title: Serological and molecular survey of Leptospira spp. among cart horses from an endemic area of human leptospirosis in Curitiba, southern Brazil.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cart horses are a re-emerging population employed to carry recyclable material in cities.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-two horses were sampled in an endemic area of human leptospirosis. The microscopic agglutination test (MAT) and real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) were performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A seropositivity of 75.8% with serovar Icterohaemorrhagiae in 80.8% of the horses was observed. Blood and urine were qPCR negative. MAT showed positive correlations with rainfall (p = 0.02) and flooding (p = 0.03).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although horses may be constantly exposed to Leptospira spp. in the environment mostly because of rainfall and flooding, no leptospiremia or leptospiruria were observed in this study.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Paraná (UFPR), Curitiba, PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: Mariane Angélica
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Finger
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Paraná (UFPR), Curitiba, PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ivan Roque
authors.initials: IR
authors.lastname: de Barros Filho
authors.affiliation: Real Time PCR Core Facility, Idexx Reference Laboratories, West Sacramento, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Leutenegger
authors.affiliation: Real Time PCR Core Facility, Idexx Reference Laboratories, West Sacramento, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Marko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Estrada
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Hygiene and Public Health, Veterinary School, São Paulo State University, Botucatu, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Leila Sabrina
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Ullmann
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Hygiene and Public Health, Veterinary School, São Paulo State University, Botucatu, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Hélio
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Langoni
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Hygiene and Public Health, Veterinary School, São Paulo State University, Botucatu, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Mariana
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kikuti
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Paraná (UFPR), Curitiba, PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: Peterson Triches
authors.initials: PT
authors.lastname: Dornbush
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Paraná (UFPR), Curitiba, PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ivan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Deconto
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Paraná (UFPR), Curitiba, PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: Alexander Welker
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Biondo
mesh_terms: D000372:Agglutination Tests / Q000662:veterinary; D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood*; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006736:Horses; D006801:Humans; D007919:Leptospira / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D007922:Leptospirosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D014505:Urban Population
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial