Abstract
A cross-sectional study was conducted to investigate seroprevalence of canine leptospirosis in urban Harare and five selected rural communities in Zimbabwe and to assess public awareness of the disease. Sera from randomly selected dogs were tested for antibodies to the serovars Canicola, Grippotyphosa, Icterohaemorrhagiae and Pomona of Leptospira interrogans using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Clinical chemistry was performed on all seropositive and selected seronegative sera to screen for hepatic and renal insufficiency. A questionnaire- based survey was conducted in Harare to assess dog owners' awareness of leptospirosis and other zoonoses. Overall, 15.6% of sera samples tested (39 out of 250; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 11.0% - 20.2%) were positive for leptospiral antibodies. A significantly higher (p < 0.05) seroprevalence was recorded in urban dogs than in rural dogs (25% vs. 11.2%). No significant difference in seroprevalence was observed amongst dogs from different rural communities or between sexes of dogs. There was a significant association between seropositivity and hepatic and/or renal insufficiency (p < 0.01), with dogs having hepatic and/or renal insufficiency being approximately twice as likely to be seropositive (relative risk = 1.96; 95% CI: 1.3-3.0). Of the dog owners, 78.8% (119/151) were aware of zoonoses. Except for rabies (92.4%), awareness of leptospirosis (5.0%) and other zoonoses amongst these owners was low. This study showed that leptospirosis was present and represented a risk to dogs from urban Harare and the selected rural communities in Zimbabwe. Availing training programmes for dog owners would be beneficial in improving disease control and reducing the public health risk of pet zoonoses.
Highlights
Canine leptospirosis is a worldwide bacterial zoonosis, caused by pathogenic spirochaetes that are currently classified as a single species, Leptospira interrogans, and further subdivided into several serogroups and serovars based on antigenic differences (Ellis 2010; Plesko & Hlavata 1971; Roach, Van Vuuren & Picard 2010)
The results demonstrated a significant association between seropositivity and hepatic and/or renal insufficiency (X2 = 8.9; p < 0.01) and dogs with hepatic and/or renal insufficiency were approximately twice as likely to be seropositive for leptospirosis (RR = 1.96; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.3–3.0)
Further surveys in other areas of the country still need to be undertaken, the results from this study have shown that leptospirosis was present and represented a risk to dogs from urban Harare and the selected rural communities in Zimbabwe
Summary
Canine leptospirosis is a worldwide bacterial zoonosis, caused by pathogenic spirochaetes that are currently classified as a single species, Leptospira interrogans, and further subdivided into several serogroups and serovars based on antigenic differences (Ellis 2010; Plesko & Hlavata 1971; Roach, Van Vuuren & Picard 2010). Infected dogs may present with renal failure or be carriers of leptospiral organisms in their proximal convoluted renal tubules for 1–2 years in a sub-clinical form from where they are persistently shed in urine (Levett 2001). These bacteria may survive for some months under appropriate conditions (moist or wet environments); survival is very poor in dry or cold environments (Adler & Moctezuma 2010). Transmission generally occurs after a susceptible animal has been exposed directly to leptospires from an infected host’s urine or contaminated water, mud or moist soil (Bulach et al 2006). Shedding animals pose a public health risk to humans who get in contact with urine-contaminated environments, water (Sykes et al 2011)
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