SEROPREVALENCE OF LEPTOSPIROSIS IN REPRODUCTIVE-AGE BOVINE FEMALES IN THE STATE OF BAHIA, NORTHEASTERN BRAZIL

ABSTRACT

The aim of this work was to determine the seroprevalence of leptospirosis in reproductive-age bovine females in Bahia State, Northeastern Brazil. The sampling was delineated for the determination of the prevalence of seropositive animals as well as herds positive for bovine leptospiroses (foci). The state was divided into 4 regions or sampling strata in which 10,823 bovine females aged ≥ 24 months allocated in 1,414 herds were sampled. The microscopic agglutination test (MAT), using 23 Leptospira spp. serovars as antigens, was employed as a diagnostic test. The herd was considered positive if at least one animal was seropositive. The prevalences of positive herds and seropositive animals in the state were 77.93% [75.73%–79.99%] and 45.42% [42.00%–48.88%], respectively. Serovar Hardjo (Hardjoprajitno) was the most frequent, with 34.49% [31.93%–37.14%] of positive herds and 14.95% [12.59%–17.67%] of seropositive animals in the different regions.

KEY WORDS Leptospira spp.; bovine; prevalence; epidemiology (control)