Changing Trend in the Prevalence and Emergence of Leptospira Serogroup-Specific Antibodies in Livestock in Gujarat, India

Abstract

The study was undertaken to investigate the frequency distribution of predominant Leptospira serovars as well as to establish the prevalence of Leptospira antibodies in enzootic Surat and Navsari districts of south Gujarat. A total of 1014 purposive random serum samples from livestock species (Cattle n = 622; Buffaloes n = 246 and Goats n = 146) were collected in the rainy season during 2015–2016. The samples were tested in microscopic agglutination test using a panel of 18 reference Leptospira serovars covering 16 Leptospira serogroups. The overall seroprevalence of 30.6% (310/1014) with 25.9% in cattle, 39.0% in buffaloes and 36.3% in goats were observed in the study. Further, the Chi-squared test analysis showed that the presence of antibodies was associated with the studied districts (χ2 = 123.7, p < 0.05) and age group of livestock species (Bovine-χ2 = 15.97, p < 0.05). Out of 310 reacted sera, 151 samples showed reactivity with more than one serovars representing 14. 9% prevalence of multiple serovars among the livestock species. Moreover, the frequency distribution of predominant Leptospira antibodies was determined against the employed serovars: Panama—25.5%, Hebdomadis—23.9%, Javanica—22.3%, Tarassovi—21.6%, Hurstbridge—21.6%, Bataviae—21.3%, Pyrogenes—20.7%, Pomona—19.4%, Icterohaemorrhagiae—18.7%, Grippotyphosa—17.7%, Hardjo—17.42%, etc. The present study significantly provides the predominant Leptospira serovars and its frequency distribution in livestock, which had a role in maintaining various serovars with the change in the trend over a period of years in south Gujarat. These findings would also help in strategizing and mitigating the leptospirosis burden in enzootic regions.