<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

The aim of this study was to examine the seroprevalence of <italic>Leptospira</italic> spp. in dogs and red foxes in the entity of the Republic of Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina, after heavy rainfall and floods in 2014 and for the two years thereafter. The seroepidemiological study involved testing serum samples from dogs (n = 98) and foxes (n = 112) using MAT (microscopic agglutination test).
Antibodies to at least one <italic>Leptospira</italic> spp. serovar were found in 52.04% of the tested dogs. The dog seroprevalence in 2014 (81.25%) was significantly higher than in 2015 (51.42% p &lt;0.0001) and 2016 (22.5% p&lt;0.05). The highest seroprevalences were for serovars Australis (76.47%), Bratislava (70.58%), Sejroe (66.67%) and Autumnalis (45.09%).
Antibodies to at least one <italic>Leptospira</italic> spp. serovar were detected in 34.82% of the examined red foxes. In 2015, the fox seroprevalence was significantly higher (52.94%) than in 2016 (6.82%) (p &lt;0.0001). The highest seroprevalences were for serovars Sejroe (64.10%), Bratislava (48.72%), Australis (43.59%) and Bataviae (25.64%).
The high seroprevalence of <italic>Leptospira</italic> spp. in dogs and foxes determined during this study indicates the importance of these carnivores in maintaining leptospirosis in the study area, and the potential risk of infection for humans and other animal species that come into contact with these canids. The results obtained indicate that heavy rainfall and intense floods can result in increased <italic>Leptospira</italic> spp. infection in these canids.
</abstract>

The aim of this study was to examine the seroprevalence of Leptospira spp. in dogs and red foxes in the entity of the Republic of Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina, after heavy rainfall and floods in 2014 and for the two years thereafter. The seroepidemiological study involved testing serum samples from dogs (n = 98) and foxes (n = 112) using MAT (microscopic agglutination test).
Antibodies to at least one Leptospira spp. serovar were found in 52.04% of the tested dogs. The dog seroprevalence in 2014 (81.25%) was significantly higher than in 2015 (51.42% p <0.0001) and 2016 (22.5% p<0.05). The highest seroprevalences were for serovars Australis (76.47%), Bratislava (70.58%), Sejroe (66.67%) and Autumnalis (45.09%).
Antibodies to at least one Leptospira spp. serovar were detected in 34.82% of the examined red foxes. In 2015, the fox seroprevalence was significantly higher (52.94%) than in 2016 (6.82%) (p <0.0001). The highest seroprevalences were for serovars Sejroe (64.10%), Bratislava (48.72%), Australis (43.59%) and Bataviae (25.64%).
The high seroprevalence of Leptospira spp. in dogs and foxes determined during this study indicates the importance of these carnivores in maintaining leptospirosis in the study area, and the potential risk of infection for humans and other animal species that come into contact with these canids. The results obtained indicate that heavy rainfall and intense floods can result in increased Leptospira spp. infection in these canids.

Seroprevalence of serovars of pathogenic leptospira in dogs and red foxes (<italic>Vulpes Vulpes</italic>) from bosnia and herzegovina

University of Belgrade, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine

Department of Infectious Animal Diseases and Diseases of Bees

University of Sarajevo, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine

Department for Pathobiology and Epidemiology

Acta Veterinaria

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Seroprevalence of serovars of pathogenic leptospira in dogs and red foxes () from bosnia and herzegovina

The aim of this study was to examine the seroprevalence of Leptospira spp. in dogs and red foxes in the entity of the Republic of Srpska, Bosnia and...

Seroprevalence of serovars of pathogenic leptospira in dogs and red foxes (Vulpes Vulpes) from bosnia and herzegovina

Published Online: Sep 28, 2023

Page range: 389 - 404

Received: Jan 02, 2023

Accepted: Aug 15, 2023

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/acve-2023-0029

Keywords
Leptospirosis; dogs, foxes, MAT, flooding

© 2023 Jelena S. Marić et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Seroprevalence of serovars of pathogenic leptospira in dogs and red foxes (Vulpes Vulpes) from bosnia and herzegovina

Published Online: Sep 28, 2023

Page range: 389 - 404

Received: Jan 02, 2023

Accepted: Aug 15, 2023

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/acve-2023-0029

KeywordsLeptospirosis; dogs, foxes, MAT, flooding

© 2023 Jelena S. Marić et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Keywords
Leptospirosis; dogs, foxes, MAT, flooding