Hematologic and biochemical alterations in Wistar rats experimentally infected by Leptospira interrogans

The aim of this study was to evaluate hematologic and biochemical alterations in Wistar rats experimentally infected by eight pathogenic serovars of Leptospira interrogans. Animals were divided in nine groups, six rats each, resulting in eight groups infected and one as the negative control group. Serovars L. hardjo (group A), L. wolffi (B), L. grippotyphosa (C), L. grippotyphosa canicola (D), L. Icterohaemorrhagiae (E), L. bratislava (F), L. pomona (G), L. butembo (H) were utilized in the experiment. Group I was the negative control. The dose-infection was 10⁸ leptospires/mL and the control of infection was carried out through the microscopic observation of leptospires in urine and through the leptospires recovery in culture medium using blood of the infected rats. After 15?days post-infection all rats were euthanatized for blood collection. Hematocrit, total erythrocyte, hemoglobin, total leukocyte, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), urea, and creatinine were evaluated. Reduction of the hematocrit, hemoglobin, and total erythrocytes were observed in groups A, B, and G when compared to group I. Total leukocytes had a decrease in groups B and C. Increased levels of ALP (group A, D, and F), ALT (group E, G, xand H), urea (C, D, F, and G), and creatinine (A, C, D, F, and H) were observed when compared to the control group. At necropsy rodents of groups A, D, F, and G showed enlarged spleen and jaundice of viscera and musculature. The final results showed differences between serovars to hematologic and biochemical parameters, but these variations had particular oscillation showing that each serovar of L. interrogans tested may cause alterations in different organs or even systems, independently.