Carrier status and seroprevalence of leptospirosis in cattle of South Andaman

Abstract

The present study was conducted with an aim to investigate the seroprevalence of leptospiral antibodies in cattle which act as reservoir host. During the study a total of 427 cattle sera samples were collected from different parts of these islands. The samples were screened for presence of antibodies against different serovars of leptospira by microscopic agglutination test (MAT). The results revealed that out of 427 sera sample 180 (42.15%) showed antibodies against different serovars of leptrospira. The serovars which showed positive results are L. australis, L. autumnalis, L. canicola, L. hardzo, L. hebdomadis, L. icterrohaemorrhagiae, L. pomona, L.pyrogenes, L.grippotyphosa, L. lai like. The percent prevalence rate of leptospira ranged from 0.65 % (L. autumnalis) to as high as 19.61% (L. hebdomadis). It was also found that seropositivity of L. grippotyphosa, L. icterohaemorrhagiae, L.hebdomadis were higher compared to other serovars as these serovars were commonly detected from human cases also. Based on the present finding and the history of this disease in these islands it was revealed that the prevalence of leptospirosis in animal was high and also an alarming situation as these serovars were commonly prevalent in human being also.