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A microbiological and serological study of leptospirosis among pigs in the Morogoro municipality, Tanzania

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Abstract

Serological and microbiological studies on leptospirosis in pigs from Morogoro municipality, Tanzania were carried out between October 2007 and May 2008. Serum samples (n = 385) from apparently healthy pigs were tested by microscopic agglutination test for antibodies against live cultures of six known Leptospira interrogans serovars: Pomona, Icterohaemorrhagiae, Ballum, Tarassovi, Grippotyphosa and Hardjo. Significant positive titres were detected in 4.42% (17/385) of all the tested serum samples. Asceptically collected samples, urine (n = 236) and kidney tissues (n = 214), were cultured in enriched Fletcher’s and Ellinghausen McCullough–Johnson and Harris media and assessed, at weekly intervals for 24 weeks, for growth by dark-field microscopy. Two leptospiral organisms were isolated from the urine samples. There was a statistical association between seroposivity and location that the subjects reside in (P < 0.05), whereas it was not significantly associated with sex nor age (P > 0.05). The evidence of pig exposure to different serovars and the isolation of the leptospiral organisms confirm that the infection is present in pigs although with an overall low prevalence. Apart from its economic importance on to the pig industry, this disease is a potential zoonotic public health risk in Tanzania, especially because of the lack of studies on leptospirosis among persons who handle pigs and pork products.

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Abbreviations

DF:

Dark field

EMJH:

Ellinghausen McCullough–Johnson and Harris medium

MAT:

Microscopic agglutination test

pH:

Hydrogen ion concentration

PBS:

Phosphate-buffered saline

WHO:

World Health Organization

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Acknowledgements

The authors are very grateful to the small-scale pig farmers who gave their time to this research. Tanzania government, through Ministry of Livestock Development and Fisheries is acknowledged for funding this study. Laboratory personnel at SUA Pest Management Centre (SPMC) are acknowledged for their excellent technical assistance and cooperation in the study. Special thanks are extended to the Director, Veterinary Services, for encouragement and permission to publish this work.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Veterinary Investigation Centre, P. O. Box 1068, Arusha, Tanzania

    Mecku J. Kessy & Emmanuel Senyael Swai

  2. Pest management Centre, Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA), P. O. Box 3110, Morogoro, Tanzania

    Robert S. Machang’u

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  1. Mecku J. Kessy
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  2. Robert S. Machang’u
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  3. Emmanuel Senyael Swai
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Correspondence to Emmanuel Senyael Swai.

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Kessy, M.J., Machang’u, R.S. & Swai, E.S. A microbiological and serological study of leptospirosis among pigs in the Morogoro municipality, Tanzania. Trop Anim Health Prod 42, 523–530 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-009-9455-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-009-9455-z

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