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PloS one2018; 13(10); e0206639; doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0206639

Seroprevalence, frequency of leptospiuria, and associated risk factors in horses in Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska from 2016-2017.

Abstract: Leptospirosis is a worldwide veterinary and public health concern, and well recognized infectious disease of horses. Seroprevalence rates vary with geography, but many studies have confirmed a high exposure rate. The correlation between seropositivity and shedding status has not been made in horses, however. The aims of this study were to use semi-nested PCR on urine from apparently healthy horses to determine period prevalence of leptospiral shedding and to correlate these findings with MAT results to establish associations with client based survey data regarding horse management and environment. Serum and free-catch urine were collected from 204 healthy horses between May 2016-December 2017. Serum was used to determine GGT, creatinine concentrations, and six serovar MAT. Urine samples were submitted for PCR testing of leptospiral 23S rRNA. Client consent and survey data were collected for all subjects. Potential risk factors included drinking water source, exposure to livestock and dogs, geographical location, season, and precipitation. Two horses were positive on urine PCR for leptospirosis (shedding prevalence 1%), yet only one had a high reciprocal MAT titer of ≥ 800. Both horses were negative on urine PCR one month later without treatment. Approximately 77% of horses (157/204) were seroreactive (MAT reciprocal titer ≥ 100) with titers to serogroup Australis detected more frequently than others (47.5%; (97/204)). Apparently healthy horses infrequently shed Leptospira spp. in urine, yet seroreactivity in clinically normal horses is high (77%), confirming high exposure rates to Leptospira spp. in the Central Midwest.
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Publication Date: 2018-10-29 PubMed ID: 30372498PubMed Central: PMC6205653DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0206639Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Non-U.S. Gov't

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 focused on assessing the prevalence of leptospirosis shedding and its association with seropositivity in horses situated in Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska. The study also sought to link these findings with factors such as horse management and environment.

Study Design and Scope

  • To carry out the study, serum and urine samples were gathered from 204 healthy horses over one and a half years (May 2016 to December 2017).
  • The organization conducted semi-nested PCR on the urine samples to ascertain the prevalence of leptospiral (a bacteria causing Leptospirosis) shedding.
  • This was then cross-referenced with findings from an indirect immunofluorescent antibody test (MAT).
  • Participants also filled in a survey on horse management and the environment in which the horses were kept. Factors considered here included the drinking water source, exposure to livestock and dogs, geographical location, the season, and rainfall.

Findings

  • Out of all the test subjects, only two horses were found to be shedding leptospira, pointing to a shedding prevalence of 1%.
  • However, only one of the two horses showed a high level of reciprocal MAT titer of ≥ 800. Additionally, both horses were found to be negative for Leptospirosis one month later without any treatment.
  • When it came to seroreactivity, about 77% of the horses (157 out of 204) were seroreactive, pointing to high exposure rates to Leptospirosis. Here, the Australis serogroup was noted more frequently than other variations of the bacteria.

Conclusion

  • The research concluded that the shedding of Leptospira spp. in urine among healthy horses is relatively infrequent.
  • However, there is a high seroreactivity (77%) to Leptospira spp. amongst clinically normal horses, which aligns with the high exposure rates in the Central Midwest region where the study was conducted.

Per the results, the research provides a wealth of insights about the state of Leptospirosis among horses in the Central Midwest and advances understanding about the disease’s prevalence and prompt management.

Cite This Article

APA
Trimble AC, Blevins CA, Beard LA, Deforno AR, Davis EG. (2018). Seroprevalence, frequency of leptospiuria, and associated risk factors in horses in Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska from 2016-2017. PLoS One, 13(10), e0206639. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0206639

Publication

PloS one
ISSN: 1932-6203
NlmUniqueID: 101285081
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 13
Issue: 10
Pages: e0206639

Researcher Affiliations

Trimble, Amanda C
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas, United States of America.
Blevins, Christopher A
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas, United States of America.
Beard, Laurie A
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas, United States of America.
Deforno, Ashley R
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas, United States of America.
Davis, Elizabeth G
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas, United States of America.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Female
  • Horse Diseases / epidemiology
  • Horse Diseases / etiology
  • Horse Diseases / microbiology
  • Horse Diseases / urine
  • Horses / microbiology
  • Horses / urine
  • Kansas / epidemiology
  • Leptospira / genetics
  • Leptospirosis / etiology
  • Leptospirosis / microbiology
  • Leptospirosis / urine
  • Leptospirosis / veterinary
  • Male
  • Missouri / epidemiology
  • Nebraska / epidemiology
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction / veterinary
  • RNA, Ribosomal, 23S / genetics
  • Risk Factors
  • Seroepidemiologic Studies

Conflict of Interest Statement

Funds for this work were provided generously by Zoetis Inc (EGD), the Department of Clinical Sciences at the Kansas State University Veterinary Health Center (ACT), and by the Dr. John G. and Mildred L. Gish Research Fund for Large Animal Research at Kansas State University (ACT). No competing interests exist between the commercial funding source (Zoetis Inc.) and the submitting authors relating to employment, consultancy, patents, products in development, or marketed products. Non-financial competing interests: Ram Raghavan was a previous mentor involved with this project and a member of the editorial board of a PLOS journals. This does not alter our adherence to PLOS ONE policies on sharing data and materials.

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Citations

This article has been cited 7 times.
  1. Ramsay L, Eberhardt C, Schoster A. Acute leptospirosis in horses: A retrospective study of 11 cases (2015-2023). J Vet Intern Med 2024 Sep-Oct;38(5):2729-2738.
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  2. Hamond C, Adam EN, Stone NE, LeCount K, Anderson T, Putz EJ, Camp P, Hicks J, Stuber T, van der Linden H, Bayles DO, Sahl JW, Schlater LK, Wagner DM, Nally JE. Identification of equine mares as reservoir hosts for pathogenic species of Leptospira. Front Vet Sci 2024;11:1346713.
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  3. Quintero-Vélez JC, Rodas JD, Rojas CA, Ko AI, Wunder EA. Leptospira Infection in Rural Areas of Urabá Region, Colombia: A Prospective Study. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2022 Dec 14;107(6):1267-1277.
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