Abstract
ABSTRACT. Carrijo K.de F., do Nascimento E.R., Morés N., Morés M.A.Z., de Almeida L.P. & Tortelly R. [Leptospira spp. in kidneys of pigs slaughtered under sanitary inspection: potential risk of transmission of workers at slaughterhouses]. Leptospira spp. em rins de suínos abatidos sob inspeção sanitária: potencial risco de transmissão a trabalhadores de matadouro frigorífico. Revista Brasileira de Medicina Veterinária, 34(4):279-282, 2012. Faculdade de Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Av. Pará, 1720, Bloco 2T, Jardim Umuarama, Uberlândia, MG 38400-902, Brasil. E-mail: keniacarrijo@famev.ufu.br This study aimed to investigate the presence of Leptospira spp. in kidneys of pigs slaughtered under sanitary inspection, to verify their potential risk of transmission to slaughterhouse workers who handle them. We evaluated 100 kidneys from pigs coming from 50 different farms, slaughtered under sanitary inspection in the Santa Catarina state, Brazil. None of these animals showed clinical signs consistent with leptospirosis at the time of the ante-mortem inspection. We did not detect any sample positive for the bacterium Leptospira spp. by direct immunoflourescence, although 64 (64%) of the kidneys analyzed showed microscopic inflammatory changes (nephritis) after histopathological evaluation. Although has not been found positive samples for Leptospira spp. is of fundamental importance to constant monitoring of the etiologic agent, because of its zoonotic potential, which endangers the health of workers in pigs slaughterhouses.