Occurrence of antibodies against Leptospira spp. in horses of the urban area of Londrina, Paraná, Brazil.

The research studied antibodies against the Leptospira bacteria in horses used for traction in Londrina city, Brazil. Out of 320 tested horses, 66.88% were found positive, with varied levels of antibody titers.

Study Background

• This study aimed to investigate the presence of antibodies against Leptospira bacteria in horses used for traction in the urban areas of the Londrina city in Brazil.
• Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease that affects both humans and animals. Horses in particular can carry the disease without showing symptoms, making them timely subjects for this kind of research.

Research Methods

• The research population consisted of 320 horses, both males and females, aged between two and 17 years.
• The particular group of horses studied were those specifically used for pulling wagons within the city.
• After their daily tasks, these horses were kept in abandoned areas on the outskirts of the urban city.
• The veterinarians attending to these horses did not report any signs or symptoms of leptospirosis.
• The most common reasons for veterinary assistance were weight loss, reluctance to work, parasitic infections, lameness, and wounds.
• All horses were subjected to a Microscopic Seroagglutination Test (SAM) to check for antibodies against 22 serovars of Leptospira bacteria in their blood samples.

Key Findings

• Out of the 320 tested horses, 214, equivalent to roughly 66.88%, were found to be carrying antibodies against Leptospira, with titers ranging between 100 and 3200.
• Approximately 22.90% showed antibodies against a single serovar, while the majority (77.10%) showed antibodies against two or more serovars.
• For 53.33% of the latter group, the researchers were able to identify the likely serovar. They kinked 23.36% of tested animals to the Icterohaemorrhagiae serovar.

Conclusion

• This research provides important insight into the degree of exposure among urban working horses to Leptospira bacteria.
• The high prevalence of positive findings underscores a pressing health risk that veterinarians and authorities should address.