Seroprevalence of Leptospira interrogans infection in horses from some horse clubs in Tehran by Microscopic Agglutination Test (MAT)

In order to evaluate the seroprevalence of Leptospira interrogans infection in horses, blood samples were taken from 152 horses from 7 horse clubs in Tehran. Serum samples were examined using a microscopic agglutination test to detect the presence of antibodies against five live serotypes of Leptospira interrogans (grippotyphosa, pomona, icterohaemorrhagiae, canicula and hardjo). Of the tested samples, 23 horses (15/13%) were positive to one or more serotypes. Titer levels ranged from 1:100 to 1:200. Icterohaemorrhagiae (44/44%) was the most frequently detected serovar followed in descending order by gripotyphosa (29/62%), canicula (22/22%), pomona (3/7%) and serotype hardjo was negative. Statistical analysis using the chi-squared test showed there was no significant correlation differences between Leptospira interrogans infection and factors such as sex and age. The serum titers of infected horses ranged from 1:100 (n=19) to 1:200 (n=78). These results suggest that the icterohaemorrhagiae serovar may be the most prevalent serovar in the horse population Tehran.