Microbiological and serological study of leptospirosis in horses at slaughter: first isolations.

This study aimed to identify the presence of Leptospira bacteria in horses sent for slaughter in Portugal, leading to the first isolation of two strains of the bacteria in the country. It also discovered that 37% of the horses tested had leptospiral antibodies.

Background of the Study

• Leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease caused by Leptospira bacteria that affects various animals, including horses.
• The disease can lead to serious health issues in horses, including abortion, recurrent uveitis, and renal disease.
• In Portugal, while human cases of leptospirosis have been reported, there’s little data regarding leptospirosis in horses.

Research Methodology

• The study performed a bacteriological survey on the kidneys of 145 horses from abattoirs (slaughterhouses).
• It aimed to isolate Leptospira strains and classify them serologically, a process that categorizes bacteria based on the types of antigens present.
• The researchers also tested the horses for leptospiral antibodies using the Microscopic Agglutination Test (MAT).

Key Findings

• Two Leptospira strains were isolated from the kidneys of the horses. These were identified as Leptospira interrogans serovar Bratislava, and Leptospira kirschneri serovar Tsaratsovo.
• These strains belong to the serogroups Australis and Pomona.
• These are the first isolations of these Leptospira strains from horses in Portugal. Furthermore, the Bratislava strain represents the first instance of the Australis serogroup found in the country.
• Out of the 145 horses tested, 37% had MAT titres, suggesting a high presence of leptospiral antibodies. This indicates that these horses may have been infected with Leptospira at some point.

Implications of the Study

• The findings of this study expand our knowledge of leptospirosis in horses in Portugal.
• The results suggest that leptospirosis might be more prevalent in the country’s horse population than previously understood.
• They highlight the need for further studies on leptospirosis in horses to better understand its prevalence, transmission, and effects on equine health.