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Leptospirosis seroprevalence and risk factors for sheep in Maranhão state, Brazil

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Abstract

This study was conducted to determine leptospirosis seroprevalence in sheep and their spatial distribution as well as identify risk factors associated with seropositivity in sheep from 37 herds and 11 municipalities in the Presidente Dutra microregion, Maranhão state, Brazil. We analyzed 379 blood serum samples using a Microscopic Agglutination Test (MAT). The individual seroprevalence was 32 %. Of the 37 herds studied, 30 (81 %, 95 % CI 69–94 %) had at least one seropositive animal. In seven municipalities, we observed infection in 100 % of the herds. The serovars recorded were Grippotyphosa (67 %), Wollfi with Hardjo (9 %), Bratislava (9 %), Hardjo (5 %), Icterohaemorrhagiae (5 %), Pomona (2 %), Castellonis (2 %) and Copenhageni (0.8 %). We concluded that the Leptospira spp. in sheep is widespread in the area of sheep farms in Maranhão state, and a risk factor is the animals' water source.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Agência Estadual de Defesa Agropecuária do Maranhão, 65076-090, São Luís, Maranhão, Brazil

    Sônia Maria de Carvalho

  2. Departamento de Clínica e Cirurgia Veterinária, Centro de Ciências Agrárias, Universidade Federal do Piauí, 64049-550, Teresina, Piauí, Brazil

    Ana Lys B. B. Mineiro & Francisco A. L. Costa

  3. Centro de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento de Sanidade Animal, Instituto Biológico, 04014-002, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil

    Vanessa Castro & Margareth E. Genovez

  4. Unidade Acadêmica de Medicina Veterinária, Centro de Saúde e Tecnologia Rural, Universidade Federal de Campina Grande, 58700-970, Patos, Paraíba, Brazil

    Sérgio Santos Azevedo

Authors
  1. Sônia Maria de Carvalho
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  2. Ana Lys B. B. Mineiro
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  3. Vanessa Castro
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  4. Margareth E. Genovez
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  5. Sérgio Santos Azevedo
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  6. Francisco A. L. Costa
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Francisco A. L. Costa.

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de Carvalho, S.M., Mineiro, A.L.B.B., Castro, V. et al. Leptospirosis seroprevalence and risk factors for sheep in Maranhão state, Brazil. Trop Anim Health Prod 46, 491–494 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-013-0505-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-013-0505-1

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