Seroprevalence of Leptospira spp. in clinically healthy racing horses in Korea.
Leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease of global importance, and has a worldwide distribution. The present study aimed to determine leptospiral seroprevalence in clinically healthy racing horses from all three racecourses in Korea. Serum samples from 1,226 racing horses were examined using a microscopic agglutination test to detect the presence of antibodies against 18 Leptospira serovars. Of the tested samples, 307 (25.0%) were found to be positive. The distribution of seroprevalence differed significantly by racecourse (P=0.004); the Jeju course had the highest incidence (31.1%), followed by the Seoul (25.2%) and Busan (19.5%) racecourses. Seasonal variation in seropositivity was also apparent (P=0.000), being lower in spring (13.0%) and winter (12.5%), and higher in summer (36.7%) and autumn (34.7%). No significant age- or gender-related difference in seroprevalence was noted in this study (P>0.05). Seroprevalence was higher (P=0.006) among ponies than among thoroughbreds. Sejroe was the most frequently detected serovar (n=236), followed by Bratislava (n=35), Ballum (n=16), Autumnalis (n=10), and Canicola (n=10). The majority of serum titers were relatively low; most values ranged from 1:100 (n=217) to 1:200 (n=69). These results suggest that the Sejroe serovar may be maintained in the racing horse population in Korea.
Jung
Byeong Yeal
BY
Animal Disease Diagnostic Center, National Veterinary Research and Quarantine Service, 480 Anyang 6-Dong, Anyang, Kyunggi 430-824, Korea. jungby@nvrqs.go.kr
Lee
Kyung Woo
KW
Ha
Tae Young
TY
D000367:Age Factors; D000372:Agglutination Tests / Q000662:veterinary; D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology*; D006736:Horses; D007723:Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D007919:Leptospira / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D007922:Leptospirosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology*; D008297:Male; D012621:Seasons; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D015047:Zoonoses / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology*
D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan