Dataset Information

Seroprevalence of Leptospira in Racehorses and Broodmares in New Zealand.

ABSTRACT: A cross-sectional survey was conducted to determine the seroprevalence of Leptospira in a cohort of horses and to evaluate potential risk factors for Leptospira seropositivity in horses in New Zealand. The convenience sample included 499 Thoroughbred racing and breeding horses from 25 commercial properties in North Island, New Zealand. A questionnaire was used to collect demographic data on horses and property-level information on grazing and management practices, pest (rodent) management, access to natural waterways, other livestock on the property, and possible contact with wildlife. The microscopic agglutination test was used to test sera for serovars Ballum, Copenhageni, Hardjo (bovis), Pomona, and Tarassovi. Logistic regression was used to investigate the risk factors for Leptospira seropositivity to at least one serovar and for each serovar individually. A total of 124 (25%, 95% confidence interval (CI) 21-29%) horses had positive titres to any one of the five serovars. The seroprevalence of Ballum, Copenhageni, Hardjo (bovis), Pomona, and Tarassovi was 5% (95% CI 3-7%), 9% (95% CI 7-12%), 6% (95% CI 4-8%), 6% (95% CI 4-8%), and 6% (95% CI 4-8%), respectively. Broodmares, compared to racehorses and alternately grazing horses with sheep, increased the odds of exposure to any one serovar, whilst grazing the same time as sheep and alternately grazing horses with cattle increased the odds of exposure to Ballum and Hardjo (bovis), respectively. Historical exposure to Leptospira in racing and breeding horses was identified, and risk factors were consistent with pasture-based exposure.

SUBMITTER: Bolwell CF

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7690811 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Seroprevalence of Leptospira in Racehorses and Broodmares in New Zealand.

Bolwell Charlotte F CF Rogers Chris W CW Benschop Jackie J Collins-Emerson Julie M JM Adams Brooke B Scarfe Katherine R KR Gee Erica K EK

Animals : an open access journal from MDPI 20201023 11

A cross-sectional survey was conducted to determine the seroprevalence of Leptospira in a cohort of horses and to evaluate potential risk factors for Leptospira seropositivity in horses in New Zealand. The convenience sample included 499 Thoroughbred racing and breeding horses from 25 commercial properties in North Island, New Zealand. A questionnaire was used to collect demographic data on horses and property-level information on grazing and management practices, pest (rodent) man ...[more]

PMID: 33114082

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Project description:There has been a recent upsurge in human cases of leptospirosis in New Zealand, with wildlife a suspected emerging source, but up-to-date knowledge on this topic is lacking. We conducted a cross-sectional study in two farm environments to estimate Leptospira seroprevalence in wildlife and sympatric livestock, PCR/culture prevalence in wildlife, and compare seroprevalence and prevalence between species, sex, and age groups. Traps targeting house mice (Mus musculus), black rats (Rattus rattus), hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus) and brushtail possums (Trichosurus vulpecula) were set for 10 trap-nights in March-April 2017 on a dairy (A) and a beef and sheep (B) farm. Trapped wild animals and an age-stratified random sample of domestic animals, namely cattle, sheep and working dogs were blood sampled. Sera were tested by microagglutination test for five serogroups and titres compared using a Proportional Similarity Index (PSI). Wildlife kidneys were sampled for culture and qPCR targeting the lipL32 gene. True prevalence in mice was assessed using occupancy modelling by collating different laboratory results. Infection profiles varied by species, age group and farm. At the MAT cut-point of ≥ 48, up to 78% of wildlife species, and 16-99% of domestic animals were seropositive. Five of nine hedgehogs, 23/105 mice and 1/14 black rats reacted to L. borgpetersenii sv Ballum. The sera of 4/18 possums and 4/9 hedgehogs reacted to L. borgpetersenii sv Hardjobovis whilst 1/18 possums and 1/9 hedgehogs reacted to Tarassovi. In ruminants, seroprevalence for Hardjobovis and Pomona ranged 0-90% and 0-71% depending on the species and age group. Titres against Ballum, Tarassovi and Copenhageni were also observed in 4-20%, 0-25% and 0-21% of domestic species, respectively. The PSI indicated rodents and livestock had the most dissimilar serological responses. Three of nine hedgehogs, 31/105 mice and 2/14 rats were carrying leptospires (PCR and/or culture positive). True prevalence estimated by occupancy modelling in mice was 38% [95% Credible Interval 26, 51%] on Farm A and 22% [11, 40%] on Farm B. In the same environment, exposure to serovars found in wildlife species was commonly detected in livestock. Transmission pathways between and within species should be assessed to help in the development of efficient mitigation strategies against Leptospira.

Dataset Information

Seroprevalence of Leptospira in Racehorses and Broodmares in New Zealand.

Publications

Seroprevalence of <i>Leptospira</i> in Racehorses and Broodmares in New Zealand.

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