Serological evaluation of Leptospira interrogans in horses from an equestrian center in Linares province, Chile/Evaluacion serologica de Leptospira interrogans en equinos pertenecientes a un centro ecuestre de la provincia de Linares, Chile/Avaliacao serologica da Leptospira interrogans em equinos pertencentes a um centro equestre da provincia de Linares, Chile

Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease characterized in horses by nonspecific clinical signs such as, fever, anemia, depression; and specific signs such as abortion, neonatal death, and recurrent uveitis. The objective was to determine seroprevalence in 55 horses, from the equestrian center of Linares Artillery School, located in the Maule region. Serum samples were obtained from animals of both sexes and several ages. Samples were analyzed by Microscopic agglutination (MAT) for nine serovars with dilution titles of 1:100 or higher. The overall seropositivity was 65.4%, distributed in the following serovars: autumnalis (54.5%), bratislava (52.7%), canicola (20%), copenhageni (12.7%), and hardjo (7.3%); whereas reacting sera were not obtained for pomona, grippothyphosa, ballum, or bataviae. Finally, no statistically significant difference was observed between sex or age. Seropositivity was lower in older than in younger horses.