Determination of the Seroprevalence of Leptospirosis in Cattle by MAT and ELISA in Hatay, Turkey

Authors: ÖZKAN ASLANTAŞ, VİLDAN ÖZDEMİR

Abstract: Five hundred and twelve serum samples collected from randomly selected cattle of different age and sex from the towns and central villages of Hatay during April-July 2003 were tested for antibodies against 3 different Leptospira interrogans serovars (grippotyphosa, hardjo and icterohaemorrhagie) using a microscopic agglutination test (MAT) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Forty-five (8.8%) and 72 (14%) of the 512 serum samples tested were detected to be positive with MAT and ELISA, respectively. Of the 45 MAT positive serum samples, 26 (57.7%) were positive against serovar grippotyphosa, 9 (20%) were positive against serovar hardjo, 1 (0.2%) was positive against serovar icterohaemorrhagie and 9 (20%) were positive against serovar grippotyphosa + serovar hardjo. Of the 72 ELISA positive serum samples, 32 (44.4%) were positive against serovar grippotyphosa, 15 (20.8%) were positive against serovar hardjo, 2 (2.8%) were positive against serovar icterohaemorrhagie and 23 (31.9%) were positive against serovar grippotyphosa + serovar hardjo. The dominant serovar was grippotyphosa. Statistical analyses indicated a significant difference in seroprevalence among locations (P < 0.05); however, no significant differences in positivity rates were found with respect to the age or sex of the animals (P > 0.05).

Keywords: Leptospirosis, cattle, MAT, ELISA

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