title: Prevalence and serovars of leptospira involved in equine abortions in central Kentucky during the 1990 foaling season.
abstract: A study to determine the prevalence of leptospira-induced abortions in the central Kentucky equine population during the 1990 foaling season and to determine the leptospira serovars responsible was conducted. From July 1, 1989 through June 30, 1990, 32 (4.4%) of 726 submissions (fetuses, stillborn foals, and/or placentas) were diagnosed as leptospirosis by the fluorescent antibody test and/or microscopic agglutination test. Attempts were made to isolate leptospires from the fetal tissues and/or the dam's urine in 31 of these cases. Leptospira interrogans serovar kennewicki was isolated from 11 (35.5%) and serovar grippotyphosa from 2 (6.5%) of the 31 cases. Of 12 cases that were culture negative with serologically positive fetal fluids, 8 had titers against serovar pomona, 1 against bratislava, 1 against grippotyphosa, 1 against hardjo, and 1 against both bratislava and pomona.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Science, College of Agriculture, University of Kentucky, Lexington 40511.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Donahue
authors.forename: B J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: J K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Donahoe
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Rigsby
authors.forename: R R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Tramontin
authors.forename: K B
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Poonacha
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Wilson
mesh_terms: D000034:Abortion, Veterinary / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D000372:Agglutination Tests; D000818:Animals; D001437:Bacteriuria / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D005766:Gastrointestinal Contents / Q000382:microbiology; D005865:Gestational Age; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D006736:Horses; D007629:Kentucky / Q000453:epidemiology; D007668:Kidney / Q000382:microbiology; D007921:Leptospira interrogans / Q000145:classification* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D007922:Leptospirosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D008099:Liver / Q000382:microbiology; D010920:Placenta / Q000382:microbiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D015995:Prevalence