Leptospira is a genus of spirochete bacteria that can infect horses, leading to a range of health issues. These bacteria are responsible for leptospirosis, a zoonotic disease that can affect multiple animal species, including humans. In horses, leptospirosis can result in conditions such as uveitis, abortion, and renal disease. The transmission of Leptospira occurs through direct or indirect contact with contaminated water, soil, or the urine of infected animals. Diagnosis of leptospirosis in horses involves serological testing and detection of the bacteria in bodily fluids. This page compiles peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore the epidemiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis, and management of leptospirosis in equine populations.
Hill WK, Weenink-Van Loon CD.Report on the results of serological studies on the species Leptospira interrogans in cattle (19,607), swine (6,348), dogs (182) and horses (88) from the Netherlands during the period from 1969 to 1974. Living cultures of the serotypes of pomona, icterohaemorrhagiae, canicola, guidae (Tarassovi serological group), grippotyphosa and sejroe were used as antigen in the micro-agglutination test. The numerical findings showed that antibodies to serotypes of the species Leptospira interrogans were present in 7.67 per cent of the cattle, 22.21 per cent of the pigs, 36.81 per cent of the dogs and 92.0...
Otani S, Arimitsu Y, Akama K.Antileptospiral sera from hyperimmunized horses were fractionated by gel filtration on Sephadex G-200 or by starch block electrophoresis. The fractions were examined quantitatively for leptospiricidal, agglutinating and complement fixing activities. The leptospiricidal activity was higher in the 78 globulin fraction than in the 19S globulin fraction, while the agglutinating activity was shared by both the fractions being higher in the 19S fraction. Complement fixing activity was found evenly in both the fractions. Leptospiricidal and complement fixing activities were higher in gamma-globulin t...
Schönberg A, Caldas EM, Sampaio MB, Costa E, Plank SJ.IN the State of Bahia (Brazil) the leptospirin produced in Germany for experimental use by the Institute for Veterinary Medicine, Federal Health Office, Berlin, was administered to humans and animals in order to diagnose leptospirosis in collaboration with this Institute. The results were compared with the microscopic agglutination reaction. The total number of test persons or animals was 268; this group included 81 human patients. 60 heads of cattle, 50 goats, 40 pigs, 25 horses, and 12 dogs. All were tested serologically and simultaneously the intracutaneous test was carried out. This test w...
Divers TJ.Regulation of renal blood flow is by both extrinsic and intrinsic systems. Intrinsic regulation occurs via the afferent and efferent arterioles and tubuloglomerular feedback mechanisms with activation of the juxtaglomerular apparatus. Mechanisms of acute kidney injury are frequently associated with changes in renal blood flow. Acute tubular necrosis and apoptosis are common in horses following ischemic or toxic insults and in sepsis-associated acute kidney injury. Sepsis-associated renal injury often has a complex mechanism of disease involving both functional and obstructive changes in intrar...
Mayr A.Prophylactic immunization of animals against obligat and nonobligat pathogenic zoonoses benefit human health in many ways both directly and indirectly. Typical examples of a direct protective effect are the vaccinations of dogs, cats and foxes against rabies as well as the vaccinations against respiratory diseases in cows, horses, dogs and cats to which the most varied species of pathogens of noncompulsory zoonoses contribute. A considerable contribution to the protection of human health is made by the vaccination against salmonellosis and leptospirosis, against vesicular stomatitis, American ...
Velineni S, Timoney JF, Artiushin SC, Donahue JM, Steinman M.Foals of mares infected with Leptospira interrogans serovar Pomona type kennewicki (Lk) may be aborted/stillborn or delivered as healthy foals. Is fetal survival explained in part by the immune response of the fetus to Leptospira antigens? Objective: To describe an outbreak of Leptospira abortion in which infected mares delivered dead/sick or normal foals and determine specificities of antibody in a collection of 54 fetuses from similar outbreaks. Methods: Outbreak investigation in combination with a case-control study of a larger set of samples from aborted fetuses. Methods: Serology and poly...
Alayil AL, Horwood PF, Gummow B, Picard JA, Joone CJ.Leptospira species are found worldwide, favouring tropical regions, and infect a wide range of animal species. Although renal persistence in infected individuals and excretion in urine is thought to be the primary mechanism of disease transmission, recent reports have suggested that persistence in the reproductive tract may be a feature in certain species, including the horse. The aim of this study was to investigate leptospiral infection, particularly within the reproductive tract, in healthy, non-breeding mares. Serum and endometrial swab samples were collected from 50 mares from the James C...
