Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Leptospiral abortion and leptospiruria in horses from the same farm.
- Journal:
- Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association
- Year:
- 1993
- Authors:
- Bernard, W V et al.
- Affiliation:
- Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
A 5-year-old mare on a farm experienced an abortion due to leptospirosis, which is an infection caused by a type of bacteria called Leptospira. Tests showed that the bacteria were present in the tissues of the aborted fetus and the placenta. The mare had very high levels of antibodies against several strains of Leptospira, indicating a strong immune response to the infection. Additionally, other horses on the farm also showed signs of infection, with some having high antibody levels as well. The treatment and management of the situation are not detailed, but the presence of the bacteria in both the mare and other horses suggests ongoing health concerns on the farm.
Abstract
Leptospirosis was documented as the cause of abortion in a 5-year-old mare. Leptospires were detected in tissue specimens from fetal kidneys and from placenta by histologic evaluation of silver-stained sections. Antibodies against Leptospira interrogans serovar pomona were detected in fetal serum at a titer of 1,600 by use of a microscopic agglutination test. The mare had serum titers of 6,400; 0; 400; 800; 3,200; and 6,400 to L interrogans serovars bratislava, canicola, grippotyphosa, hardjo, icterohaemorrhagiae, and pomona, respectively. A serologic survey identified titers of at least 6,400 against serovars bratislava and pomona in 5 other horses on the farm. Titers of at least 100 against serovar bratislava were detected in 53% of the horses on the farm. Leptospires were detected by direct fluorescent-antibody testing in urine samples from the mare that aborted and from 2 of the other 5 horses.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8496088/