Banca de QUALIFICAÇÃO: RAFAEL DIONI LEANDRO COSTA

Uma banca de QUALIFICAÇÃO de DOUTORADO foi cadastrada pelo programa.
STUDENT : RAFAEL DIONI LEANDRO COSTA
DATE: 30/06/2026
TIME: 14:30
LOCAL: Auditorio Paulo Facin /Hospital Veterinario/CSTR/UAMV/PPGSCA
TITLE:

Isolation and Molecular Characterization of Leptospira spp. in Wild Animals in the Caatinga Biome, Brazil

KEY WORDS:

leptospirosis, wild animals, reservoirs, semi-arid region

PAGES: 44
BIG AREA: Ciências Agrárias
AREA: Medicina Veterinária
SUBÁREA: Medicina Veterinária Preventiva
SPECIALTY: Epidemiologia Animal
SUMMARY:

Leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease with a worldwide distribution caused by bacteria of the genus Leptospira, representing a significant public health and animal production problem, especially in tropical and subtropical regions. Transmission occurs mainly through contact with the urine of infected animals or contaminated environments, and is influenced by environmental and ecological factors. Although the environmental persistence of the agent is associated with favorable conditions of humidity, temperature, and pH, recent studies demonstrate that alternative mechanisms, such as venereal and vertical transmission, can also contribute to the maintenance of infection in certain animal populations. In Brazil, leptospirosis is considered endemic, with a higher occurrence during rainy periods. In the Brazilian Northeast, especially in the Caatinga biome, research demonstrates the circulation of the agent in different domestic species, including equines, sheep, and goats, even in semi-arid conditions considered unfavorable to the environmental survival of the bacteria. In this context, wildlife may play a relevant role in the maintenance and dissemination of the agent, although there are few investigations focused on wild species of the Caatinga. Recent studies have identified the presence of Leptospira spp. Leptospirosis is a disease found in wild mammals, reptiles, and marsupials, highlighting the epidemiological complexity of the disease. Therefore, this research aims to investigate the occurrence of Leptospira spp. in wild animals of the Caatinga biome, using bacterial isolation, serological identification, and molecular characterization of isolates obtained from wildlife species in the semi-arid region of northeastern Brazil, contributing to the epidemiological understanding of leptospirosis from a One Health perspective.

COMMITTEE MEMBERS:
Presidente - 1107801 - SEVERINO SILVANO DOS SANTOS HIGINO
Interno - ***.552.784-** - CLEBERT JOSE ALVES - UFPB
Externo à Instituição - RAFAEL RODRIGUES SOARES
Externo à Instituição - ARTHUR WILLIAN DE LIMA BRASIL - UFPB