The role of horses in the transmission of leptospirosis in an urban tropical area

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Abstract

SUMMARY The objective of this study was to demonstrate the presence of leptospires in equine urine, as evidence for a potential role of horses in transmission of this organism. Thoroughbred horses (aged 2-5 years, n' =' 276) from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, were studied. After a severe storm, the premises of the animals remained flooded for 72 h. Blood samples for serology were collected on days 20 and 35 (day of storm' =' day 0). On day 20, 132 (47·8%) horses were seroreactive (titre '©'200) and, of these, 23 (31·0%) had increased antibody titres on day 35. Furthermore, 34 urine samples (for PCR and culture) were collected from seroreactive horses on day 35. Copenhageni was the most frequent serovar (88·8% of reactive titres). Although none of the urine samples were culture positive, 12 (35·2%) were PCR positive. This is apparently the first report of evidence of leptospires in urban horses. Furthermore, we suggest that these animals can play a role in the transmission of leptospirosis in urban areas. Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2012.

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CITATION STYLE

APA

Hamond, C., Martins, G., Lawson-Ferreira, R., Medeiros, M. A., & Lilenbaum, W. (2013). The role of horses in the transmission of leptospirosis in an urban tropical area. Epidemiology and Infection, 141(1), 33–35. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0950268812000416

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