MORAIS, D. A.; MORAIS, Davidianne de Andrade.n
Abstract:
Seroepidemiological survey for leptospirosis in equines from the county of Bonito de Santa Fé – PB. In view of the lack of information on leptospirosis seropositivity in
equine from the Sertão of Paraíba State, the aim of this survey was to
determine the occurrence of anti-Leptospira spp. antibodies in 138 equines in
the county of Bonito de Santa Fé - PB, to identify the predominant serovars and
the risk factors, as well as to indicate preventive and control measures to
owners. For the diagnosis of leptospirosis the microscopic agglutination test
(MAT) was used with 24 serovars as antigens. The seropositivity found was
40.6% (56/138). Reactant serovars were Bratislava (36.73%),
Icterohaemorrhagiae (14.28%), Wolffi (14.28%), Grippotyphosa (10.2%),
Australis (6.12%), Canicola (6.12%), Tarassovi (4.08%), Hardjoprajitno (2.04%),
Pomona (2.04%), Castellonis (2.04%) and Hebdomadis (2.04%). The age was
identified as risk fator, with 37 to 120 months old (odds ratio = 3.04; P = 0.016)
and > 120 months old (odds ratio = 3.40; P = 0.026) animals presenting higher
chance to be seropositive. It is concluded that Leptospira spp. infection is
spread in equines from Bonito de Santa Fé – PB, with predominance of serovar
Bratislava, and that age is a risk factor for its occurrence. The seropositivity
found points to the need of implementation of control strategies.