Epidemiological characterization of Leptospira spp. infection in working horses and occupationally exposed population of six Colombian police units

Abstract

Introduction: Police working horses live in close contact with their handlers and the general population during recreational and patrol activities, an aspect that may favor the transmission of leptospirosis between horses and occupationally personnel. Objective: To characterize the epidemiology of leptospirosis by serology, uroculture and PCR in working horses and population with occupational risk of six Colombian police units. Material and methods: A total of 153 castrated male horses and 123 people from six police units of Manizales, Pereira, Armenia, Ibagué, Tuluá and Cali municipalities were evaluated. Three structured instruments were applied and blood samples from people and horses were obtained, which were processed by MAT with 24 serogroups. A clinical examen of horses was done and urine samples were obtained for urine culture and a conventional PCR. Results: The seroprevalence of human leptospira spp. was 3.25 % (n=4) and 85 % (n=130) in horses. The serogroups L. Djasiman y L. Shermani were the most prevalent in horses. The urine culture was positive in 64.7 % (99/153) of the samples, whereas the PCR analyzes were negative. A statistically significant association was found in the frequency of departure from the facilities (P=0.009) and the presence of wildlife (P=0.051), with infection by L. Shermani serogroup. Conclusion: The epidemiological characteristics of horse leptospirosis suggest an endemic presentation of the infection, and the role of horses as reservoirs of the bacteria, but it is necessary to elucidate the pathogenesis of the disease with complementary studies.