Leptospirose em equinos (Equus caballus, Linnaeus, 1758): revisão de literatura.

Abstract

Leptospirosis is a zoonosis that affects domestic animals and wild man and transmission occurs through water contaminated by leptospires. Animals that live in urban areas, whose sanitary conditions and infrastructure are poor. The disease is caused by bacteria of the order Spirochaetales members, Leptospiraceae, family, genus Leptospira, traditionally the genus Leptospira , which is subdivided into several serovars, infection is characterized by two stages : the first, where there is bacteremia , occurring infection of a large internal organs and the second stage which coincides with the high level of antibodies in serum and the decrease of detectable pathogens circulating in the blood and tissues, these in turn causing uveite, fetal death with resorption, abortion . In both cases, the severity of the infection depends on the infecting strain and the host immune response, apparently the only defense against Leptospira current. Laboratory diagnosis can be complex and involve tests which are divided into two basic groups: direct methods for the direct detection of the agent through its antigens or genetic material in tissues and body fluids, and indirect methods or by serological detection of anti - Leptospira spp. The occurrence of leptospirosis in humans, there may be sporadically or in outbreaks in developed countries acquired a status of occupational disease, affecting veterinarians and other professionals who work directly with animals, in countries like Brazil developing leptospirosis endemic features associated with various risk factors such as poor sanitation, seasonal flooding and the presence of rodents.