Aiming to analyze the antibody response to leptospirosis the microscopic agglutination test (MAT) was used in the period 2008 to 2009. Seventy-two serum samples from wild mammals belonging to the Bauru Municipal Zoological Park, state of São Paulo, Brazil, were tested. Of these, 60 (83.3%) were reactive to the following serovars: Pyrogenes (15.2%), Pomona (9.4%), Autumnalis (8.9%); Whitcomb (6.8%); Tarassovi (6.3%); Hardjo (5.7%); Butembo and Bratislava (4.7%); Wolffi (4.2%); Copenhageni (3.7%), Javanica, Hardjobovis and Hardjo prajitno (3.1%); Hebdomadis and Australis (2.6%); Canicola, Cynopteri and Djasiman (2.1%); Icterohaemorraghiae and Hardjominiswajezak (1.6%); Castellonis, Bataviae, Sentot, Gryppotyphosa and HardjoCTG (1.0%); Andamana and Panama (0.5%). The animals showed no evidence of antibodies to serovars Shermani and Patoc. Besides the wildlife, 50 sera were analyzed from synanthropic rodents captured inside the park, where 48 (96%) were positive to leptospirosis. The reactive serotypes were: Bratislava (14.1%); Cynopteri (11.4%); Butembo (10.3%), Autumnalis (9.2%); Pyrogenes (8.7%); Hardjo miniswajezak (7.6%); Australis (5.4%); Hardjo (4.9%); Hardjo prajitno (3.8%); Djasiman and HardjoCTG (3.3%); Whitcombi, Copenhageni and Tarassovi (2.7%); Pomona and Shermani (2.2%); Canicola (1.1%); Castellonis, Bataviae, Gryppotyphosa, Panama, Wolffi, Andamana, Patoc and Hardjobovis (0.5%). Serovars Sentot, Hebdomadis, Icterohaemorraghiae and Javanica were negative. The results demonstrated the need for serological monitoring of animals in the zoo, and adoption of control measures against this zoonotic disease, such as checking points of flooding and rodent control in order to prevent the spread of this zoonotic disease in the environment of the park.
Wild animals; leptospirosis; diagnosis; rodents; zoo