title: Seroprevalence and risk factors associated with within-flock transmission of Leptospira interrogans in transhumant farming systems in Mexico.
abstract: A number of recent reports emphasize the risk of zoonotic diseases and the high degree of prevalence of asymptomatic animals infected with Leptospira interrogans. This report sought to assess the prevalence of antibodies to certain serovars of L. interrogans, and to describe the association between seropositivity and risk factors associated with within-flock transmission in a mountainous region of Mexico. Overall seroprevalence to L. interrogans was 54·5% (95% confidence interval 48·3-60·7); the most frequent serovar was Icterohaemorrhagiae. The accumulation of placentas and fetuses at a site close to lambing paddocks can play a significant role as a risk factor for within-flock transmission of L. interrogans in transhumant farming systems in the municipality of Xalatlaco. The high prevalence of L. interrogans antibodies supports the hypothesis that natural foci of this zoonosis are present in sheep flocks in this area. These findings emphasize the need for planning and implementation of control programmes for ovine leptospirosis in Mexico and elsewhere.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunobiochemistry,National Institute of Perinatology,Mexico City,Mexico.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Arteaga-Troncoso
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universidad Autonoma del Estado de Mexico, UAEM,Toluca,Mexico.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Jiménez-Estrada
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universidad Autonoma del Estado de Mexico, UAEM,Toluca,Mexico.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Montes De Oca-Jimenez
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectology and Immunology,National Institute of Perinatology,Mexico City,Mexico.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: López-Hurtado
authors.affiliation: CENID-Microbiology INIFAP-SAGARPA,Mexico City,Mexico.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Luna-Alvarez
authors.affiliation: CENID-Microbiology INIFAP-SAGARPA,Mexico City,Mexico.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hernandez-Andrade
authors.affiliation: Applied Statistics Postgraduate Program,Applied Mathematics and Systems Research Institute,UNAM,Mexico City,Mexico.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Moreno-Alfaro
authors.affiliation: Mexican Clinical Research Network for Emerging Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Medical Sciences and Nutrition,Mexico City,Mexico.
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Galan-Herrera
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectology and Immunology,National Institute of Perinatology,Mexico City,Mexico.
authors.forename: F M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Guerra-Infante
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D007921:Leptospira interrogans / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D007922:Leptospirosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission / Q000662:veterinary*; D008800:Mexico / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D034561:Sheep, Domestic / Q000382:microbiology*
keywords: Animal pathogens; infectious disease epidemiology; leptospirosis; zoonoses