Leptospirosis and embryo recovery rate in mares

Global Seropositivity of Swine Leptospirosis: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Leptospirosis is a major threat to public health worldwide; however, there is no study focused on global seropositivity in pigs. In this study, we grouped publications and performed a systematic review with meta-analysis to gather data related to swine leptospirosis seropositivity published globally. The search method initially used returned a total of 1183 results, of which 20 met all predefined criteria and were therefore included in this review. Meta-analysis with general data was performed and a combined seropositivity of 21.95% was found. Seropositivity was 36.40% in South America, 34.05% in North America, 22.18% in Africa, 17.40% in Oceania, 13.30% in Europe and 13.36% in Asia. The results suggest that there is high seropositivity for leptospirosis in pigs worldwide. Information compiled from this research is relevant to understanding the spread of leptospirosis globally. It is expected that these indicators will contribute to a better understanding of the epidemiology of the disease with a focus on its control and, consequently, on the reduction of cases in the human and animal population.

A systematic review of leptospirosis on dogs, pigs, and horses in Latin America

Leptospirosis is a worldwide zoonosis which can affect many species. Control programs need accurate diagnosis to be successful, and currently, diagnosis relies on serology. It presents three main issues: the sampling, the antigen panel, and the cutoff point. Herein, we propose a systematic review on leptospirosis among dogs, pigs, and horses in Latin America in order to improve the understanding of the seroepidemiology of leptospirosis in these species in the region as well as the temporal development of the research on this topic and, consequently, improve the chances of success on control programs. Internet databases were consulted over 2015. Inclusion criteria included serosurvey using MAT; a relevant number of animals; the presence in the antigen panel of at least one representative of serogroups Icterohaemorrhagiae and Canicola for dogs, Icterohaemorrhagiae, Australis, and Pomona for pigs, and Icterohaemorrhagiae and Australis for horses; and a cutoff point of ≥100. Overall, 240 papers were studied, of which 87 referred to dogs, 66 to pigs, 39 to horses, and 48 to more than one of the studied species. In relation to those that met all the inclusion criteria, it was 45 (66.2%) in dogs, 23 (41.8%) in pigs, and 23 (63.9%) in horses. Leptospirosis is widespread in Latin America. Predominant serogroups are Canicola to dogs and Icterohaemorrhagiae to pigs and horses. Therefore, research on animal leptospirosis should be encouraged in Latin America, in order to reach a greater standardization in studies and then achieve better results on control programs.

The role of leptospirosis in reproductive disorders in horses

Leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease of global importance and has a worldwide distribution. This infection displays clear seasonal nature in some regions of the tropics, where the rainy season is marked by high temperatures. Household and wild animals carry leptospires and contribute to their dissemination in nature. Transmission mainly occurs by contact with water contaminated with the urine of infected animals, and consequently, it is quite widespread especially in times of rain, since many areas are subject to flooding and have poor sanitation. Serological tests demonstrate that Leptospira sp. infection in horses occurs worldwide and that the predominant serovar may vary depending on the region or infection sources. Besides systemic and ocular manifestations, leptospirosis in horses has been recognized as an important disease of the reproductive system, since it leads to the birth of weak foals, stillbirths or neonatal mortality, and mainly to abortion, usually after the sixth month of pregnancy. In this context, this review aims to gather and discuss information about the role of leptospirosis in reproductive disorders in horses.