Bos taurus) farming is the main economic activity in this region, which promotes intense wildlife-livestock contact and increases the likelihood of pathogen exposure, including to agents with zoonotic and economic relevance. Previous studies demonstrated that several wildlife species in Pantanal have been exposed to Brucella abortus and Leptospira spp.; however, little is known regarding the exposure and/or prevalence of zoonotic pathogens in armadillos. We used conventional PCR, the rose Bengal test (RBT), and the microscopic agglutination test (MAT) to investigate the exposure to and infection by Brucella spp. and Leptospira spp. using blood samples from four species of armadillos: nine-banded armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus, n=2), southern naked-tailed armadillo (Cabassous unicinctus, n=8), yellow armadillo (Euphractus sexcinctus, n=16), and giant armadillo (Priodontes maximus, n=22), captured in Nhecolândia, Pantanal, Brazil. Samples were PCR- and RBT-negative for Brucella spp. infection and exposure. However, MAT revealed a Leptospira spp. seroprevalence of 31% (5/16; 95% confidence interval [CI]=0.11-0.58) in yellow armadillo and 18% (4/22; 95% CI=0.05-0.40) in giant armadillo specimens to serogroups Autumnalis, Cynopteri, and Pomona, with titers ranging from 200 to 1,600. Our results contribute to the understanding of zoonotic pathogens in armadillos in Pantanal and reinforce the importance of wildlife health surveillance in this area.
['Dalazen|Gislaine Taimara|GT|', 'de Souza Filho|Antonio Francisco|AF|', 'Sanchez Sarmiento|Angélica Maria|AM|', 'Fuentes-Castillo|Danny|D|', 'Gattamorta|Marco Aurélio|MA|', 'Kluyber|Danilo|D|', 'Jean Desbiez|Arnaud Léonard|AL|', 'Heinemann|Marcos Bryan|MB|', 'Matushima|Eliana Reiko|ER|']
D000818:Animals D000835:Animals, Wild D001135:Armadillos D001938:Brazil D002003:Brucella abortus D002006:Brucellosis D007919:Leptospira D007922:Leptospirosis D012698:Serologic Tests
Dasypus novemcinctus Cabassous unicinctus Euphractus sexcinctus Priodontes maximus Nhecolândia Cingulata Xenarthra