Leptospirosis in horses in Ontario.
Abstract: Sera from Thoroughbred and Standardbred horses in southwest Ontario were tested for antibody to seven Leptospira interrogans serovars (autumnalis, bratislava, canicola, grippotyphosa, hardjo, icterohaemorrhagiae, pomona), using the microscopic agglutination test. There was significantly higher seroprevalence of bratislava than of other serovars, in which prevalence was low. Seroprevalence of bratislava increased significantly with age; only 5% of two to three year old horses had titers greater than or equal to 1:80 compared to 52% of horses older than seven years. Eight of 16 foals from two farms seroconverted at low titers to bratislava between four and eight months of age. Leptospires were not detected by immunofluorescence and isolation techniques in 50 kidneys collected from horses at slaughter. Fetal tissues from 52 aborted horse fetuses were also examined by these methods and serovar kennewicki was identified by immunofluorescence and by isolation in one fetus. Serovar bratislava appears to be widespread in horses in Ontario but unimportant in abortion. The clinical significance of this infection in horses in Ontario is unclear.
Publication Date: 1987-10-01 PubMed ID: 3330964PubMed Central: PMC1255363
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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This research article analyses the prevalence of Leptospirosis, a zoonotic infection, amongst horses in Ontario. The study found that serovar bratislava, a subtype of the infection, is widespread but does not seem to play a significant role in horse abortions. The clinical relevancy of this infection in the local horse population still remains uncertain.
Overview of Leptospirosis and Its Serovars
- The research discusses leptospirosis, a bacterial disease and zoonotic infection, which affects many mammals, including horses. The disease is caused by spirochetes of the genus Leptospira.
- Leptospires, the bacteria causing the disease, exists in several strains or ‘serovars’. The research steers its focus towards seven serovars namely, autumnalis, bratislava, canicola, grippotyphosa, hardjo, icterohaemorrhagiae, pomona. Each serovar can have a varying degree of infection severity and prevalence in specific species or regions.
Seroprevalence of bratislava in Ontario horses
- The study found that serovar bratislava was significantly more prevalent in horses in southwest Ontario compared to the other serovars.
- Across the sample, seroprevalence (the level of a pathogen in a population, as measured in blood serum) of bratislava increased with age. Less young horses (5% of those aged two to three years old) showed antibodies to bratislava than older horses (52% of horses older than seven years).
- Similarly, a proportion of foals, or baby horses, showed antibodies to bratislava. Eight out of 16 foals from the study sample had developed antibodies to serovar bratislava between four and eight months of age.
Inconclusiveness of bratislava’s role in horse abortions
- Despite its high prevalence, the findings of the study do not support an important role for serovar bratislava in horse abortions. This is inferred from examinations of 52 aborted horse fetuses. Only one fetus showed evidence of a different serovar, kennewicki, instead.
- Additionally, examination of kidneys collected from 50 slaughtered horses turned out negative for leptospires, providing further evidence of the discrepancy in seroprevalence and clinical implication.
Unclear clinical significance
- While results show bratislava is widespread amongst horses in Ontario, the clinical significance is unclear. The specific symptoms or health issues the infected horses may suffer from, if any, are not indicated explicitly in this study.
- This forms the basis for future studies to explore how serovar bratislava affects horse health, and to compare results with those from other regions.
Cite This Article
APA
Kitson-Piggot AW, Prescott JF.
(1987).
Leptospirosis in horses in Ontario.
Can J Vet Res, 51(4), 448-451.
Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Immunology, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph.
MeSH Terms
- Abortion, Veterinary / microbiology
- Animals
- Antibodies, Bacterial / analysis
- Female
- Fluorescent Antibody Technique
- Horse Diseases / epidemiology
- Horses
- Kidney / microbiology
- Leptospira / immunology
- Leptospira / isolation & purification
- Leptospirosis / epidemiology
- Leptospirosis / veterinary
- Ontario
- Pregnancy
References
This article includes 15 references
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