Antibodies against Leptospira spp. in captive collared peccaries, Peru.

To the Editor: Leptospirosis is endemic to tropical South America and is a major public health problem for persons living in some regions of the Amazon Basin (1-3). For local inhabitants, the collared peccary (Tayassu tajacu) represents a major source of meat and income and is one of the most hunted species. As a result, several farms are attempting to produce captive collared peccaries (4). Although spirochetes have been isolated from bats, marsupials, and rodents in the Peruvian Amazon (5), local popular game animals have not been tested.

From May through December 2003, 96 collared peccaries from 4 experimental farms in 2 Amazonian provinces of Peru (Loreto and Ucayali) were surveyed for antibodies against Leptospira spp. Although the initial stock of each farm came from the wild, most animals had been born in captivity, remained on their respective farms, and had no contact with animals from the different farms. Blood samples were taken from animals that were born or maintained on the farm for [greater than or equal to] 6 months, were in good physical condition, and showed no signs of disease. Samples that had been hemolyzed or otherwise contaminated were discarded, leaving optimal samples from 96 animals (sex ratio 1:1, 71% [greater than or equal to] 1 year of age).

The microscopic agglutination test was performed with a panel of 24 antigens belonging to 17 serogroups of Leptospira spp. used for screening surveys at the National Leptospirosis Reference Laboratory. An additional distinct strain, obtained from a febrile human patient in the Peruvian Amazon and provisionally designated as Var10, was added (2). Serum samples were considered positive if they had 50% agglutination and titers > 100 (6). Chi-square tests were used for statistical comparisons of sex and age; significance was set at p<0.05.

Among the screened samples, 64.6% reacted to 15 serovars (strains) that belong to 11 serogroups (Table). Seroprevalence did not differ significantly in relation to sex or age. Var10 was the most prevalent (56.2%) strain. This strain was isolated from a human patient in Iquitos (Loreto, Peru) and involved in recent outbreaks in the northern Peruvian Amazon (2); its taxonomic classification is pending. In terms of its distribution, 32 peccaries had positive results for Varl0 only; 12 serum samples were reactive to >1 known serogroup. Leptospira sp. Var10 reacted mainly with serogroups Australis and Hebdomadis. Maximum titers were 6,400 for serogroup Tarassovi and 3,200 for Icterohaemorraghiae. High seroprevalence (15.6%) against serogroup Australis (serovar bratislava) has been reported in collared peccaries and in feral and domestic pigs (7,8)

Seroprevalence on the farm in Loreto (n = 27) was 100%. At this farm, peccaries are kept near aquatic species and numerous ponds of stagnant water, which provide an ideal environment for the development of Leptospira spp. Because of recent human leptospirosis outbreaks in the area (2), 3 of the peccary caretakers were tested for antibodies against Leptospira spp.; their results were negative.

Although similar to animals described in previous reports (7,9), none of the sampled animals showed evidence of disease at the time of sampling; however, absence of clinical disease does not exclude the possibility of subclinical or past infections. Furthermore, the high prevalence of antibodies to multiple serotypes suggests a wide exposure to Leptospira spp. Despite reports that suggest the collared peccary could act as a reservoir for Leptospira spp. (7,9), the finding of high antibody titers in some individual animals could indicate that collared peccaries are incidental rather than reservoir hosts. However, the prevalences found at 4 distant farms also indicate that this species could play some role in the maintenance and spread of leptospirosis in the Amazon Basin.

Multiple titers to different serovars or serogroups in the same serum sample are common with serologic testing and difficult to interpret. Multiple titers can result from cross-reactions between different serovars or from true multiple infections (10). Regardless, serologic tests are only indicative of exposure to leptospires. Further efforts are necessary to isolate lepstospires from the urine or renal tissue of collared peccaries to confirm the presence of spirochetes and their potential dissemination into the environment.

Our findings indicate that persons who have contact with collared peccaries and their products, particularly animal caretakers, researchers, hunters, and game traders, are at risk for zoonotic disease (3). Because further wildlife production in the Peruvian Amazon is expected, movement of animals and high animal densities could increase the chances of spirochete transmission within and between the farms. Therefore, precautions should be taken to limit the potential risks for leptospirosis transmission to domestic animals and humans.

Acknowledgments

We thank the staff of Biodiversidad Amazdnica, San Juan (Backus Foundation), Pucallpa Natural Park, and Club Divina Montana Resort for supporting the experimental animals and helping with sample collection. We also thank Pucallpa Natural Park staff for their invaluable assistance during the field work and the National Leptospirosis Reference Laboratory of Lima, Peru, for sample processing.

This work received financial support from the National Health Institute of Peru and the INCO PECARI project (European Commission 5th Framework Programme).

References

(1.) Bharti AR, Nally JE, Ricaldi JN, Matthias MA, Diaz MM, Lovett MA, et al. Leptospirosis: a zoonotic disease of global importance. Lancet Infect Dis. 2003;3: 757-71.

(2.) Segura ER, Ganoza CA, Campos K, Ricaldi JN, Torres S, Silva H, et al. Clinical spectrum of pulmonary involvement in leptospirosis in a region of endemicity, with quantification of leptospiral burden. Clin Infect Dis. 2005;40:343 51.

(3.) Silverman MS, Aronson L, Eccles M, Eisenstat J, Gottesman M, Rowsell R, et al. Leptospirosis in febrile men ingesting Agouti paca in South America. Ann Trop Med Parasitol. 2004;98:851-9.

