Journal
EPIDEMIOLOGY AND INFECTION
Volume 143, Issue 10, Pages 2126-2130Publisher
CAMBRIDGE UNIV PRESS
DOI: 10.1017/S0950268814003331
Keywords
Leptospira; leptospirosis; wild boar; Altodouro; Northern Portugal; serology
Funding
- Laboratory of Applied Ecology (University of Tras-os-Montes)
- Laboratory of Applied Ecology (Alto Douro, UTAD)
- Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) [PEst-OE/AGR/UI4033/2014]
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Leptospirosis is a zoonosis of worldwide distribution, caused by infection with pathogenic spirochaetes of the genus Leptospira. The wild boar (Sus scrofa), an important hunting species in Europe, seems to play a significant role in the epidemiological cycle of leptospirosis. A total of 101 serum samples from wild boar hunted in Northern Portugal were analysed for leptospiral antibodies detection by microscopic agglutination test. Sera were collected during hunting seasons (2011-2013) and tested with 17 different pathogenic serovars of Leptospira. Antibodies against nine serovars were detected in 66 (65.4%) of these sera. Serovars Tarassovi and Altodouro exhibited the highest seroreactivity rates (23.8% and 16.8%, respectively), followed by Autumnalis (7.9%) and Bratislava (6.9%). Age and district of origin were found to be risk factors for the presence of leptospiral antibodies in contrast to gender. From a One Health perspective, this study revealed that wild boar should be considered as a potential source of leptospirosis dissemination for humans and animal species (domestic and wild) in shared environments, particularly in the Tras-os-Montes region.
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