Abstract
ABSTRACT: Leptospirosis is a zoonotic infectious disease caused by the bacterium Leptospira spp. The consequences of infection in horses are unclear, and the serogroups involved vary depending on the region. This study aimed to evaluate the seropositivity of unvaccinated horses in the Serra Catarinense region and the possible risk factors associated with the infection. We used 207 horses from 26 properties, with no clinical history of infection and unvaccinated for leptospirosis. We submitted serum samples to the microscopic agglutination serum (SAM) to obtain the main reference serogroups. We considered animals with titre ≥100 as infected. The results of the serology revealed seropositivity in 45.4% (94/207) of the animals studied. The most frequent antibodies reportedwere those against the serogroups Australis 16.9% (35/207), Ichterhaemorrhagiae 14.4% (30/207), and Grippotyphosa 5.31% (11/207). Among the primary risk factors associated with the infection we reported extensive rearing system (OR = 1.27; P<0.05) and the presence of other animal species such as cattle (OR = 3.85; P<0.01) and capybaras (OR = 2.07; P=0.06). The findings presented in this study showed that leptospirosis is endemic in horses in the Serra Catarinense region, and revealed the need for emergency surveillance and control measures specific to this important zoonosis.
Highlights
Leptospirosis is a zoonotic infectious disease highly important for global public health
This study aimed to evaluate the presence of anti-L. interrogans antibodies in serum samples of unvaccinated horses, identify the primary serogroups circulating in the Serra Catarinense region and investigate the possible risk factors associated with the infection
The data from this study showed that 80% (21/26) of the studied herds were positive for infection by Leptospira spp
Summary
Leptospirosis is a zoonotic infectious disease highly important for global public health. It is caused by pathogenic species of the Leptospira spp. genus (DE BRITO et al, 2018). Even with an intense humoral response, the agent can survive and multiply, being eliminated through the urine for up to three months (YAN et al, 2010). In this context, leptospirosis in horses can represent a neglected zoonosis since horses of most regions are pets, presenting a very close relationship with humans of different age groups. In 2018, 237 cases of leptospirosis were confirmed in the State of Santa Catarina, Brazil, with five deaths, most involving men resident in urban areas (DIVE, 2019)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