Gerras J, Young K, Roberts D, Waldman G, Salmon JH, Gilger BC.To describe the ocular findings, chronology of disease, and serum leptospiral titers in a group of horses, mules, and donkeys following an outbreak of leptospirosis. Unassigned: Fifty Equidae in central North Carolina had ophthalmic examinations and serum leptospiral microscopic agglutination test (MAT) titers performed every 3-6 months for 24 months followed by a final examination at 34 months. Unassigned: Throughout the nearly three-year study period, 17 horses (34%; 17/49 horses) developed signs of uveitis; 20 eyes (20/34; 58.8%) of these 17 horses were visual at the initial examinati...
Żmudzki J, Ostrowska M, Arent Z, Frant M, Kochanowski M, Nowak A, Zębek S, Kalinowski D, Podgórska K.Leptospirosis in horses is associated with various clinical signs, potentially leading to fatal outcomes. Additionally, the disease may pose a zoonotic risk to individuals involved in handling infected animals. Implementing a serological monitoring programme in the equine population is one of the key tools used to reduce the risk of transmission of Leptospira infections to humans. Objective: To provide new insights into the seroprevalence of leptospirosis in domestic horses in Poland. Methods: Serological monitoring program. Methods: Data were collected from serological surveys of horse serum ...
Kirmse L, Thieme K, Doherr MG, Eule JC.To evaluate different laboratory procedures for determining the etiologic diagnosis of equine recurrent uveitis regarding intraocular infection with Leptospira spp. and to establish a diagnostic guideline. Methods: Eighty horses with a history of ERU were ophthalmologically examined. Serum and aqueous humor were collected. Total protein, albumin level, and MAT against Leptospira spp. were evaluated on serum and aqueous humor. PCR for Leptospira spp., EHV-1 and -4 was performed on aqueous humor. Goldmann-Witmer coefficient (GWC) and C-value (CC) were calculated based on MAT. In 42 cases, an add...
Motta D, Aymée L, Roussouliéres I, Di Azevedo MIN, Jacob JCF, Lilenbaum W.Leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease caused by spirochetes of the genus Leptospira. Equine genital leptospirosis (EGL) has been described as a chronic and silent syndrome, presenting reproductive alterations such as abortion, stillbirth, placentitis, embryonic loss, repeat breeding syndrome, and subfertility. This study aimed to investigate the genital Leptospira infection in naturally infected mares with poor reproductive performance, as well as to genetically characterize the agents. A total of 41 mares with a history of poor reproductive performance were selected. Sera were collected for ser...
Cardoso TL, Wozeak DR, Pereira IL, da Silva Ribeiro LD, Rodrigues RO, Hartwig DD.Leptospirosis is a globally distributed zoonosis that affects both humans and animals, with being the main causative agent. In horses, the disease is associated with considerable economic losses. The Microscopic Agglutination Test (MAT) is the reference test for diagnosis but has limitations, emphasizing the need for effective diagnostic alternatives. In this study, was evaluated the use of a recombinant chimera, composed of ErpY-like and LemA proteins, as an antigen for ELISA-based detection of equine leptospirosis. The chimera was successfully expressed, purified and tested on 915 horse ser...
Motta D, Pedrosa J, Lilenbaum W.Leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease caused by pathogenic bacteria of the genus Leptospira. A lesser-known form, equine genital leptospirosis (EGL), has been identified as a chronic and often silent infection involving the colonisation of the mare's genital tract. Despite its potential impact, EGL remains underdiagnosed and poorly understood, particularly in its association with reproductive inefficiency. This study showed the presence of Leptospira spp. DNA by lipL32-PCR in the genital tract of mares with a history of reproductive disturbances. Cervicovaginal mucus samples were collected from ...
Decoster C, Lefère L, Raes E, van Loon G, Dufourni A.Leptospirosis is a widespread zoonotic, infectious disease associated with abortion, stillbirth, as well as liver and kidney failure. Leptospiral Pulmonary Haemorrhage Syndrome (LPHS) has increasingly been reported in human and canine patients infected by Leptospira and is associated with a high fatality rate. In equine medicine, pulmonary haemorrhage has mainly been described in foals with leptospiral infections, but rarely in adult horses. Objective: To characterise the clinicopathological features of pulmonary haemorrhage as a distinct disease entity in adult horses with leptospirosis, term...
Azócar-Aedo L, Meniconi G, Pino-Olguín C, Gallardo M.At a veterinary hospital in southern Chile, we conducted an epidemiological study involving domestic dogs, cats, and horses to determine the seropositivity for pathogenic spp., identify the infecting serogroups, measure antibody titers, and characterize seropositive animals by sex and age. None of the sampled animals showed clinical signs of leptospirosis. The microscopic agglutination test, using a panel of eight serogroups, was used for diagnosis. The seropositivity was 36.5% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 24.5-48.4) in dogs, 12.9% (95% CI = 2.6-23.1) in cats, and 45.2% (95% CI = 30.1-60.2...
