title: Effects of rainfall on incidental and host-maintained leptospiral infections in cattle in a tropical region.
abstract: This study investigated the effects of rainfall on incidental and host-maintained leptospiral infections in cattle in a tropical region. Serum and urine specimens were collected from 582 bovines in a slaughterhouse. Seropositivity during rainy seasons was 43.6% (158/362) and during dry seasons was 31.8% (70/220; P = 0.0047). Positivity by urine PCR in rainy seasons was 42.3% (153/362) and 33.2% (73/220; P = 0.0296) in dry seasons. Additionally, increases in rainfall rates had different effects on host-adapted (serogroup Sejroe) and incidental (all other serogroups) leptospiral infections. There was a significant increase in the number of cattle shedding Leptospira during the rainy season (CI 1.04-2.09; P = 0.0296), suggesting temporary (transient) urinary shedding of incidental serogroups. Incidental and host-maintained Leptospira infections in cattle require different diagnostic techniques and control strategies.
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Bacteriologia Veterinária, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Rua Hernani Mello 101, 309, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro 24210-030, Brazil.
authors.forename: Lucas
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Correia
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Bacteriologia Veterinária, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Rua Hernani Mello 101, 309, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro 24210-030, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ana Paula
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Loureiro
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Bacteriologia Veterinária, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Rua Hernani Mello 101, 309, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro 24210-030, Brazil. Electronic address: mipwalt@vm.uff.br.
authors.forename: Walter
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Lilenbaum
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D007919:Leptospira / Q000235:genetics*; D007922:Leptospirosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary; D015995:Prevalence; D011891:Rain; D012621:Seasons; D065288:Serogroup
keywords: Hardjo; Incidental serovars; Leptospira; Rainfall; Renal carrier