Spatial and seasonal distribution of Leptospira spp. seropositive horses in the Northeast region of Brazil.

Leptospirosis is an anthropozoonosis of economic and public health importance, caused by bacteria of the genus Leptospira. Horses are deemed important in its transmission chain due to their proximity to humans, and because the species is often asymptomatic, making these animals potential silent reservoirs. In this context, the objectives of this study were to determine the prevalence of seropositive horses for Leptospira spp., and to identify the presence of Leptospira spp. serogroups and antibody titers, the occurrence of areas with higher density of infection cases and demographic characteristics associated with seropositivity in the states of Paraíba (PB), Pernambuco (PE), Rio Grande do Norte (RN) and Ceará (CE), in the Northeast region of Brazil, during rainy (May and June) and dry (October and November) seasons from 2017 to 2019. Using the microscopic agglutination test (MAT), 1152 equine serum samples from 225 municipalities were analyzed. Anti-Leptospira antibodies were detected in 23.9 % (95 % CI= 21.4 - 26.3 %) of the samples in the three-year period, with a frequency of 30.4 % (95 % CI= 26.7 - 34.2 %) during the rainy period (with greater emphasis on the Ballum serogroup) and 17.4 % (95 % CI= 14.3 - 20.5 %) in the dry period (with greater emphasis on the Sejroe serogroup). Age of horses ≥ 6 years (6-10 years, 11-15 years and ≥ 16 years), rainy season, and animal belonging to Pernambuco state were factors with higher seropositivities. Regarding spatial distribution, a higher percentage of seropositive animals was observed in Pernambuco (P < 0.05), in interstate border areas, and large urban centers, with a spatial cluster detected in the dry season of 2018 with relative risk of 2.8 (P = 0.049) times higher in municipalities within the cluster. It is suggested that measures for controlling rodents and contact with wild animals in equine farming, both in rainy and dry periods, combined with care regarding the use of pastures shared with cattle and the adoption of immunoprophylaxis are important in preventing and controlling leptospirosis in horses in the Northeast region of Brazil.

Fisiologia e fatores interferentes na reprodução de éguas / Physiology and interfering factors in mare reproduction

A reprodução é necessária para produção de descendentes e permite continuidade das espécies. Nos equinos a estação reprodutiva ocorre em épocas de maior luminosidade, pois são caracterizados como poliéstricos estacionais, ou seja, as éguas possuem atividade ovulatória em determinados períodos do ano. Desta forma, fatores interferentes na reprodução devem ser evitados, além de ser necessário o estudo da fisiologia e particularidades da espécie, a fim de aumentar a viabilidade reprodutiva dos equinos. Diante disso, objetivou-se com esta revisão compilar aspectos relacionados à fisiologia do ciclo estral, gestação e parto, assim como, explanar alguns dos principais fatores interferentes no contexto da involução uterina e ciclicidade pós-parto em éguas. No intuito de reduzir ou eliminar os problemas reprodutivos nas éguas.(AU)

Reproduction is necessary for the production of offspring and allows for the continuity of species. In equines the reproductive season occurs in times of greater luminosity, since they are characterized as seasonal polyester, that is, mares have ovulatory activity at certain periods of the year. In this way, interfering factors in the reproduction should be avoided, in addition to the study of the physiology and particularities of the species, in order to increase the reproductive viability of the horses. The objective of this review was to compile aspects related to the physiology of the estrous cycle, gestation and delivery, as well as to explain some of the main interfering factors in the context of uterine involution and postpartum cyclicity in mares. In order to reduce or eliminate reproductive problems in mares.(AU)

Fisiologia e fatores interferentes na reprodução de éguas / Physiology and interfering factors in mare reproduction

A reprodução é necessária para produção de descendentes e permite continuidade das espécies. Nos equinos a estação reprodutiva ocorre em épocas de maior luminosidade, pois são caracterizados como poliéstricos estacionais, ou seja, as éguas possuem atividade ovulatória em determinados períodos do ano. Desta forma, fatores interferentes na reprodução devem ser evitados, além de ser necessário o estudo da fisiologia e particularidades da espécie, a fim de aumentar a viabilidade reprodutiva dos equinos. Diante disso, objetivou-se com esta revisão compilar aspectos relacionados à fisiologia do ciclo estral, gestação e parto, assim como, explanar alguns dos principais fatores interferentes no contexto da involução uterina e ciclicidade pós-parto em éguas. No intuito de reduzir ou eliminar os problemas reprodutivos nas éguas.

Reproduction is necessary for the production of offspring and allows for the continuity of species. In equines the reproductive season occurs in times of greater luminosity, since they are characterized as seasonal polyester, that is, mares have ovulatory activity at certain periods of the year. In this way, interfering factors in the reproduction should be avoided, in addition to the study of the physiology and particularities of the species, in order to increase the reproductive viability of the horses. The objective of this review was to compile aspects related to the physiology of the estrous cycle, gestation and delivery, as well as to explain some of the main interfering factors in the context of uterine involution and postpartum cyclicity in mares. In order to reduce or eliminate reproductive problems in mares.