Seroprevalence of Equine Leptospirosis in the State of Goiás, Brazil

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Leptospirosis is a zoonosis of bacterial origin caused by spirochetes of the genus Leptospira. It is distributed worldwide and has a great impact on public health and the agricultural economy. In Latin America, leptospirosis is a neglected tropical disease, despite being infectious, zoonotic, with an acute course, and eventually lethal. In the Brazilian state of Goiás, which is located in the tropical savanna (Cerrado), data on the seroprevalence of equine leptospirosis are scarce and restricted to a few municipalities. Thus, the present study aimed to evaluate the seroprevalence of Leptospira spp. in 294 equine herds in the state of Goiás, Brazil. The results shed light on the significant and widespread prevalence of Leptospira in both farms (72.9%) and horses (61.6%) in Goiás State. These results were indicative of a complex epidemiological landscape characterized by the predominance of serogroups such as Djasiman, Icterohaemorrhagiae, and Australis. Therefore, our findings underscore the critical significance of implementing sanitation measures within the environment and conducting health education initiatives to effectively prevent and control equine leptospirosis within the state, with particular emphasis on the necessity of vaccination. ABSTRACT: Leptospirosis, caused by Leptospira, is a zoonotic disease that, in horses, is linked to abortions, uveitis, and sporadic occurrences of liver and kidney disease, often resulting in significant economic losses for farmers. Research on the prevalence of leptospirosis in horses in the central-west region of Brazil has been relatively scarce. Thus, the present study aimed to determine the prevalence of leptospirosis in equine herds in the state of Goiás (Central Brazil). Blood samples were collected from 894 equids at 294 randomly selected farms divided into three different strata according to their herd characteristics. The microscopic agglutination test for the detection of anti-Leptospira agglutinins was carried out and the results showed that among the 294 sampled farms, 213 (72.9%; CI 95% 71.7–78.9) had one or more animals positive for leptospirosis, and of the 894 horses sampled, 513 (61.6%; CI 95% 54.3–69.0) were seropositive for leptospirosis. Djasiman, Icterohaemorrhagiae, and Australis were the most prevalent serogroups. The results showed a high prevalence of seropositive animals and a widespread distribution of positive farms in the state of Goiás. Thus, environmental sanitation measures and health education to prevent and control equine leptospirosis in the state are required.