Leptospirosis in water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) in Trinidad.

ABSTRACT

The seroprevalence of leptospirosis in water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) reared for meat in semi-intensive and extensive managed farms in Trinidad was determined. All sera were tested for specific antibodies against 17 internationally recognized serovars of Leptospira using the microscopic agglutination test (MAT). Animals withtitres greater or equal to 100 were considered as seropositive indicating exposure to Leptospira and those withtitres greater or equal to 800 were interpreted as cases of acute leptospirosis. Of a total of 226 apparently healthy water buffalo from five major farms in Trinidad tested, 33 (14.6 per cent) were seropositive with titres ranging from 100 to 400. Three (60.0 per cent) of 5 farms had seropositive animals with seropositivity rates ranging from 2.0 per cent (1 of 50) on Farm A to 32.7 per cent (16 of 49) on Farm B. The difference was statistically signifi cant (P<0.05; X2). Age and sex of animals had no significant (P>0.05; X2) effect on infection rate. The prevalent antibodies to serovars of Leptospira were farm specific with specific antibodies to serovars Copenhageni and Georgia being predominant on Farm B having been detected in 10 (62.5 per cent) and 9 (56.3 per cent) respectively of 16 seropositive animals. On Farm D however, also with 16 seropositive animals, specifi c antibodies to serovars Patoc and Bratislava were most frequently detected, found in 11 (68.8 per cent) and 5 (31.3 per cent) respectively of seropositive animals. This is the first documentation of leptospirosis in water buffalo in the Caribbean region and the health risk posed to farm workers, abattoir workers and veterinarians cannot be ignored.