Serosurvey of Smooth Brucella, Leptospira spp. and Toxoplasma gondii in Free-Ranging Jaguars (Panthera onca) and Domestic Animals from Brazil

PLoS One. 2015 Nov 25;10(11):e0143816. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0143816. eCollection 2015.

Abstract

This study investigated the exposure of jaguar populations and domestic animals to smooth Brucella, Leptospira spp. and Toxoplasma gondii in the Cerrado, Pantanal and Amazon biomes of Brazil. Between February 2000 and January 2010, serum samples from 31 jaguars (Panthera onca), 1,245 cattle (Bos taurus), 168 domestic dogs (Canis lupus familiaris) and 29 domestic cats (Felis catus) were collected and analysed by rose bengal test for smooth Brucella, microscopic agglutination test for Leptospira spp. and modified agglutination test for T. gondii. Cattle populations from all sites (9.88%) were exposed to smooth Brucella, but only one jaguar from Cerrado was exposed to this agent. Jaguars captured in the Cerrado (60.0%) and in the Pantanal (45.5%) were seropositive for different serovars of Leptospira spp., cattle (72.18%) and domestic dogs (13.1%) from the three sites and one domestic cat from Pantanal were also seropositive for the agent. The most prevalent serotype of Leptospira spp. identified in jaguars from the Cerrado (Grippotyphosa) and the Pantanal (Pomona) biomes were distinct from those found in the domestic animals sampled. Jaguars (100%), domestic dogs (38.28%) and domestic cats (82.76%) from the three areas were exposed to T. gondii. Our results show that brucellosis and leptospirosis could have been transmitted to jaguars by domestic animals; and jaguars probably play an important role in the maintenance of T. gondii in nature.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animal Diseases / epidemiology*
  • Animal Diseases / immunology
  • Animal Diseases / microbiology
  • Animal Diseases / parasitology
  • Animals
  • Animals, Domestic*
  • Brazil
  • Brucella / immunology*
  • Brucellosis / veterinary*
  • Cattle
  • Dogs
  • Geography
  • Leptospira / immunology*
  • Leptospirosis / veterinary*
  • Panthera / microbiology*
  • Panthera / parasitology*
  • Toxoplasma / immunology*
  • Toxoplasmosis, Animal / immunology*

Grants and funding

This study received financial support from the following: 1) FAPESP (Fundação de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo): Process n° 2007/50941-5; www.fapesp.br; financial support to data collection and analysis (JSFN). 2) Fundação Monsanto: www.monsanto.com/global/br/quem-somos/pages/fundacao-monsanto.aspx; financial support to data collection (LS). 3) Earthwatch Institute: www.earthwatch.org; financial support to data collection (LS). 4) The Memphis Zoo: www.memphiszoo.org; financial support to data collection (LS). 5) FAPESP (Fundação de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo, Process n°2007/50942-1): MF received a scholarship from FAPESP. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.