Detección de leptospiras patógenas en tejido renal de murciélagos de Corrientes, Argentina

Abstract

Many animal species participate in the transmission of different leptospire serovars, such as bats. A large number of bats in urban areas has been associated with habitat changes due to the effects of humans on the environment. This fact increases the probability of contact between human beings and/or pets. The search of pathogenic leptospire species is a fundamental step for understanding the disease for a considered region. Aim of this work was to identify natural infection with pathogenic leptospires in bats from Corrientes, Argentina, by means of polymerase chain reaction (simple PCR) during the period 2010-2012. Animals were collected using nets and traps. Identification of bats was performed taking into account phenotypic characteristics and morphological measures. Animals were euthanized with 20% chloral hydrate and kidney samples were collected for DNA extraction. Two genes were amplified using simple PCR: mt DNA 12S/16S mitochondrial gene (as a control of species) and part of LipL32 genes. Analysis of batś morphology revealed the presence of three out of the four families present in Argentina. Presence of leptospire DNA was detected in 20% of bats, being this the first report for Argentina. The determination of leptospire DNA is a useful and accurate method in those cases where the molecular search of the pathogen was not detected.