PIMENTA, C. L. R. M.; PIMENTA, Carla Lauise Rodrigues Menezes.
Resumen:
Bovine leptospirosis is a disease caused by bacteria of the genus Leptospira and is
associated with economic losses, mainly related to reproductive problems such as miscarriage,
stillbirth and decreased milk production. The aim of this survey was to determine the herdlevel
and animal-level prevalences, as well as to identify risk factors associated with
leptospirosis in cattle in the State of Paraíba, Northeastern Brazil. A total of 2,317 cows with
≥ 24 months of age from 450 herds were randomly sampled. For the serological diagnosis of
Leptospira spp. infection, the microscopic agglutination test (MAT) was carried out using 24
serovars as antigens. A herd was considered positive when presented at least one seropositive
animal. Of the 450 investigated herds, 398 (89.7%; 95% CI = 86.6 – 92.2) presented at least
one reactant animal at MAT to any serovar, and 1,349 (61.1%; 95% CI = 56.6 – 65.4) animals
were seropositive. Serovar Hardjo was the most prevalent in herds and animals, with
frequencies of 58.17% and 54.69%, respectively. Location of the herd in the Sertão (odds
ratio = 3.20; p = 0.003), presence of wildlife (odds ratio = 2.89; p = 0.005), not cooling milk
(odds ratio = 3.83; p = 0.034) and presence of flooded pastures (odds ratio = 2.36; p < 0.001)
were identified as risk factors for herd-level prevalence. It is concluded that leptospirosis is
widely spread in cattle in the State of Paraíba, which reinforces the need for increased
prevention and control measures, such as vaccination of herds. According to the results of the
analysis of risk factors, it is suggested that the sanitary control before the introduction of
animals, drainage of wetlands and improvement in management conditions are important
measures to preventing the infection.
