Laboratory of Zoonosis and Vector Communicable Diseases

Human and canine leptospirosis: serological data of São Paulo City, Brazil, 2000 to 2003

Dra. Érica Giuseppina Berardis Chapola,¹ Dra. Maria das Graças Soares dos Santos,² Dra. Thirsa Álvares Franco Bessa³ y Dra. Maria Lúcia de Oliveira⁴

Summary

Sera from humans and dogs were tested by microscopic agglutination test. Icterohaemorrhagiae was the predominant serogroup in both groups, associated with the infestation of Rattus norvegicus.

Key words: Leptospirosis, microscopic agglutination test, serogroup.

Leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease, endemic in Sao Paulo County. 4091 serum samples of human and canine origin, of suspected leptospirosis, were examined during the period 2000 to 2003, sent to the Zoonotic and Vector Communicable Diseases Laboratory, by the County´s Health Units and Veterinary Clinics.

Sera of 1913 humans and 2178 dogs were tested by microscopic agglutination test (MAT), with the serogroups Andamana, Australis, Autumnalis, Ballum, Bataviae, Canicola, Cynopteri, Djasiman, Grippotyphosa, Icterohaemorrhagiae, Javanica, Panama, Pomona, Pyrogenes, Sejroe, Shermani and  Tarassovi. Were considered sera with titers (≥ 800) as confirmed cases of leptospirosis.¹

The seropositivity found in the humans was 11% (218/1913) and of 19 % (424/2178) in the dogs samples. Icterohaemorrhagiae was the predominant serogroup in both groups, with results of 57 % and 82 % respectively. The human and canine leptospirosis are serious causes of health risk in the Sao Paulo County area, and even selecting high titers, as 800 or more, its occurrence is confirmed by laboratory. The predominance of the Icterohaemorrhagiae serogroup is associated with the infestation of Rattus norvegicus, aggravated by heavy rainfall and flooding in the summer and deficiencies in environmental health conditions in some regions. Laboratory data is a basic indicator tool for the planning of surveillance and control measures of  leptospirosis.²

Leptospirosis humana y canina: datos serológicos de la Ciudad de Sao Paulo, Brasil, 2000-2003 

Resumen

Palabras clave: Leptospirosis,  prueba de aglutinación microscópica, serogrupo.

 Cerri D, Ebani W, Fratini F, Pinzauti P, Andreani E. Epidemiology of leptospirosis: observations on serological data obtained by a “diagnostic laboratory for leptospirosis” from 1995 to 2001. New Microbiol 2003;26(4):383-9.

Recibido: 27 de diciembre de 2004.  Aprobado: 10 de marzo de 2005.
Dra. Érica Giuseppina Berardis Chapola. Management of Environmental Health Surveillance, Municipal Health Secretary of São Paulo, Brazil. Fax: 0055-11-62512249. E-mail: erica@prefeitura.sp.gov.br

¹ Biologist, specialization in Public Health.
² Pharmaceutical Biochemist, specialization in Public Health.
³ Pharmaceutical Biochemist, specialization in Public Health and Hospital Administration. ]]> ⁴ Medical Veterinary Medicine, specialization in Public Health