Epidemiological study of leptospiral interaction in bovine farms in rural areas of Colombia: A One Health approach.

BACKGROUND

Leptospira are zoonotic agents with a complex transmission cycle that affects low-income and impoverished populations and causes significant economic losses in livestock.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the interaction between people, animals, and the environment related to Leptospira infection in bovine farms in Urabá, Antioquia.

METHODS

An exploratory cross-sectional study was conducted on cattle farms in Urabá, Antioquia. The proportion of pathogenic Leptospira infection in bovine and canine urine and environmental contamination in water and soil samples was estimated using molecular assays. Additionally, Leptospira seropositivity in humans, cattle, and canines was determined using the microagglutination test (MAT). Evaluation of composition characteristics of landscape was done and potential flooding areas were estimated. The domestic animals and human populations were characterized through descriptive analysis using productive and reproductive data and sociodemographic information, respectively. Then, associations between seropositivity/infection, antibody titers, Leptospira serogroups/species in cattle, canines, and humans, and productive, farms and landscape variables we explored using a mixed-data factor analysis.

RESULTS

The proportion of seropositivity in cattle wa 76.9% (380/494). The most frequent serogroups on MAT were Mini, Tarassovi, Ballum, and Sejroe. In addition, molecular analysis indicated an infection rate of 4.0% (20/494) of the species L. borgpetersenii in cattle. Seropositivity in humans was 4.1% (3/73), with serogroups Icterohaemorrhagiae, Autumnalis, and Sejroe. Thirty-three percent (5/15) of dogs were seropositive for serogroups Canicola, Icterohaemorrhagiae, Ballum, and Autumnalis. The presence of L. tipperaryensis was detected in water and species L. weilii and L. cinconiae in soil. Evidence of high exposure to Leptospira was found in cattle. An association was also found between the serogroups circulating in humans and dogs (Autumnalis) and in humans and cattle (Sejroe), as well as forest fragmentation.

CONCLUSIONS

The importance of addressing the epidemiology of Leptospira infection from a comprehensive One Health approach is highlighted.