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Risk factors to incidental leptospirosis and its role on the reproduction of ewes and goats of Espírito Santo state, Brazil

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Abstract

Ovine and caprine stockbreeding have been gaining attention in developing countries as an attractive investment. On these animals, infectious diseases of the reproductive tract, such as leptospirosis, can compromise the production leading to economic losses. The present study aimed to determine the risk factors associated with incidental leptospirosis and its influence on the reproductive parameters of ewes and goats of Espírito Santo state, Brazil. A total of 737 animals distributed on 24 herds/flocks were studied, and an overall prevalence of 10.9 % seroreactive animals was observed. Serogroup Icterohaemorrhagiae was the most frequent in goats (97.0 %) as well as in ewes (78.3 %). Regarding risk factors related to leptospirosis, the presence of waterholes and the semi-intensive breeding system were the most important associated to seroreactivity. Besides, there was an observed association between seroreactivity and reproductive failures (P < 0.05). Moreover, seroreactive ewes (relative risk (RR) = 1.3) and goats (RR = 1.9) presented more chances to have abortions than seronegative animals. Furthermore, seroreactive ewes presented 11.6 more chances of having premature births when compared to the seronegative ones. It can be concluded that Leptospira infection, mainly those caused incidental strains (such as Icterohaemorrhagiae serogroup), is a significant factor to reduce the productivity of small ruminants’ herds/flocks in the studied region, and environmental measures must be considered on control programs.

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Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Instituto Federal de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia do Espírito Santo, Estrada Cachoeiro x Alegre, km 47, Rive, Alegre, ES, 29500-000, Brazil

    Priscilla Cortizo

  2. Departamento de Zootecnia, Universidade Federal do Espirito Santo, Alto Universitário s/n, Guararema, Alegre, ES, 29500-000, Brazil

    Patrícia Rosário do Rodrigues, Braulio Pego Faria & Bruno Borges Deminicis

  3. Laboratório de Bacteriologia Veterinária, Departamento de Microbiologia e Parasitologia, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Rua Prof. Ernani Pires de Melo 101, Niteroi, RJ, 24210-130, Brazil

    Ana Paula Loureiro, Gabriel Martins & Walter Lilenbaum

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  1. Priscilla Cortizo
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  2. Ana Paula Loureiro
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  3. Gabriel Martins
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  4. Patrícia Rosário do Rodrigues
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  5. Braulio Pego Faria
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  6. Walter Lilenbaum
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  7. Bruno Borges Deminicis
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Correspondence to Ana Paula Loureiro.

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Cortizo, P., Loureiro, A.P., Martins, G. et al. Risk factors to incidental leptospirosis and its role on the reproduction of ewes and goats of Espírito Santo state, Brazil. Trop Anim Health Prod 47, 231–235 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-014-0684-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-014-0684-4

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