Leptospiral antibodies in captive lion tamarins (Leontopithecus sp) in Brazil

Serum samples from 73 lion tamarins of three species living at the Centro de Primatologia do Rio de Janeiro were tested for antibodies against serovars of Leptospira interrogans by microscopic agglutination test. Antibodies were detected in serum samples of 15% of tested samples. Seroreactivity prevalence was lower than that described in other non-human primates and could be explained by the arboreal behaviour of these animals. Icterohaemorrhagiae was the most common serogroup.