A serologic study of leptospirosis in mares

In order to evaluate the incidence of serum leptospiral antibodies in horses, blood samples were drawn from 669 animals and submitted for microscopic agglutination testing (MAT). Results of these tests were compiled to determine the incidence of six Leptospira interrogans serovars antibodies in the horse population as well as to evaluate associations between age and breed. Of the 669 hones tested, 225 (33.6%) were positive for one or more serovars. Bratislava was the most commonly found serovar with 22.3% of horses tested reacting to this serovar. This study provided futher evidence that rile horse is a maintenance host of bratislava. The incidence of positive tests increased significantly with age (p = 0.0003) and Thoroughbreds and Standardbreds had significantly fewer positive tests than other breeds (X = 27.950, df = 6, p = 0.001).