Seroepidemiology of canine leptospirosis in Ahvaz, Iran

Abstract

Abstract: The presence of dogs has been identified as a risk factor for human Leptospirosis. The aim of this study was the survey of the current state of leptospiral infection in dogs in Ahvaz. Sera from 100 rural dogs of villages around Ahvaz and 49 urban dogs referred to veterinary hospital of shahid Chamran University were detected for antibodies against serovars canicola, icterohaemorrhagiae, grippotyphosa, ballum, hardjo and pomona by microscopic agglutination test. Out of the 149 dogs investigated, 8(5.4%) were serologically positive against at least one serovar of leptospira. Titers |“| 1:100 were detected in 7 rural (7%) and one urban (2.04%) dogs. The predominant titers were directed to serovars hardjo (44.5%) followed by ballum (22.2%), icterohaemorrhagiae (22.2%) and grippotyphosa (11.1%). Mixed infection was detected only in one dog. Serovars canicola and pomona were uncommon in dogs from Ahvaz. As expected, a very low prevalence of infection was found in urban pet dogs but in contrast low prevalence of infection in rural shepherd and/or stray dogs with poor level hygiene was unexpectable. However, the sources of infection in these dogs were not clear and this is the first report of infection with serovar hardjo from dogs in Iran. Key words: Dog, Leptospirosis, serovars, zoonosis, Iran.