Seroprevalence of Leptospira spp. Infection in Cattle from Central and Northern Madagascar

Theresa Schafbauer, Anou Dreyfus, Benedikt Hogan, Raphael Rakotozandrindrainy, Sven Poppert and Reinhard K. Straubinger
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Theresa Schafbauer: Bacteriology and Mycology, Institute for Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Department of Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, LMU Munich, Veterinaerstr. 13, 80539 Munich, Germany
Anou Dreyfus: Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, 4051 Basel, Switzerland
Benedikt Hogan: Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, 20359 Hamburg, Germany
Raphael Rakotozandrindrainy: Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, University of Antananarivo, BP 566, Antananarivo 101, Madagascar
Sven Poppert: Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, 4051 Basel, Switzerland
Reinhard K. Straubinger: Bacteriology and Mycology, Institute for Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Department of Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, LMU Munich, Veterinaerstr. 13, 80539 Munich, Germany

IJERPH, 2019, vol. 16, issue 11, 1-10

Abstract: Leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease of global importance, especially in tropical countries. The current Leptospira spp. seroprevalence in cattle from central and northern Madagascar is unknown. Thus, the aim of this study was to determine the seroprevalence resulting from infections with pathogenic Leptospira spp. in zebu cattle from these areas. Serum samples from 194 animals were tested by microscopic agglutination test (MAT) using a panel of 12 serovars as antigens. Samples with a titer of ≥1:100 were considered positive. The overall seroprevalence was 59.3% (95% CI; 52.0–66.2%) with titers ranging from 1:100 to 1:1600. Among the seropositive animals, the most frequent antibody reactions were against serovar L. Tarassovi (serogroup L. Tarassovi) with 40.2% (33.3–47.5%), followed by L. Hardjo ( L. Sejroe) with 13.9% (9.5–19.8%), L. Grippotyphosa ( L. Grippotyphosa) with 9.8% (6.2–15.1%), L. Pomona ( L. Pomona) with 7.7% (4.5–12.7%) and L. Autumnalis ( L. Autumnalis) with 5.2% (2.6–9.5%). Less than 5% of the samples reacted positively against the remaining serovars. These results indicate a very high exposure of Malagasy cattle to Leptospira spp. which, consequently, poses a definite risk for people working with cattle acquiring this zoonotic infection.

Keywords: leptospirosis; Madagascar; cattle; seroprevalence; microscopic agglutination test (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
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