M.Marcos1, M. Jimenez1, R. Menjón1
1 Technical Services MSD Animal Health, Spain
marcial.marcos@merck.com
INTRODUCTION
Leptospira is worldwide distributed and affects a wide range of species being also a zoonoses. It is responsible in swine production of severe economic losses due to its negative effect on reproductive parameters (abortions, increased stillbirths, mummified piglets, infertility), and also related with high antibiotic usage for its treatment. Acute disease has also been described. The objective of this study was to establish the prevalence of Leptospira in farms reporting reproductive problems.
MATERIAL & METHODS
Since January 2016 to October 2017 all analytical results sent to two different Spanish laboratories for the diagnosis of reproductive problems were collected. Only those samples from reproductive problems were taken into account. The samples were analyzed by the MAT technique obtaining as results: Negative or Positive with titles between 1/30, 1/50, 1/100, 1/300, ≥1/800. Some studies determined that titles ≥1/100 are related with active infection while less than 1/100 are with chronic-subclinical disease. 1341 serum samples arrived for the analysis of Bratislava serovar (B), 835 for Pomona (P), and 789 for Icterohaemorrhagiae (Ic), Canicola (C) and Gryppotyphosa (G).
RESULTS
Analysis of individual samples reflected 48.6% positive against serovar B, 15.8%P, 16.6%Ic, 0.8%G, 0.3%C. Besides, titles ≥1/100, thus related with active infection, were reported in 17.4%B, 8%P and 2.8%Ic. At farm level, 111 farms were sampled for B, 70 for P, and 48 for Ic, G, and C. Analysis of samples per farm showed a seropositivity of 85.5%B, 32.8%P, 37.5%Ic, 4.7%G, and 1.6%C. In this case titles ≥1/100 were found in 44.1%B, 17.1%P and 7.8%Ic.
DISCUSSION & CONCLUSION
Serovar Bratislava is highly distributed between farms with reproductive problems in Spain. Serovars Pomona and Icterohaemorrhagiae are present as well with relative importance. Subclinical-chronic disease is also present. These findings can be associated with reproductive problems in pig farms in Spain.