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Home / Equine Research Bank / Vet Sci / Longitudinal Testing of Leptospira Antibodies in Horses Loca...
Veterinary sciences2022; 9(8); 426; doi: 10.3390/vetsci9080426

Longitudinal Testing of Leptospira Antibodies in Horses Located near a Leptospirosis Outbreak in Alpacas.

Abstract: The objectives of this study were to determine if horses located near an outbreak of leptospirosis in alpacas had titres indicative of a previous or current infection and, if so, to determine the magnitude in change of titres over time. Further, the objective was to determine if horses with high titre results were shedding in their urine. Blood samples were collected from twelve horses located on or next to the farm with the outbreak in alpacas, on day zero and at four subsequent time points (two, four, six and nine weeks). The microscopic agglutination test was used to test sera for five serovars endemic in New Zealand: Ballum, Copenhageni, Hardjo, Pomona and Tarassovi. A reciprocal MAT titre cut-off of ≥1:100 was used to determine positive horses. Seven out of twelve horses (58%) were positive to at least one serovar during one of the time points. Two horses recorded titres of ≥1600, one for both Pomona and Copenhageni and the other for Hardjo, and these two horses were both PCR positive for in their urine samples. For five out of seven horses, the titres either remained the same or changed by one dilution across the sampling time points. The study confirmed endemic exposure to five endemic serovars in New Zealand in a group of horses located near a confirmed leptospirosis outbreak in alpacas.
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Publication Date: 2022-08-12 PubMed ID: 36006341PubMed Central: PMC9414811DOI: 10.3390/vetsci9080426Google 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.

This research study examined whether horses living near an outbreak of leptospirosis in alpacas had antibodies indicative of infection and if the titres altered over time. Additionally, the study probed if horses with high titre results were spreading the bacteria through their urine.

Research Objectives and Methodology

  • The aim of the study was to find out if horses near a leptospirosis outbreak in alpacas had either current or prior infection as indicated by their titres. Also, to understand the level of change in these titres over a period of time.
  • The study also intended to validate if horses with high titres were expelling the bacteria in their urine.
  • To conduct the research, blood samples were drawn from 12 horses that were either on or directly next to the farm where the leptospirosis outbreak occurred in alpacas. Samples were taken on day zero and at subsequent time points of two, four, six, and nine weeks.
  • Microscopic agglutination test (MAT) was utilized to test sera for five serovars that are endemic in New Zealand: Ballum, Copenhageni, Hardjo, Pomona, and Tarassovi.
  • Positive horses were determined by a reciprocal MAT titre cut-off of ≥1:100.

Research Findings

  • The study discovered that seven out of the twelve horses tested positive to at least one serovar at some point during the research period, which represents 58% of the horses.
  • Two horses registered titres of ≥1600, one for both Pomona and Copenhageni and the other for Hardjo. Both of these horses tested positive for leptospira bacteria in their urine samples.
  • For five out of the seven positive horses, the titres i.e., concentrations either remained consistent or changed by one dilution during the sampling period.

Conclusion of the Research

  • The study confirmed that there is an endemic exposure to five serovars of leptospira bacteria in horses located close to a leptospirosis outbreak in alpacas in New Zealand.
  • This provides valuable insights into understanding the spread of leptospirosis and its risks to other animals in proximity to an outbreak. Such information could potentially help in the development of preventive measures or early detection methods.

Cite This Article

APA
Bolwell C, Gee E, Adams B, Collins-Emerson J, Scarfe K, Nisa S, Gordon E, Rogers C, Benschop J. (2022). Longitudinal Testing of Leptospira Antibodies in Horses Located near a Leptospirosis Outbreak in Alpacas. Vet Sci, 9(8), 426. https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci9080426

Publication

Veterinary sciences
ISSN: 2306-7381
NlmUniqueID: 101680127
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 9
Issue: 8
PII: 426

Researcher Affiliations

Bolwell, Charlotte
  • School of Veterinary Science, Massey University, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand.
Gee, Erica
  • School of Veterinary Science, Massey University, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand.
Adams, Brooke
  • School of Veterinary Science, Massey University, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand.
Collins-Emerson, Julie
  • School of Veterinary Science, Massey University, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand.
Scarfe, Katherine
  • IDEXX Laboratories (NZ) ULC, School of Veterinary Science Complex, Massey University, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand.
Nisa, Shahista
  • School of Veterinary Science, Massey University, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand.
Gordon, Emma
  • School of Veterinary Science, Massey University, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand.
Rogers, Chris
  • School of Veterinary Science, Massey University, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand.
  • School of Agriculture and Environment, Massey University, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand.
Benschop, Jackie
  • School of Veterinary Science, Massey University, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest. The funders had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript, or in the decision to publish the results.

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Citations

This article has been cited 2 times.
  1. Kirmse L, Thieme K, Doherr MG, Eule JC. Evaluation of Laboratory Techniques for the Diagnosis of Leptospira-Associated Equine Recurrent Uveitis (ERU) With Focus on the Goldmann-Witmer Coefficient. Vet Ophthalmol 2026 Jan;29(1):e70132.
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  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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