Oxidative metabolism and hematobiochemical changes in horses with subclinical leptospirosis

Abstract

Leptospirosis is a zoonotic infectious disease that affects domestic and wild animals and is of great importance for public health worldwide. In animals, especially horses, the disease often presents asymptomatic, however, they are considered a source of infection for humans and other species. The present study aimed to evaluate patterns of erythrocyte oxidative metabolism (glutathione and malondialdehyde), erythrocyte osmotic fragility and hematobio-chemicals in horses with subclinical leptospirosis to aid in the diagnostic and prognostic of the infection. For this purpose 207 horses were evaluated, positive (n = 94) and negative (n = 113) for leptospirosis. Horses with leptospirosis frequently showed anti-leptospira antibodies from L. Bratislava 37.23% (35/94), L. Icterohaemorrhagiae 23.4% (22/94) and L. Grippotyphosa 11.7% (11/94). As principais alterações observadas foram nos valores de hemoglobina, VGM, eosinófilos, glutationa reduzida eritrocitária, albumina e glicose (P<0,05). These changes show that leptospirosis in horses can be a silent disease, difficult to diagnostic and prognostic. The equine serum reagents for Leptospira spp. present minimal changes in the observed parameters, insufficient to establish a pattern of changes among positive animals and corroborate with the diagnosis. However, diagnostic and surveillance measures must be active, as animals can represent a reservoir for the agent and a potential source of infection for humans.