Serological evidence of Leptospira interrogans serovar Bratislava infection and its association with abortions in cattle in northern Spain.
A cross-sectional study was carried out in the Basque Country of Spain to determine the seroprevalence of 10 Leptospira serovars in a population of dairy cattle with poor fertility, and a case-control study was carried out in another northern area to investigate the role of Leptospira interrogans serovar Bratislava in abortions. L. Bratislava was the most prevalent serovar in the cross-sectional study, with 25.4 per cent of the cows testing positive in the microagglutination test when a cut-off of 1:10 or higher was applied, followed by Leptospira Hardjo (8.2 per cent), Leptospira Pomona (7.7 per cent), Leptospira Autumnalis (0.7 per cent) and Leptospira Copenhageni (0.1 per cent). In the case-control study the seroprevalence of L. Bratislava was significantly higher among the cows which had aborted when a titre of 1:300 or more was used as a cut-off (9.7 per cent v 3.4 per cent, P=0.008); 69 per cent of the L. Bratislava-infected cows that had aborted apparently aborted as a result of the infection.
Atxaerandio
R
R
Department of Animal Health, Instituto Vasco de Investigación y Desarrollo Agrario-NEIKER, Berreaga 1, Derio (Bizkaia) 48160, Spain.
Aduriz
G
G
Ziluaga
I
I
Esteban
J I
JI
Maranda
L
L
Mainar-Jaime
R C
RC
D000034:Abortion, Veterinary / Q000382:microbiology*; D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D007921:Leptospira interrogans / Q000276:immunology; D007922:Leptospirosis / Q000150:complications / Q000662:veterinary*; D011247:Pregnancy; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D013030:Spain
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial