Serological Study of Leptospirosis in Cattle in Ahwaz

ABSTRACT

Detection of anti-Leptospira antibody in serum of cattle in Ahwaz. Field and serological study. 645 cattle. Blood samples were taken from jugular vein of 645 cattle [588 male, 57 female]. Sera were stored at -20°C until ready for use. They were tested, using the microscopic agglutination test [MAT] against 6 live antigens of leptospiral interogans serotypes. Antigens used were L.I. gripotyphosa, L.I. hardjo, L.I. icterohemorrhagica, L.I. pomona, L.I. ballum and L.I. canicola. Cultures were considered positive if 50ko[3]/41 or more of agglutination of leptospires in a dilution of test serum of 1100 or greater were found. Chi- square test. Out of the sera samples, 347 [53.79ko[3]/41] were positive for at least one leptospire with percentage distribution among the highest number of reactors 30.07ko[3]/41 was due to L.I. gripotyphosa followed by in descending L.I. Pomona [18.33ko[3]/41], L.I. canicola [15.53ko[3]/[4]l], L.I. hardjo [14.35ko[3]/4l], L.I. icterohemorrhagica [11.55ko[3]/41] and L.I. ballum [10.16ko[3]/41]. Totally 35.16ko[3]/41 of srea showed evidence of mixed infection. In positive sera the antibody titers of 1100 [44.42ko[3]/41], 1200 [38.44ko[3]/[4]1], 1400 [14.54ko[3]/41] and 1 800 [1.20ko[3]41] were detected. The prevalence of reactors to leptospiral antigen did not differ with the sex of animal but had significant difference between industrial and non- industrial farms. In contrast to other studies in Iran, the Percentage of prevalence of leptospiral infection in Ahwaz was higher. It may probably due to climatic condition because the weather in Ahwaz is commonly warmer than other cities of Iran that studied previously. The high prevalence of infection and dominant titer of 1100 reveal that leptospiral infection in Ahwaz is endemic