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Journal of veterinary diagnostic investigation : official publication of the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians, Inc2020; 32(5); 718-721; doi: 10.1177/1040638720943155

Seroprevalence of Leptospira spp. in Colorado equids and association with clinical disease.

Abstract: Detection of is difficult as a result of intermittent leptospiruria and brief leptospiremia. Hence, diagnosis relies heavily on serologic testing, the reference method of which is the microscopic agglutination test (MAT). In horses, clinical leptospirosis has been associated with abortion, recurrent uveitis, and sporadic cases of hepatic and renal disease. Little information exists on the seroprevalence of antibodies to in equids in the United States; past nationwide studies suggest that the seroprevalence in some areas is as high as 77% (reciprocal titer ≥ 100). We tested sera from 124 apparently healthy horses previously submitted for equine infectious anemia (EIA) serology using MAT for 6 serovars-Bratislava, Canicola, Grippotyphosa, Hardjo, Icterohaemorrhagiae, and Pomona. When using a reciprocal MAT titer cutoff of ≥ 100, 102 of 124 (82%) of the samples were positive for at least one serovar. Seropositivity was significantly associated with increasing age. Query of specimens from clinical cases submitted to the Colorado State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory for MAT since 2010 indicated significantly greater seroprevalence ( = 0.015) of pathogenic serovar Pomona in clinical cases compared to sera submitted from healthy equids for routine EIA testing. Information from our diagnostic laboratory submission forms also suggests a correlation between uveitis or other ophthalmic problems and serovar Pomona.
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Publication Date: 2020-07-25 PubMed ID: 32715980PubMed Central: PMC7488961DOI: 10.1177/1040638720943155Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article

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.

The research article is a study into the prevalence of a bacteria, Leptospira spp., in horses in Colorado and its association with clinical diseases including abortion, recurrent uveitis, and sporadic cases of hepatic and renal disease. This study uses a specific test, microscopic agglutination test (MAT), to diagnose the bacteria due to its brief and intermittent presence.

Study Objectives

  • The primary purpose of the study was to analyze and understand the prevalence of antibodies of Leptospira spp. in horses in the United States.
  • The researchers aimed at studying the association of the bacteria with diseases like abortion, uveitis, hepatic and renal disease in horses.

Methods and Execution

  • The researchers utilized sera from 124 healthy horses that were previously submitted for equine infectious anemia (EIA) using microscopic agglutination testing (MAT).
  • Six different versions, or serovars, of the Leptospira bacteria were tested: Bratislava, Canicola, Grippotyphosa, Hardjo, Icterohaemorrhagiae, and Pomona.

Results and Interpretation

  • 82% of the samples were positive for at least one serovar of Leptospira when a MAT titer cutoff point of 100 was used, which is considered a high seroprevalence.
  • Older horses showed a statistically significant association with seropositivity, which implies aging is a risk factor for contracting the bacteria.
  • Review of clinical cases from the Colorado State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory showed a greater prevalence of pathogenic serovar Pomona in clinical cases compared to healthy horses. This difference was statistically significant, indicating that serum from healthy horses has less prevalence of pathogenic Pomona as opposed to serum from clinically ill horses.
  • The data collected from the laboratory submission forms also indicates a correlation between uveitis (an inflammation of the middle layer of the eye) or other ophthalmic problems and serovar Pomona.

Impact of the Research

  • This research provides valuable insight into the prevalence of Leptospira spp. in horses, especially in the United States, where this information was scarce.
  • Knowledge about serovar Pomona’s association with clinical problems will help to guide future research, diagnosis and treatment strategies, particularly for uveitis or other eye-related issues in horses.
  • The association of the bacteria with older age horses is an essential finding, and preventive measures could be implemented to reduce the prevalence in this demographic group.

Cite This Article

APA
Fagre AC, Mayo CE, Pabilonia KL, Landolt GA. (2020). Seroprevalence of Leptospira spp. in Colorado equids and association with clinical disease. J Vet Diagn Invest, 32(5), 718-721. https://doi.org/10.1177/1040638720943155

Publication

Journal of veterinary diagnostic investigation : official publication of the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians, Inc
ISSN: 1943-4936
NlmUniqueID: 9011490
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 32
Issue: 5
Pages: 718-721

Researcher Affiliations

Fagre, Anna C
  • Departments of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology (Fagre, Mayo, Pabilonia) and Clinical Sciences (Landolt), College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO.
Mayo, Christie E
  • Departments of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology (Fagre, Mayo, Pabilonia) and Clinical Sciences (Landolt), College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO.
Pabilonia, Kristy L
  • Departments of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology (Fagre, Mayo, Pabilonia) and Clinical Sciences (Landolt), College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO.
Landolt, Gabriele A
  • Departments of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology (Fagre, Mayo, Pabilonia) and Clinical Sciences (Landolt), College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO.

MeSH Terms

  • Age Factors
  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Bacterial / blood
  • Colorado / epidemiology
  • Female
  • Horse Diseases / epidemiology
  • Horse Diseases / microbiology
  • Horses
  • Leptospira
  • Leptospirosis / epidemiology
  • Leptospirosis / microbiology
  • Leptospirosis / veterinary
  • Male
  • Prevalence
  • Seroepidemiologic Studies
  • Serogroup

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

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Citations

This article has been cited 9 times.
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