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Acta veterinaria Scandinavica2009; 51(1); 15; doi: 10.1186/1751-0147-51-15

Leptospira seroprevalence and associations between seropositivity, clinical disease and host factors in horses.

Abstract: A cross-sectional study was carried out to determine the seroprevalence of different serovars of Leptospira spp. and their association with clinical disease and host factors in Swedish horses. Methods: Sera from 2017 horses brought to equine clinics during 1997-98 were investigated. The sera were examined by microscopic agglutination test for the presence of antibodies against the following L. interrogans serovars: Bratislava strain Jez, Icterohaemorrhagiae strain Kantorowicz and Pomona strain Pomona and also L. kirschneri sv Grippotyphosa strain Duyster and L. borgpetersenii sv Sejroe strain M 84. Host factors, disease factors, season, pasture access and outdoor confinement variables were analysed with respect to seropositivity to sv Bratislava and Icterohaemorrhagiae. Multivariable logistic regression was used to model seropositivity to sv Bratislava and Icterohaemorrhagiae (seroprevalence > 8%). Results: The seroprevalence, at a cut-off 1:100, were for sv Bratislava (16.6%), Icterohaemorrhagiae (8.3%), Sejroe (1.2%), Pomona (0.5%) and Grippotyphosa (0.4%). In the multivariable analysis, it was demonstrated that seroprevalence increased with age for sv Bratislava and Icterohaemorrhagiae. For sv Bratislava the seasons April - June and October - December and for sv Icterohaemorrhagiae October - December had higher seroprevalences than other seasons. Horses not used for racing had higher levels of seropositivity to sv Bratislava. Furthermore, horses with respiratory problems as well as horses with fatigue had higher levels of seropositivity to sv Bratislava. Ponies and coldbloods, and horses with access to pasture, had lower seroprevalence for sv Icterohaemorrhagiae. Healthy horses had lower seroprevalence for sv Icterohaemorrhagiae, than non-healthy horses. Conclusions: There was no significant association between clinical signs and disease and positive titres to sv Bratislava (except for the association between respiratory problems and fatigue and seropositivity to sv Bratislava). The results suggest that horses with increasing age and exposed to factors associated with outdoor life had an increased seroprevalence for sv Bratislava, indicating that horses get infected from outdoor and/or are exposed to shedding from other horses (management dependent). For sv Icterohaemorrhagiae, management possibly plays a role as ponies and coldbloods as well as healthy horses had lower seroprevalence. Overall, the age of the horse should be taken into consideration when evaluating the titre as the average healthy horse has a higher titre than a young horse.
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Publication Date: 2009-03-30 PubMed ID: 19331656PubMed Central: PMC2679755DOI: 10.1186/1751-0147-51-15Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article
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  • Non-U.S. Gov't

Summary

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The article investigates the prevalence of different strains of Leptospira bacteria in Swedish horses and their link with clinical illnesses and host specific factors.

Study Design

The study was cross-sectional and focused on determining the prevalence of different serovars or strains of Leptospira bacteria. The serum samples of 2017 horses that were brought to equine clinics during 1997-98 period were considered. The antibodies were tested against various Leptospira interrogans serovars and strains, and host factors like age, season, disease factors, and outdoor variables were examined.

Results of the Research

  • The research found that the overall seroprevalence at a cut-off 1:100 were for serovars Bratislava at 16.6%, Icterohaemorrhagiae at 8.3%, Sejroe at 1.2%, Pomona at 0.5% and Grippotyphosa at 0.4%.
  • Using multivariable logistic regression, the paper demonstrated that seroprevalence increased with age for two serovars – Bratislava and Icterohaemorrhagiae.
  • Horses that were not used for racing had higher levels of seropositivity to serovar Bratislava. Also, horses with respiratory problems and fatigue had increased seropositivity to this serovar.
  • Certain factors indicated decreased prevalence for serovar Icterohaemorrhagiae. These included the type of horse (ponies and coldbloods), their access to pasture, and their health status. Healthy horses had lower seroprevalence for this serovar.

Conclusions

  • The researchers concluded that there was no significant link between clinical symptoms, diseases, and positive titres to serovar Bratislava, except for the relationship between respiratory issues, fatigue, and seropositivity to this serovar.
  • The findings suggest that horses of increasing age and those exposed to outdoor life had increased prevalence for serovar Bratislava. This implies that horses get infected from outdoor exposure or from other horses’ shedding.
  • For serovar Icterohaemorrhagiae, management possibly played a role as specific horse types, and healthy horses had lower seroprevalence.
  • The researchers recommend considering the age of a horse when evaluating the titre as an average healthy horse has higher titres compared to younger horses.

Cite This Article

APA
Båverud V, Gunnarsson A, Engvall EO, Franzén P, Egenvall A. (2009). Leptospira seroprevalence and associations between seropositivity, clinical disease and host factors in horses. Acta Vet Scand, 51(1), 15. https://doi.org/10.1186/1751-0147-51-15

Publication

Acta veterinaria Scandinavica
ISSN: 1751-0147
NlmUniqueID: 0370400
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 51
Issue: 1
Pages: 15

Researcher Affiliations

Båverud, V
  • Department of Bacteriology, National Veterinary Institute, SE-751 89 Uppsala, Sweden. viveca.baverud@sva.se
Gunnarsson, A
    Engvall, E Olsson
      Franzén, P
        Egenvall, A

          MeSH Terms

          • Animals
          • Antibodies, Bacterial / blood
          • Cross-Sectional Studies
          • Female
          • Horse Diseases / epidemiology
          • Horse Diseases / microbiology
          • Horses
          • Leptospira / isolation & purification
          • Leptospirosis / epidemiology
          • Leptospirosis / microbiology
          • Leptospirosis / veterinary
          • Male
          • Seroepidemiologic Studies
          • Sweden / epidemiology

          References

          This article includes 33 references

          Citations

          This article has been cited 21 times.
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