Searching of swine leptospiral carrier by microbial isolation and polymerase chain reaction in kidney samples from serologically positive and negative animals

Abstract

With the purpose to study the presence of swine leptospiral carrier,131 blood samples and the kidneys from the respective animals were taken during slaughter in abattoir house in Botucatu - SP region. By the Microscopic Agglutination Test (MAT), 48 serum samples were positive against one or more serovars, with a rate of the occurrence of 36.64% to anti-leptospiral antibodies and greater importance to the serovar icterohaemorrhagiae. The investigation of the agent, a total of 88 kidney samples were submitted to culture in EMJH media and analysed by PCR. From those 88 kidney samples, 48 were of serologically positive animals and 40 of negative animals, being isolated and detected the agent in one kidney sample, belonging to a seropositive animal. Although was not possible the statistical evaluation in terms of sensitivity and specificity of the two test to detection, the PCR showed faster and most practical to study leptospiral carriers. By the results of isolation it must be emphasized the importance of those animals as the transmitters of the disease to slaughter house workers and to meat inspectors.