Seroprevalence of leptospires in sheep slaughtered at Sokoto metropolitan Abattoir

In a study to determine the seroprevalence of leptospiral antibodies in sheep slaughtered at Sokoto metropolitan abattoir, Nigeria, blood was collected from 282 sheep made up of both male and female. The serum was collected and analysed using an antigen coated IgG ELISA, out of which 20 tested positive by the ELISA giving an overall prevalence of 7.1%. Prevalences recorded for age was 18.48% for ≤ 2yrs and 1.58% for > 2yrs, and sex was 3.09% for male and 12.50% for females. There was a significant (P<0.05) association between age groups and sexes. Breed prevalence was 8.50% for Oudah, 4.35% for Balami, and 6.02% for Cross. The association was not statistically significant among breeds. These findings suggest that leptospirosis is present in sheep slaughtered at the Sokoto metropolitan abattoir within the study period, and the Abattoir workers through unhealthy and unethical handling and processing of carcasses are highly vulnerable to contract the infection.

Seroprevalence of leptospires in sheep slaughtered at Sokoto metropolitan Abattoir Keywords:

Leptospira , Antibodies , Sheep , ELISA , Sokoto