Pesquisa de suínos portadores renais de leptospiras pelo isolamento microbiano e reação em cadeia pela polimerase em amostras de rins de animais sorologicamente positivos e negativos para leptospirose Searching of swine leptospiral carrier by microbial isolation and polymerase chain reaction in kidney samples from serologically positive and negative animals

Summary With the purpose to study the presence of swine leptospiralcarrier,131 blood samples and the kidneys from the respectiveanimals were taken during slaughter in abattoir house in BotucatuΠSP region. By the Microscopic Agglutination Test (MAT), 48serum samples were positive against one or more serovars, witha rate of the occurrence of 36.64% to anti-leptospiral antibodiesand greater importance to the serovar icterohaemorrhagiae. Theinvestigation of the agent, a total of 88 kidney samples weresubmitted to culture in EMJH media and analysed by PCR.From those 88 kidney samples, 48 were of serologically positiveanimals and 40 of negative animals, being isolated and detectedthe agent in one kidney sample, belonging to a seropositiveanimal. Although was not possible the statistical evaluation interms of sensitivity and specificity of the two test to detection,the PCR showed faster and most practical to study leptospiralcarriers. By the results of isolation it must be emphasized theimportance of those animals as the transmitters of the diseaseto slaughter house workers and to meat inspectors.