Occurrence of leptospiral antibodies in dogs in Brno and the surrounding area
Treml, F.; Hejlícek, K.; Svoboda, M.; Mahelková, K.
Veterinarni Medicina 34(2): 121-128
1989
ISSN/ISBN: 0375-8427 PMID: 2494790 Document Number: 343834
When blood serum samples from 1272 dogs (746 males, 526 females of 44 breeds and crossbreeds) attending a veterinary school clinic for other reasons were examined for leptospirosis by microagglutination lysis tests against live Leptospira strains of 12 serogroups, 120 samples (9.4%) were positive at 1:100 and higher titres, without any clinical signs of leptospirosis. Most positive reactions (13.5%) were found in working breeds, followed by 0.3% of positives among terriers and pet breeds, 5.7% positives among mongrels and 5.5% positives in hunting breeds. None of 13 greyhound samples were positive. No follow-up tests were provided to find trends. 14% of country dogs were positive, but only 7.7% of dogs living in towns. The ratio of positive reactions in age groups varied from 3.9% in dogs under 1 year to 14.6% in dogs 3-4 years old. Antibodies against L. grippotyphosa were found most frequently (42%), followed by L. icterohaemorrhagiae (21%), and L. pomona (16%); L. sejroe, javanica (1 to 10%); L. canicola, australis, balium (under 1%); completely negative reactions were found to L. bataviae, pyrogenes and tarassovi. Some coagglutination reactions were also detected.