Incidental Genital Leptospirosis in Bubalus bubalis males from Portuguesa State, Venezuela

• Rosaura Pérez-Gil Centro Diagnóstico Veterinario Rosaura Pérez-Gil. Araure, Portuguesa, Venezuela
• Sergio Rivera-Pirela Universidad del Zulia, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Maracaibo, Zulia, Venezuela

DOI: https://doi.org/10.52973/rcfcv-e33208

Keywords: Leptospira hebdomadis, MAT, sperm abnormalities, histopathology, bacteriology, Bubalus bubalis

Abstract

Leptospirosis is an important cause of infertility in cattle. In Bubalus bubalis, Leptospira spp. it infects renal tissue, as well as the sexual organs, so it can be excreted in both urine and semen. Only a limited number of studies worldwide have investigated the seroprevalence of the disease in bovine males and the reproductive risks related to shedding of the pathogen in semen. Here we report the results of the serological, microbiological, seminal and histopathological evaluation of adult male buffaloes from the Esteller Municipality, Portuguesa State, Venezuela, naturally infected with Leptospira spp., 17 Murrah crossbred buffaloes of 40 months of age were evaluated, prior to slaughter, with an average weight of 500 kilograms, not vaccinated, from which blood serum, urine, and semen samples were taken and scrotal circumference was measured along with other reproductive parameters. . Only 15 animals showed titers between 50 and 200 in the MAT, exclusively for L. hebdomadis. The 2 MAT-negative animals were positive for Leptospira spp. in urine or semen bacteriological culture. Kidneys, testicles and epididymis were extracted from 6 benefited animals, MAT and bacteriologically positive for leptospira in semen and urine, for histopathological examination. Leptospira spp. were isolated from epididymis and kidneys, but not from testicles. However, histopathological diagnosis in the testis and epididymis indicated seminiferous cell degeneration compatible with bacterial infection. The kidney presented chronic interstitial nephritis. There was a decrease in the average scrotal circumference, low intention to mount, low sperm concentration, absence of waves, few motile sperm, low sperm motility and more than 30 % sperm mortality of the semen samples evaluated, indicating low quality of the ejaculate. The major and minor seminal anomalies exceeded the scales recommended for the species. Here it was reported exclusive results of male buffaloes individually infected with L. hebdomadis, excreted in urine and semen, responsible for incidentally affecting the reproductive tract, causing sperm, epididymis and kidney damage, in a mixed rice farm, with the presence of rodents, potential transmitters of leptospirosis.

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