SEROPREVALENCE OF LEPTOSPIRAL INFECTION IN BUFFALO (BUBALUS BUBALIS)

Abstract

To investigate the prevalence of leptospiral infection in buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) in Ahvaz, blood samples were taken from 189 (98 females and 91 males) buffaloes slaughtered in abattoir. Sera were initially screened at serum dilution of 1:100 against six live antigens of Leptospira interrogans: Pomona, Canicola, Hardjo, Ballum, Icterohaemorrhagiae and Grippotyphosa using the microscopic agglutination test and sera with positive results were titrated against reacting antigens in serial twofold dilution from 1:100 to 1:1600. Antibody against one or more serovars were detected in 111 (58.73%) sera at dilution ≥1:100. Antibody against more than one serovar were found in 33 positive sera. Among the positive sera, antibodies were most frequent to serovar Canicola (24.52%) followed by those to Hardjo (19.35%), Grippotyphosa (18.06%), Ballum (16.03%), Pomona (12.26%) and Icterohaemorrhagiae (8.39%). Of 54 heifers, 44 cows and 91 males, antibodies were found in 34 (62.96%), 26 (59.09%) and 51 (56.01%), respectively. Statistical analysis showed no significant difference between age and sex groups.