High proportion of cattle and sheep seropositive and renal carriers of Leptospira sp. under semiarid conditions

Authors

  • Carla Lauise Rodrigues Menezes Pimenta Universidade Federal de Campina Grande
  • Denise Batista Nogueira Universidade Federal de Campina Grande
  • Camila de Souza Bezerra Universidade Federal de Campina Grande
  • Davidianne de Andrade Morais Universidade Federal de Campina Grande
  • Maria Luana Cristiny Rodrigues Silva Universidade Federal de Campina Grande
  • Diego Figueiredo da Costa Universidade Federal de Campina Grande
  • Severino Silvano dos Santos Higino Universidade Federal de Campina Grande
  • Carolina de Sousa Américo Batista Santos Universidade Federal de Campina Grande
  • Clebert José Alves Universidade Federal de Campina Grande
  • Sérgio Santos de Azevedo Universidade Federal de Campina Grande

Keywords:

Animal leptospirosis, consortia breeding, molecular detection, ruminants, semiarid conditions

Abstract

The aims of this study were to perform serological and molecular detection of Leptospira sp. infection in cattle and sheep under semiarid conditions. Based on a preliminary study performed in our research group, we selected six rural properties showing a positivity ≥ 60% for Sejroe serogroup with titer ≥ 200 measured in serological tests from cattle. In the present study, blood and urine samples were collected from 99 females of reproductive age (51 cattle and 48 sheep) for serological diagnosis, molecular detection and Leptospira sp. attempt to strain recovery. Of the 99 analyzed animals 38.4% (38/99) were positively reactive at the serological tests. Of them, 49% (25/51) were cattle and 27.1% (13/48) sheep. The serogroups detected in cattle were Sejroe (36.8%), Hebdomadis (26.3%), Australis (10.5%), Djasiman (10.5%), Ballum (5.3%), Pomona (5.3%), and Cynopteri (5.3%) with titers of 100–800. In sheep, the reactive serogroups were Australis (27.3%), Ballum (27.3%), Djasiman (18.1%), Tarassovi (9.1%), Icterohaemorrhagiae (9.1%), and Cynopteri (9.1%) with titers of 100–400. Leptospiral DNA was detected in nine urine samples, including five cattle and four sheep. Property 1 showed the highest serological positivity frequencies for both cattle (70.6%) and sheep (70.6%). Similarly, the highest frequency of DNA detection was also found (eight samples, 89%). In this property, we observed the existence of consorted rearing of cattle and sheep with close coexistence between these species. In semiarid conditions, transmission among animals of the same species seems to be the main form of Leptospira sp. dissemination in cattle and sheep herds. However, the contribution of other domestic and wild animals cannot be discarded. The practice of consorted rearing of cattle and sheep and their close coexistence may facilitate the spread of the pathogen in rural properties.

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Published

2020-07-06

Issue

Section

Medicina Veterinária Preventiva