A serological survey on Leptospiral infection in companion rabbits referred to Veterinary Hospital of Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz

Leptospirosis is one of the major zoonotic diseases worldwide. This disease is caused by various serovars of Leptospira interrogans sensu lato infection. Although the rabbits are known to be one of the reservoirs and transmission sources of leptospirosis, but the status of this infection in rabbits in Iran remains unknown, so this survey was conducted to evaluate the seroprevalence of leptospiral infection in companion rabbits in Ahvaz district from September ۲۰۱۰ to December ۲۰۱۳. Blood samples were taken from ۶۸ companion rabbits, referred to veterinary hospital of shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz. Sera were screened for antibodies against serovars of Canicola, Icterohaemorrhagiae, Grippotyphosa, Ballum, Hardjo, Pomona, Australis and Tarassovi using the microscopic agglutination test (MAT). From a total of ۶۸ rabbits, ۱۹ (۲۷.۹۴%) were serologically positive for the serovars of L. Icterohaemorrhagiae, Tarassovi, Grippotyphosa, Hardjo, Pomona and Australis. The positive titers were detected between ۱:۱۰۰ to ۱:۲۰۰ dilutions. The predominant titers were directed against serovars of Icterohaemorrhagiae (۳۶.۸۴%; ۷ out of ۱۹) and Tarassovi (۳۶.۸۴%; ۷ out of ۱۹) and followed by Hardjo (۲۱.۰۵%; ۴ out of ۱۹), Australis (۱۰.۵۳%; ۲ out of ۱۹), Pomona (۵.۲۶%; ۱ out of ۱۹) and rippotyphosa (۵.۲۶%; ۱ out of ۱۹). Antibodies against more than one serovar (mixed infections) were detected in three samples (as Pomona+Hardjo and Icterohaemorrhagiae+ Tarassovi). The prevalence was significantly higher in adult rabbits above ۳ years (۳۷.۰۴%; ۱۰ out of ۲۷) and between ۱-۳ years (۳۶.۳۶%; ۸ out of ۲۲) compared with rabbits less than ۱ years (۵.۲۶%; ۱ out of ۱۹) (P۰.۰۵). This survey indicated that serovars of L. Icterohaemorrhagiae and Tarassovi were predominant in the rabbits of this area and can be a source of infection for humans. The obtained results provide useful information on the epidemiology of leptospirosis in this species, which has not been previously investigated.

Keywords:

Leptospirosis , Seroprevalence , Rabbit , zoonosis , Ahvaz , Iran