Leptospirosis antibody rates and risks in Estonian cats

Abstract

Leptospirosis is a zoonotic bacterial disease that affects humans and animals worldwide. Recently, more attention has been paid tospp. infections in domestic cats. In this seroepidemiological study, we estimated the prevalence of anti-spp. antibodies in domestic cats in Estonia and evaluated risk factors for the seropositivity. A total of 546 surplus feline plasma and serum samples, collected in collaboration with small animal clinics and an animal shelter in 2013 and 2015, were included in this study. The samples were tested for antibodies againstspp. using a microscopic agglutination test. The panel includedserovars Pomona, Icterohaemorrhagiae, Bratislava, Canicola, and Hardjo, andserovar Grippotyphosa. Titers ≥100 (positive reactions at dilutions ≥1/100) were considered positive. Anti-spp. antibodies were detected in 12.8% of the cats. The percentage of cats that tested positive for antibodies againstserovars Pomona, Icterohaemorrhagiae, Bratislava, Canicola, and Hardjo were 9.3%, 3.5%, 2.4%, 0.4%, and 0.2%, respectively, and the percentage of cats that tested positive for antibodies againstserovar Grippotyphosa was 7.3%. Of the seropositive cats, 46.5%, 35.2%, 12.7%, 4.2%, and 1.4% tested positive for 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 serovars, respectively. The prevalence of anti-spp. antibodies was 11.2% in pet cats and 16.3% in shelter cats. Among pet cats, the seroprevalence was over four times higher in cats that had access to the outdoors (17.2%) than in indoor cats (3.9%). Multivariable models, one based on data on pet cats only and another including also data on shelter cats, identified having access to the outdoors, being a shelter cat, and being from Western Estonia as the risk factors for seropositivity. Cats could be better protected from exposure tospp. by not allowing them to roam freely outdoors.