INVESTIGAÇÃO DE ANTICORPOS ANTI-Leptospira spp. EM AMOSTRAS TATUS E TAMANDUÁS DE VIDA LIVRE DE MATO GROSSO DO SUL

Abstract

Leptospirosis is a cosmopolitan bacterial zoonosis caused by Gram-negative spirochetes of the *Leptospira* genus, which affects various mammals, including humans, and represents a significant risk to public and animal health. The interaction between wild and domestic animals contributes to the spread of the disease. While well-studied in some species, infection in armadillos (Dasypodidae) and anteaters (Myrmecophagidae) remains poorly understood. These animals, due to habitat destruction and their consequent proximity to human-inhabited areas, may play an important role in the epidemiology of leptospirosis, potentially increasing the risk of transmission between species. The One Health approach is essential to understanding the dynamics of this zoonosis, but the lack of studies on leptospirosis in these mammals limits the understanding of their role in the transmission or maintenance of the disease in their habitats. This study investigated the presence of anti-*Leptospira* spp. antibodies in wild armadillos and anteaters from Mato Grosso do Sul. A total of 109 serum samples from 81 animals, collected between 2011 and 2020 by the Wildlife Conservation Institute (ICAS), were analyzed. Of the samples, 48 were from *Priodontes maximus* (44.03%), 39 from *Myrmecophaga tridactyla* (37.77%), 19 from *Euphractus sexcinctus* (17.4%), two from *Tamandua tetradactyla* (1.9%), and one from *Cyclopes dorsalis* (0.8%). Serological diagnosis was performed using microscopic agglutination (MAT), with 21 *Leptospira* spp. serovars, considering samples with a titer ≥ 1:100 and agglutination ≥ 50% as positive. Of the 109 samples, 16 (14.6%) were positive for 8 serovars: Bratislava (1), Autumnalis (2), Butembo (2), Whitcombi (1), Cynopteri (1), Grippotyphosa (1), Pomona (11), and Shermani (1). The positive samples were mostly from *P. maximus* (87.5%), with one sample each from *M. tridactyla* and *T. tetradactyla*. Three samples (18.75%) reacted to more than one serovar, with titers ranging from 100 to 1,600. The identification of 8 *Leptospira* serovars in armadillos and anteaters suggests that these animals could serve as sentinels for the circulation of *Leptospira* spp. in the environment, possibly due to contact with reservoirs such as wild boars, cattle, and other wild and domestic species. Further research is needed to integrate human, animal, and environmental health, clarifying the role of these mammals in the epidemiology of leptospirosis.