Leptospira borgpetersenii from free-living white-eared opossum (Didelphis albiventris): First isolation in Brazil

► We report the first isolation of pathogenic Leptospira from white-eared opossum (Didelphis albiventris) in Brazil. ► The Leptospira isolate was virulent for hamster model. ► Molecular typing identified the new strain Leptospira borgpetersenii serovar Castellonis. ► The use of the new isolate improved MAT sensitivity on dog sera.