| Abstract: | The Iberian wolf (Canis lupus) is the top predator in the Iberian
environments in which it lives, feeding on a wide range of species, thus encountering
a wide range of disease agents. Therefore, the wolf can serve as sentinel of
environmental contamination with pathogens. We investigated the exposure of
free-living wolves to 14 serovars of Leptospira interrogans sensu
lato. Kidney samples from 49 wolves collected from 2010-2013 in
northwestern Spain were analysed by culture, direct immunofluorescence and polymerase
chain reaction. Tissue fluids were analysed for antibodies by a microscopic
agglutination test. Ten wolves (observed prevalence: 20%, 95% confidence interval =
11-33%) showed evidence of contact with leptospires, eight through direct detection
and nine through serology (7 wolves were positive according to both techniques).
Titres below the cut-off level were also detected in seven cases. Serovars confirmed
were Canicola (n = 4), Icterohaemorrhagiae (n = 3) and Sejroë, Ballum and
Grippotyphosa (n = 1 each), indicating that wolves were infected with serovars for
which dogs, rodents and ungulates, are the natural hosts and supporting the utility
of the wolf and other large predators as environmental sentinels for pathogens. |
