Seroprevalence of leptospiral infection in goats of Ahvaz

ABSTRACT

In a serological survey to investigate the prevalence of leptospiral infection in goats in Ahvaz, blood samples were taken from 172 female goats. They were initially screened at serum dilution of 1 100 against six live antigens of leptospira interorgans serovar pomona, canicola, hardjo, ballum, icterohemorrhagiae, and grippotyphosa using the microscopic agglutination test [MAT] and samples were considered positive, if 50% or more of agglutination of leptospires in a dilution of l 100 or greater was found. Sera with positive results were titrated against reacting antigens in serial twofold dilution from l100 to 11600.Antibodies against one or more serovars were detected in 18 [10.46%] sera at dilution +/- 1 100. Antibodies against more than one serovar were found in 5 [27.77%] positive sera. Antibodies were most frequent to serovar grippotyphosa [39.13%] followed by in descending, canicola [26.80%], pomona [21.72%], icterohemorrhagiae [8.69%] and hardjo [4.34%]