RESUMEN
A serosurvey for antibodies to Borrelia burgdorferi using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was conducted on sheep, goat and dog serum samples collected in Cordillera Province, Bolivia, in 1992 Sera from 98 sheep, 218 goats and 43 dogs were tested. The observed seroprevalence in sheep and dogs was 0.0%, whereas the seropositivity rate for goat serum samples was 5.0%. Upon analysing 10 positive sera by Western immunoblotting, five reacted against the specific protein antigens and all of them met the criteria for positivity on the basis of immunoglobulin G (IgG) bands, indicating that goats in Cordillera Province were exposed to B. burgdorferi. These findings, which are further proof of the existence of B. burgdorferi infection in Bolivia, indicate the serologic analysis of goats as a suitable tool for Lyme borreliosis surveillance.
Asunto(s)
Anticuerpos Antibacterianos/sangre , Grupo Borrelia Burgdorferi/inmunología , Enfermedades de los Perros/epidemiología , Enfermedades de las Cabras/epidemiología , Enfermedad de Lyme/veterinaria , Enfermedades de las Ovejas/epidemiología , Animales , Bolivia/epidemiología , Enfermedades de los Perros/sangre , Enfermedades de los Perros/inmunología , Perros , Enfermedades de las Cabras/sangre , Enfermedades de las Cabras/inmunología , Cabras , Enfermedad de Lyme/epidemiología , Enfermedad de Lyme/inmunología , Estudios Seroepidemiológicos , Ovinos , Enfermedades de las Ovejas/sangre , Enfermedades de las Ovejas/inmunologíaRESUMEN
A serological survey for antibodies to Leptospira spp. was conducted on sheep, goat and dog serum samples collected in three localities in Cordillera province in the southern part of the Santa Cruz Department (Bolivia) in 1992. A total of 98 sheep, 218 goats and 43 dogs were tested against 29 leptospiral serovars using the microscopic agglutination test. At the time of blood collection all of the examined animals appeared healthy and presented no clinical sign suggestive of leptospirosis. Antibody prevalences, as determined by positive results at a 1:100 dilution or higher, was 14.3% in sheep, 19.7% in goats, and 14.0% in dogs. Agglutinins against six serovars (poi. shermani, pomona, canicola, javanica, djasiman) were found in positive animals. The highest serological prevalence in sheep and goats was recorded for serovar poi, followed by pomona in sheep and shermani in goats. Titres to shermani were the commonest in dogs. The results of this survey indicate that leptospiral infection is common in south-east Bolivia and that serovars of several serogroups concur in the etiology.