(4.) Bodmer RE, Pezo Lozano E, Fang TG. Economic analysis of wildlife use in the Peruvian Amazon. In: Silvius K, Bodmer R, Fragoso, J, editors. People in nature: wildlife conservation in South and Central America. New York: Columbia University Press; 2004. p. 191-210.

(5.) Bunnell J, Hice C, Watts D, Montrueil V, Tesh R, Vinetz J. Detection of pathogenic Leptospira spp. infections among mammals captured in the Peruvian Amazon Basin region. [cited 2007 Mar 13]. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2000;63:225-58. Available from http://www.ajtmh.org

(6.) Cespedes M, Glenny M. Manual de procedimientos baeteriologico y serologico para el diagnostico de la Leptospirosis. Serie de Normas Tecnicas no 34. Lima, Peru: Ministerio de Salud del Peril, Instituto Nacional de Salud; 2002. p. 53.

(7.) Corn JL, Lee RM, Erickson GA, Murphy CD. Serologic survey for evidence of exposure to vesicular stomatitis virus, pseudorabies virus, brucellosis and leptospirosis in collared peccaries from Arizona. J Wildl Dis. 1987;23:551-7.

(8.) Lomar AV, Diament D. Torres JR. Leptospirosis in Latin America. Infect Dis Clin North Am. 2000;14:23-39.

(9.) Mayor P, Le Pendu Y, Guimaraes DA, da Silva JV, Tavares HL, Tello M, et al. A health evaluation in a colony of captive peccaries (Tayassu tajacu) in the Eastern Amazon. 2006. Res Vet Sci. 2006;81: 246-53.

(10.) Andre Fontaine G. Leptospirose. In: Lefevre PC, Blancou J, Chermette R, editors. Prineipales maladies infectieuses et parasitaires du betail: Europe et regions chaudes. Vol 2. Maladies bacteriennes, mycoses, maladies parasitaires. Paris: Editions Medicales Internationales; 2003. p. 993-1005.

Address for correspondence: Patricia Mendoza, Instituto Veterinario de Investigaciones Tropieales y de Altura, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Mareos, PO Box 575, Iquitos, Peru 625; email: patty_mendozab@yahoo. com.ar

Patricia Mendoza, * Pedro Mayor, ([dagger]) Hugo A. Galvez, * Manuel J. Cespedes, ([double dagger]) and Ferran Jori ([section])

* Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Lima, Peru; ([dagger]) Autonomous University of Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain; ([double dagger]) Instituto Nacional de Salud, Lima, Peru; and ([section]] Centre de Cooperation Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Developpement, Montpellier, France

Table. Prevalence of antileptospiral agglutinins per positive
serogroup in captive collared peccaries, Peruvian Amazon,
May 2003-Dec 2003 *

                                                  Loreto area

                                                    BIOAM
                                                   (n = 27)

                      Positive                Positive
                      reactions     Max       reactions     Max
Serogroup             no. (%)      titer      no. (%)      titer

Total                 62 (64.6)    6,400      27 (100)     6,400
Var10 ([dagger])      54 (56.2)    1,600      27 (100)     1,600
Australis             15 (15.6)      800       5 (18.5)      100
Hebdomadis             7 (7.3)       100       5 (18.5)      100
Icterohaemorrhagiae    4 (4.2)     3,200       2 (7.4)       100
Autumnalis             4 (4.2)       100       3 (11.1)      100
Bataviae               4 (4.2)       400       2 (7.4)       200
Tarassovi              3 (3.1)     6,400       3 (11.1)    6,400
Djasiman               2 (2.1)       800       0               -
Grippothyphosa         2 (2.1)       800       0               -
Ballum                 2 (2.1)       100       2 (7.4)       100
Canicola               1 (1.0)       100       0               -
Mini                   1 (1.0)       100       0               -

                                      Ucayali area

                       Pucallpa Natural
                          Park (n = 6)         San Juan (n = 52)

                      Positive                Positive
                      reactions     Max       reactions     Max
Serogroup             no. (%)      titer      no. (%)      titer

Total                  1 (16.6)      100       27 (51.9)   3,200
Var10 ([dagger])       1 (16.6)      100       19 (36.5)   1,600
Australis              0               -        9 (17.3)     800
Hebdomadis             0               -        2 (3.8)      100
Icterohaemorrhagiae    0               -        2 (3.8)    3,200
Autumnalis             0               -        1 (1.9)      100
Bataviae               0               -        2 (3.8)      400
Tarassovi              0               -        0              -
Djasiman               0               -        2 (3.8)      800
Grippothyphosa         0               -        2 (3.8)      800
Ballum                 0               -        0              -
Canicola               0               -        1 (1.9)      100
Mini                   0               -        1 (1.9)      100

                         Ucayali area

                          Club Divina
                        Montana (n = 11)

                      Positive
                      reactions     Max
Serogroup             no. (%)      titer

Total                  7 (63.6)      100
Var10 ([dagger])       7 (63.6)      100
Australis              1 (9.1)       100
Hebdomadis             0               -
Icterohaemorrhagiae    0               -
Autumnalis             0               -
Bataviae               0               -
Tarassovi              0               -
Djasiman               0               -
Grippothyphosa         0               -
Ballum                 0               -
Canicola               0               -
Mini                   0               -

* BIOAM, Biodiversidad Amazonica; Max, maximum; --, titer
not applicable.

([dagger]) Classification pending.