Risk factors to leptospirosis in cows in São Paulo State, Brazil

Risk factors associated to leptospirosis were identified in cows from São Paulo State. The State was divided into seven productive circuits from which 8,216 cows older than 24 months of age from 1,021 herds were sampled. For serological diagnosis of Leptospira spp. infection, the microscopic agglutination test (MAT) was carried out. Of the investigated herds, 718 (71.3%; 95% CI = 68.5% - 74.0%) presented at least one reactant animal at MAT to any serovar. Serovar Hardjo was the most prevalent, with 55.2% (95% CI = 51.4% - 58.9%) of the positive herds. Herd size, animal purchase, share pasture, presence of ovine and swine, and utilization of artificial insemination were identified as risk factors. Utilization of maternity pens was a protective factor against leptospirosis

Detecção de ácidos nucléicos de Brucella spp., Leptospira spp., herpesvirus bovino e vírus da diarréia viral bovina, em fetos bovinos abortados e em animais mortos no perinatal Detection of Brucella spp., Leptospira spp., bovine herpesvirus and bovine viral diarrhea virus nucleic acids in aborted fetuses and bovines dead perinatal

<abstract language="eng">Samples of 114 bovine fetuses and 10 calves, which dead in perinatal period, were examined for detection of DNA. The most common detected agent was Brucella spp. in 17 samples (13.7%) followed by Leptospira spp. in 4 cases (3.2%),bovine herpesvirus (BHV) and bovine viral diarrhea (BVDV) in 3 animals (2.4%) each, and 1 for the association of BVDV and BHV. In 77.4 % (96/124) of the samples it was not possible to detect any agent

Prevalence and risk factors for Leptospira spp. in cattle herds in the south central region of Paraná state

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of anti-Leptospira spp. antibodies and the risk factors for Leptospira spp. infection in breeding cattle herds in the south central region of Paraná state. It was based on the statistic delineation/serological samples and information regarding the selected farms employed in the study of bovine brucellosis for Paraná state in the context of National Program for Control and Eradication of Brucellosis and Tuberculosis. A total of 1.880 females aged >24 months from 274 non vaccinated herds were studied. Serum samples were tested for antibodies against Leptospira spp. using microscopic agglutination test (MAT) with 22 Leptospira serovars. The epidemiological questionnaire was applied on all the selected farms and aimed to obtain epidemiological data. Hundred eighty one of 274 herds were positive for Leptospira spp./presenting prevalence of positive herds of 66.06% (IC95%=60.12-71,65%). Presence of >43 cattle (OR=3.120; IC=1.418-6.867)/animal purchase (OR=2.010; IC=1.154-3.500)/rent of pastures (OR=2.925; IC=1.060-8.068) and presence of maternity paddock (OR=1.981; IC=1,068-3,676) were identified as risk factors for leptospirosis due to any serovar in the multivariate logistic regression. Risk factors for leptospirosis due to serovar Hardjo were presence of >43 cattle (OR=3.622; IC=1.512-8,677)/animal purchase (OR=3.143; IC=1.557-6.342)/rent of pastures (OR=4.070; IC=1.370-12.087) and presence of horses (OR=2.981; IC=1.321-6.726). These results indicate that Leptospira spp. infection is widespread in the south central region of Paraná state and that factors related to the herd characteristic and management are associated with the infection