Seroprevalence of Leptospira in Cattle and Goats from Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India

Abstract

Background: Leptospirosis is one of the important zoonotic diseases prevailing in most tropical countries worldwide. The disease is endemic in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India and affects humans and animals. Due to its zoonotic importance, continuous monitoring and surveillance are important. The present work was conducted to determine the seroprevalence and distribution of different serovars with respect to different ecoregions in cattle and goats. Methods: A total of 100 samples each from cattle and buffalo were tested by using a microscopic agglutination test (MAT) using a panel of 12 serogroups as antigens. Samples showing a titer of more than 1:40 were considered positive. Result: Leptospirosis is one of the important zoonotic diseases with high endemicity reported from the A and N islands. The present study reports the prevalence of multiple serovars in cattle and goats, however, there have not many changes in terms of the prevalence of serovars is concerned. Regular monitoring and surveillance of livestock are very much important and necessary to study the disease prevalence scenario in changing climatic conditions in these islands.