Seroprevalence of Leptospira spp. in clinically healthy racing horses in Korea.
Abstract: Leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease of global importance, and has a worldwide distribution. The present study aimed to determine leptospiral seroprevalence in clinically healthy racing horses from all three racecourses in Korea. Serum samples from 1,226 racing horses were examined using a microscopic agglutination test to detect the presence of antibodies against 18 Leptospira serovars. Of the tested samples, 307 (25.0%) were found to be positive. The distribution of seroprevalence differed significantly by racecourse (P=0.004); the Jeju course had the highest incidence (31.1%), followed by the Seoul (25.2%) and Busan (19.5%) racecourses. Seasonal variation in seropositivity was also apparent (P=0.000), being lower in spring (13.0%) and winter (12.5%), and higher in summer (36.7%) and autumn (34.7%). No significant age- or gender-related difference in seroprevalence was noted in this study (P>0.05). Seroprevalence was higher (P=0.006) among ponies than among thoroughbreds. Sejroe was the most frequently detected serovar (n=236), followed by Bratislava (n=35), Ballum (n=16), Autumnalis (n=10), and Canicola (n=10). The majority of serum titers were relatively low; most values ranged from 1:100 (n=217) to 1:200 (n=69). These results suggest that the Sejroe serovar may be maintained in the racing horse population in Korea.
Publication Date: 2009-11-27 PubMed ID: 19942812DOI: 10.1292/jvms.09-0273Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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The research article investigates the presence of antibodies to the Leptospira bacteria in healthy racing horses in Korea, finding 25% of horse samples tested for this bacteria were positive. The presence of antibodies varied by racecourse and showed seasonal variation, but did not significantly differ by age or gender.
Investigating Leptospira in Racing Horses
- This study aims to understand the prevalence of Leptospira, a type of bacteria causing a globally important zoonotic disease, in racing horses in Korea.
- The researchers took serum samples from 1,226 racing horses across three Korean racecourses and tested them for the presence of antibodies against 18 Leptospira serovars (distinct variations within a species of bacteria or viruses).
- They found that 307 of these samples (25%) tested positive. This does not necessarily mean that these horses were symptomatic; rather, it shows their immune system previously encountered and mounted a defense against the bacteria.
Variation by Racecourse and Season
- The researchers observed a variation in the distribution of seropositivity (the proportion of individuals in a population tested for specific antibodies) by racecourse. The Jeju racecourse had the highest prevalence, followed by Seoul, and Busan.
- The presence of antibodies also showed significant seasonal variation, being lower in spring and winter and higher in summer and autumn. These variations may be due to the lifecycle or environmental preferences of the bacteria.
No Age or Gender Difference
- In this study, there was no notable difference in seropositivity based on age or gender, suggesting that all demographics of horses could be at risk of coming into contact with Leptospira.
- However, seroprevalence was found to be higher among ponies than among thoroughbreds. This might be due to differences in their habitats or lifestyles, which could influence the level of exposure to the bacteria.
Most Frequent Serovar
- The most frequently detected serovar was Sejroe, followed by Bratislava, Ballum, Autumnalis, and Canicola.
- The majority of detected antibodies had low titers (concentration), with most values ranging from 1:100 to 1:200.
- This suggests that the Sejroe serovar might be the most commonly maintained serovar in the Korean racing horse population.
Cite This Article
APA
Jung BY, Lee KW, Ha TY.
(2009).
Seroprevalence of Leptospira spp. in clinically healthy racing horses in Korea.
J Vet Med Sci, 72(2), 197-201.
https://doi.org/10.1292/jvms.09-0273 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Animal Disease Diagnostic Center, National Veterinary Research and Quarantine Service, 480 Anyang 6-Dong, Anyang, Kyunggi 430-824, Korea. jungby@nvrqs.go.kr
MeSH Terms
- Age Factors
- Agglutination Tests / veterinary
- Animals
- Antibodies, Protozoan / blood
- Chi-Square Distribution
- Female
- Horse Diseases / epidemiology
- Horse Diseases / parasitology
- Horses
- Korea / epidemiology
- Leptospira / isolation & purification
- Leptospirosis / epidemiology
- Leptospirosis / parasitology
- Male
- Seasons
- Seroepidemiologic Studies
- Sex Factors
- Zoonoses / epidemiology
- Zoonoses / parasitology
Citations
This article has been cited 13 times.- Wollanke B, Gerhards H, Ackermann K. Infectious Uveitis in Horses and New Insights in Its Leptospiral Biofilm-Related Pathogenesis. Microorganisms 2022 Feb 7;10(2).
- Geiger T, Gerhards H, Wollanke B. Detection of Anti-LipL32 Antibodies in Serum Samples from Horses with Chronic Intraocular Infection with Leptospira spp. Pathogens 2021 Oct 14;10(10).
- Samrot AV, Sean TC, Bhavya KS, Sahithya CS, Chan-Drasekaran S, Palanisamy R, Robinson ER, Subbiah SK, Mok PL. Leptospiral Infection, Pathogenesis and Its Diagnosis-A Review. Pathogens 2021 Feb 1;10(2).
- Bolwell CF, Rogers CW, Benschop J, Collins-Emerson JM, Adams B, Scarfe KR, Gee EK. Seroprevalence of Leptospira in Racehorses and Broodmares in New Zealand. Animals (Basel) 2020 Oct 23;10(11).
- Putz EJ, Nally JE. Investigating the Immunological and Biological Equilibrium of Reservoir Hosts and Pathogenic Leptospira: Balancing the Solution to an Acute Problem?. Front Microbiol 2020;11:2005.
- Fouché N, Graubner C, Lanz S, Schweighauser A, Francey T, Gerber V. Acute kidney injury due to Leptospira interrogans in 4 foals and use of renal replacement therapy with intermittent hemodiafiltration in 1 foal. J Vet Intern Med 2020 Mar;34(2):1007-1012.
- Siqueira CC, Fraga DBM, Chagas-Junior AD, Athanazio DA, Silva MMN, Cerqueira RB, da C McBride FW, Pinna MH, Ayres MCC. Seroprevalence and risk factors associated with equineleptospirosis in the metropolitan region of Salvador and Recôncavo Baiano region, Bahia state (NE Brazil). Trop Anim Health Prod 2020 Jan;52(1):31-39.
- Lee SH, Yun SH, Choi E, Park YS, Lee SE, Cho GJ, Kwon OD, Kwak D. Serological Detection of Borrelia burgdorferi among Horses in Korea. Korean J Parasitol 2016 Feb;54(1):97-101.
- Kim MJ. Leptospirosis in the republic of Korea: historical perspectives, current status and future challenges. Infect Chemother 2013 Jun;45(2):137-44.
- Hamond C, Pinna A, Martins G, Lilenbaum W. The role of leptospirosis in reproductive disorders in horses. Trop Anim Health Prod 2014 Jan;46(1):1-10.
- Hamond C, Martins G, Lilenbaum W. Subclinical leptospirosis may impair athletic performance in racing horses. Trop Anim Health Prod 2012 Dec;44(8):1927-30.
- Hamond C, Martins G, Lawson-Ferreira R, Medeiros MA, Lilenbaum W. The role of horses in the transmission of leptospirosis in an urban tropical area. Epidemiol Infect 2013 Jan;141(1):33-5.
- Díaz EA, Arroyo G, Sáenz C, Mena L, Barragán V. Leptospirosis in horses: Sentinels for a neglected zoonosis? A systematic review. Vet World 2023 Oct;16(10):2110-2119.
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