Seroprevalence and distribution of serogroup-specific pathogenic Leptospira antibodies in cattle and buffaloes in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India

AIM: In this study, the prevalence and the distribution status of Leptospira serogroup-specific antibodies among cattle and buffaloes in enzootic districts of Andhra Pradesh, a South Indian state was carried out. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 426 serum samples were randomly sampled from various villages from Prakasam, Kurnool, Guntur, Chittoor, Srikakulam, Visakhapatnam, and Godavari districts of Andhra Pradesh between 2016 and 2017. Serum samples from cattle (n=106) and buffaloes (n=320) having a history of pyrexia, and reproductive problems such as agalactia, infertility, abortions, and stillbirth. The serum samples were screened for Leptospira-specific antibodies by microscopic agglutination test using a reference panel of 18 live cultures of pathogenic Leptospira serovars. RESULTS: The overall seropositivity of 68.08% (290/426) was observed with 70.8% (75/106) in cattle and 67.18% (215/320) in buffaloes. The frequency distribution of predominant serogroup-specific Leptospira antibodies in the sampled areas was determined against the employed serovars as follows: Icterohaemorrhagiae – 21.38%, Hebdomadis – 18.97%, Australis – 18.62%, Pomona – 17.24%, Sejroe – 15.86%, Tarassovi – 15.86%, Autumnalis – 15.52%, Panama – 14.83%, Shermani – 12.07%, Javanica – 11.38%, Hurstbridge – 11.03%, and Pyrogenes – 10.69%. CONCLUSION: It was evident that bovines had a role in maintaining several predominant Leptospira serovars with the change in the trend over a period. The results from this study would also help in strategizing and mitigating the disease burden in cattle and buffaloes of the enzootic area.