The prevalence of Leptospira infection in abortions of small ruminants by PCR

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Leptospirosis is a zoonosis caused by pathogenic spirochetes of the genus Leptospira. The disease is maintained in nature by chronic renal infection of carrier animals and acquired by direct or indirect contact with urine or tissues from infected animals. Leptospirosis affecting most of small ruminants (goats, sheep) in which it causes several signs including abortions, stillbirths and mummification. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of leptospirosis in small ruminant by PCR based on lipL۳۲ gene in IRANMATERIALS AND METHODS Renal tissue samples were collected from ۵۰ abortions of small ruminants with clinically suspected leptospirosis attending the department of Microbiology, Razi Vaccine & serum Research Institute, Karaj during the period of April ۲۰۱۹ and March ۲۰۲۳. The prevalence of leptospiral infection in specimens of aborted small ruminants was studied by PCR based on lipL۳۲ gene. Statistical methods were performed to determine the significant association of various demographic data using the statistical software SPSS.RESULTS AND DISCUSSION A total ۷ (۱۴%) out of ۵۰ renal samples were positive by PCR. Statistically significant association was found between the number of pregnancies and leptospiral infection. Although age and sex of abortions had no significant association with leptospiral infection.CONCLUSION Regarding the high prevalence of abortion caused by pathogenic leptospires in this study (۱۴%), it is necessary to boost the information about the prevalence of leptospiral infection in different regions of our country

کلیدواژه ها:

Leptospirosis ، Leptospira ، Small ruminants ، PCR ، Serovars