Seropositivity for Leptospira spp. infection in horses from the Cerrado biome

Abstract

The objective of this investigation is to analyze the occurrence of antibodies against Leptospira sp. in horses located in the city of Mineiros - GO. With 63 males and 55 females, the animals were separated into 4 groups according to age. 24 were considered foals (1 to 3 years old) with an average age of 2.79 (±0.92), 41 were considered young (4 to 6 years old) with an average age of 5.35 (±1.11), 40 were considered adults (7 to 15 years old) with an average age of 10.34 (±2.63), and finally, 13 were considered elderly (16 to 27 years old) with an average age of 18.69 (±4.47). An index of up to 63.55% of horses tested positive for some Leptospira spp. These animals were seroreactive for the serogroups Icterohaemorrhagiae (55.93%), Pomona (5.93%), Grippotyphosa (5.08%), Hardjo (11.86%), Autumnalis (1.69%), Bratislava (3.38%), and Pyrogenes (4.32%). 72.72% of mares and 55.55% of horses tested positive, and among the age groups, it was observed that 45.83% of foals, 65.85% of young horses, 67.5% of adults, and 79.92% of elderly horses had positive serology. It is possible to conclude that horses from the southwestern region of Goiás presented a serology rate for various serogroups.