Serological survey of leptospirosis in livestock animals in the Lesser Antilles

ABSTRACT

A serological survey was performed of 1788 cattle, goats and sheep on 13 islands in the Lesser Antilles. Sera were tested by microscopic agglutination (MAT) using a panel of 22 live antigens. Evidence of past exposure, at a titer of > or = 100, was found in 101 animals (5.6 percent). Antibodies were more common in cattle and goats (7.2 percent in each) than in sheep (1.7 percent). Seroprevalence was highest in cattle in Martinique (20 percent) and in goats in St. Vincent (23 percent). The predominant serogroups were Sejroe (largely confined to cattle in Martinique), Autumnalis, Icterohaemorrhagiae, Grippotyphosa, and Cynopteri. Eleven cattle from Martinique and 2 sheep with titers of > or = 800 showed evidence of recent infection. (AU)