Prevalence of antibodies and clinical suspect-ed cases of leptospirosis in cats in the Berlin/ Brandenburg area

Abstract

Leptospirosis is a zoonotic bacterial infectious disease that exists worldwide and is gaining increasing importance in Germany. Serologic evidence of leptospiral infection in cats exists, however clinical manifestations are rarely reported and little infor-mation is known about leptospirosis in cats and the epidemiological importance as a potential source of infection. The aim of this study was to investigate the seroprevalence as well as the risk factors for leptospiral infection of indoor and outdoor cats in the Berlin and Brandenburg area. 175 sera have been sampled from outdoor and indoor cats randomly selected and analyzed by serum micro-agglu- tination test for 17 serovars (Cut-off a 1:100). The cats were before-hand presented at the Small Animal Clinic, Freie Universitat Berlin (2012-2016), with various clinical findings or for routine health checks. Possible risk factors were determined based on a standard-ized questionnaire and evaluated using logistic regression models. Overall, antibodies were detected in 28 of 175 cats (16%) with titers ranging from 1:100 to 1:3200 (median 1:200). The most frequently serovars in 27 (22%) of the outdoor cats were Pomona, Grippoty-phosa and Javanica. The hunting of rodents (OR = 8,9; p = 0,001) has been identified as the greatest risk factor for an infection. Only one indoor cat had an antibody titer (1:100) against Pomona and this cat lived together with outdoor cats. Based on clinical findings in five of the seropositive outdoor cats a clinically manifest lepto-spirosis was suspected. Antibody titers against leptospirosis were found in outdoor cats with a percentage of 22%. The greatest risk factor of a leptospiral infection represented the hunting of rodents. Leptospirosis should be considered a differential diagnosis especial-ly in outdoor cats with hunting lifestyle and unexplained kidney or liver disease.