Prevalence of antibodies against different serovars of Leptospira interrogans in canines in Boyeros municipality, Havana, Cuba

Abstract

In order to determine the prevalence of antibodies against some Leptospira interrogans serovars, blood samples were taken from 160 dogs older than a year. This study was carried out in Boyeros municipality, Havana, Cuba. The samples collected were centrifuged at 1350 g for 10 minutes and the sera obtained were stored in vials at -20°C. For the laboratory evaluation, a slow plate agglutination test was used for the detection of specific antibodies against L. canicola, L. icterohaemorrhagiae, L. pomona, L. ballum, L. australis, and L. hebdomadis. The samples that reacted against six antigen units of at least one strain of Leptospira spp. evaluated, from the 1: 100 dilution, were positive. Seroprevalence was determined by a cross-sectional observational epidemiological study, using the population estimation data. A total seroprevalence value of 63,1 % (101/160) was obtained against one or more serovars, with L. icterohaemorrhagiae, being more frequent with 58,8 % (94/160), followed by L. canicola with 47,5 % (76/160) L. ballum 22,5 % (36/160), L. pomona 18,1 % (29/160), L. australis 10 % (16/160), and  L. hebdomadis 7,5 %  (12/160).  This  study  demonstrated  a  high  seroprevalence in the canine population studied, which indicated a previous exposure to the agent and its wide spread.

Key words: Leptospira, seroprevalence, dogs, agglutination, zoonosis.