title: Cross-species surveillance of Leptospira in domestic and peri-domestic animals in Mahalla City, Gharbeya Governorate, Egypt.
abstract: A survey of 179 animals (black rats, dogs, sheep, buffaloes, cattle, donkeys, weasels, and cats) for Leptospira infection was conducted in Mahalla City (Lower Egypt). Blood, urine, and kidney were collected and tested by culture, microscopic agglutination test (MAT), and/or polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Among rats, 26% were positive by PCR, including 7% that were also positive by culture for L. interrogans serovars Grippotyphosa, Pyrogenes, and Icterohaemorrhagiae. L. borpetersenii serovar Polonica was isolated for the first time in Egypt in three rats. MAT titers ≥ 1:800 were observed in 11% of rats and 12% of dogs. L. interrogans serovar Grippotyphosa was detected in one cat. Sheep and donkeys were negative for leptospirosis by all methods. Buffaloes and cattle were seropositive in 20% and 44% of animals, respectively. Data indicate that several pathogenic serovars are circulating in the animals, which may pose exposure risks and account for high rates of acute febrile illness.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory Unit, United States Naval Medical Research Unit-3, Imtidad Ramses Street, Abbassia, Cairo, Egypt. felt@stanford.edu
authors.forename: Stephen A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Felt
authors.forename: Momtaz O
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Wasfy
authors.forename: Wael F
authors.initials: WF
authors.lastname: El-Tras
authors.forename: Ahmed
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Samir
authors.forename: Bassem Abdel
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Rahaman
authors.forename: Marie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Boshra
authors.forename: Tina M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Parker
authors.forename: Mahmoud Essam
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Hatem
authors.forename: Ahmed Ahmed
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: El-Bassiouny
authors.forename: Clinton K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Murray
authors.forename: Guillermo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pimentel
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000829:Animals, Domestic; D004534:Egypt / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007922:Leptospirosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D011159:Population Surveillance; D015047:Zoonoses