title: Influence of seroreactivity to leptospira and reproductive failures in recipient mares of equine embryo transfer programmes.
abstract: The aim of this study was to demonstrate that seroreactivity against Leptospira is significantly associated to the reproductive efficiency of recipient mares of an embryo transfer (ET) programme. A serosurvey was conducted from August 2007 to March 2009 in five herds from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, with high rates of reproductive failure, as early embryonic death (>12%), abortion (>12%) and perinatal death. Detailed information about the losses was obtained from practitioner. A total of 338 recipient mares were tested by microscopic agglutination test, and 226 (66.9%) were seroreactive, mainly against serovars Bratislava and Copenhageni. Seroreactivity could be associated to reproductive failure (p < 0.001), and it was demonstrated that a seroreactive mare is 1.8 times more likely (relative risk - RR) to present reproductive failure than a seronegative one, particularly in relation to early embryonic death (p < 0.0001; RR 8.4) but also to abortions (p < 0.0001; RR 3.5), and to perinatal death (p < 0.05; RR 7.3). Therefore, seroreactivity to Leptospira is associated to reproductive failure in all phases of pregnancy in recipient mares, impairing equine ET programmes.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Veterinary Bacteriology, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pinna
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Martins
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Souza
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Lilenbaum
mesh_terms: D000034:Abortion, Veterinary / Q000382:microbiology; D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood*; D001938:Brazil; D020964:Embryo Loss / Q000382:microbiology; D004624:Embryo Transfer / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000382:microbiology*; D006736:Horses; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy / Q000662:veterinary; D007919:Leptospira / Q000276:immunology*; D007922:Leptospirosis / Q000150:complications / Q000662:veterinary*; D011247:Pregnancy; D017211:Treatment Failure
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial