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Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg., 12(4), 1963, pp. 580-585
Copyright © 1963 by The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene

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Serological Studies on Leptospirosis in Guatemala

Pedro N. Acha*, A. D. Alexander{dagger}, G. Santamarina{ddagger}, H. L. Rubin{dagger} AND R. H. Yager{dagger}
WHO, FAO Leptospirosis Reference Laboratory, Division of Veterinary Medicine, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, D. C.; Pan American Health Organization; and Veterinary Public Health Department, Ministry of Health, Guatemala

A serological survey for leptospirosis in domestic animals was conducted in a coastal tropical area and an adjacent plateau and mountainous area located in the southwest sector of Guatemala. Sera from a total of 122 cattle, 120 swine, 86 horses, 77 dogs, 90 sheep and 20 goats were tested for the presence of agglutinins employing screening antigens of 18 different serotypes. The percentages of significant positive reactions in the various species were as follows: cattle, 41.8; swine, 27.5; horses, 4.6; dogs, 1.3; goats, 10.0. All of the sheep tested were negative. With few exceptions the reactions in cattle were elicited with screening antigens in the hebdomadis group, whereas most of the reactions in the other livestock species were obtained with pomona and/or autumnalis serotypes. The single positive dog had a titer against canicola serotype. Generally there was a higher prevalence of positive animals in the mountainous region than in the coastal region. Significant serological titers against serotype bataviae were also disclosed in two of 59 normal human beings in the study area who were engaged in agricultural work or in the handling of meat, and in one of 23 hospitalized patients with undiagnosed febrile diseases.

These findings not only provided unequivocal evidence of the presence of leptospirosis in Guatemala but of its widespread occurrence in cattle and swine. The difference in antibody types found in cattle and swine may reflect animal husbandry practices.


* Veterinary Public Health Consultant, Zone III, Pan American Health Organization, Guatemala.


{dagger} WHO/FAO Leptospirosis Reference Laboratory, Division of Veterinary Medicine, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Washington, D.C.


{ddagger} Zoonosis Section, Veterinary Public Health Department, Ministry of Health, Guatemala.






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Copyright © 1963 by the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.