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Veterinary world2023; 16(10); 2110-2119; doi: 10.14202/vetworld.2023.2110-2119

Leptospirosis in horses: Sentinels for a neglected zoonosis? A systematic review.

Abstract: Leptospirosis is considered a neglected tropical zoonosis in low-income countries due to surveillance system limitations and non-specificity of symptoms. Humans become infected through direct contact with carrier animals or indirectly through Leptospira-contaminated environments. Conventionally, equines have been considered an uncommon source of leptospirosis, but recent publications in Latin America suggest that their role in the maintenance and dispersion of the bacteria could be more relevant than expected, as horses are susceptible to a wide variety of zoonotic Leptospira spp. from domestic and wild animals with which they share the environment. A systematic review of the published literature was conducted to compile the available information on Leptospira spp. in Ecuador, with a special focus on equine leptospirosis, to better understand the epidemiology of the bacterium and identify possible knowledge gaps. Unassigned: A systematic review of the published literature was conducted in PubMed, SciELO and Web of Science databases to compile the available information on Leptospira spp. in Ecuador, with a special focus on equine leptospirosis, to better understand the epidemiology of the bacterium. We used a combination of the terms (Leptospira OR Leptospirosis) AND Ecuador, without restrictions on language or publication date. Unassigned: Our literature review reveals that published scientific information is very scarce. Eighteen full-text original scientific articles related to Leptospira or leptospirosis cases in Ecuador were included in the systematic review. Most of the studies reported data obtained from one of the four regions (Coast), and specifically from only one of the 24 Provinces of Ecuador (Manabí), which evidence a large information bias at the geographical level. Furthermore, only the studies focused on humans included clinical signs of leptospirosis and there is only one study that analyzes the presence of Leptospira spp. in water or soil as a risk factor for pathogen transmission. Finally, only one study investigated Leptospira in horses. Unassigned: Since sentinel species can provide useful data on infectious diseases when epidemiologic al information is lacking, and horses could be considered excellent sentinel species to reveal circulating serovars, we propose developing a nationwide surveillance system using horses. This cost-effective epidemiological survey method provides a baseline for implementing specific prevention and control programs in Ecuador and neighboring developing countries.
Copyright: © Díaz, et al.
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Publication Date: 2023-10-14 PubMed ID: 38023277PubMed Central: PMC10668546DOI: 10.14202/vetworld.2023.2110-2119Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research article carries out a systematic review on the topic of leptospirosis in horses in Ecuador, investigating the role horses could play as an indicator or ‘sentinel’ for this understudied and often neglected disease.

Introduction to the Research Topic

  • The research article discusses the issue of leptospirosis, a disease transmitted to humans through direct contact with infected animals or indirectly through environments contaminated by the bacteria Leptospirosis spp..
  • The disease is often overlooked in low-income countries due to the insufficiencies in surveillance systems and the nonspecific nature of its symptoms.
  • The focus of this study is on horses, a species that has traditionally been considered an uncommon source of leptospirosis, but whose relevance as carriers for the disease has recently been suggested to be more significant than previously thought.

Methods of the Research

  • This research was carried out through a systematic review of the existing literature on Leptospira spp. in Ecuador, with an emphasis on equine leptospirosis.
  • Information was compiled from the PubMed, SciELO, and Web of Science databases, focussing on the epidemiology of the bacterium in the country.

Findings of the Research

  • The systematic review revealed a scarcity of published information on this topic. Mainly, only eighteen full-text scientific articles related to leptospirosis in Ecuador were utilized in the review.
  • Most studies reported data collected from one specific geographical region and from only one of Ecuador’s 24 provinces, which indicates a significant geographical information bias.
  • A surprising lack of studies investigating the presence of Leptospira spp. in environmental factors such as water or soil or in horses was also identified.

Conclusions and Recommendations

  • This study proposes using horses as sentinel species i.e. species used to provide important data on infectious diseases in situations where epidemiological information is elusive or unattainable.
  • This could manifest in the development of a nationwide surveillance system using horses, which the study authors deem to be a cost-effective method of disease surveillance.
  • Ultimately, the systematic review concludes that the results obtained could be used as a basis to develop specific prevention and control programs for leptospirosis in Ecuador and other developing countries.

Cite This Article

APA
Díaz EA, Arroyo G, Sáenz C, Mena L, Barragán V. (2023). Leptospirosis in horses: Sentinels for a neglected zoonosis? A systematic review. Vet World, 16(10), 2110-2119. https://doi.org/10.14202/vetworld.2023.2110-2119

Publication

Veterinary world
ISSN: 0972-8988
NlmUniqueID: 101504872
Country: India
Language: English
Volume: 16
Issue: 10
Pages: 2110-2119

Researcher Affiliations

Díaz, Eduardo A
  • Escuela de Medicina Veterinaria, Colegio de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Diego Robles, Quito, 170157, Ecuador.
Arroyo, Gabriela
  • Escuela de Medicina Veterinaria, Colegio de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Diego Robles, Quito, 170157, Ecuador.
Sáenz, Carolina
  • Hospital de Fauna Silvestre Tueri, Instituto iBIOTROP, Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Diego Robles, Quito, 170157, Ecuador.
Mena, Luis
  • Carrera de Medicina Veterinaria, Facultad de Ciencias Pecuarias, Escuela Superior Politécnica de Chimborazo ESPOCH, Riobamba, 060155, Ecuador.
Barragán, Verónica
  • Colegio de Ciencias Biológicas y Ambientales, Instituto de Microbiología, Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Diego Robles, Quito, 170157, Ecuador.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

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Citations

This article has been cited 2 times.
  1. Vanderhooft CJ, Díaz EA, Sáenz C, Lizana V. 2000-2025: A Quarter of a Century of Studies on Pet Ownership in the Amazon-Epidemiological Implications for Public Health. Pathogens 2026 Jan 10;15(1).
    doi: 10.3390/pathogens15010077pubmed: 41599061google scholar: lookup
  2. Azócar-Aedo L, Meniconi G, Pino-Olguín C, Gallardo M. Seropositivity for Pathogenic Leptospira in Dogs, Cats, and Horses at a Teaching Veterinary Hospital in Southern Chile. Trop Med Infect Dis 2025 Sep 3;10(9).
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