[Presence of antileptospira antibodies in ophidia in Argentina].

Sera obtained from 18 Bothrops alternatus and 2 Phylodrias burmeisteri were analyzed for the presence of antileptospiral antibodies using a microscopic agglutination test. Out of 18 Bothrops sera, 13 (72%) gave positive results. Snake serum reacted with patoc, andamana, wolffi, tarassovi, pomona, pyrogenes and shermani serovars. It can be concluded that Leptospiral antibodies are present in snake sera in Argentina, suggesting that the circulating antibodies may have an important role in the epizoothiology of the disease.