Seroprevalence and risk factors for brucellosis and leptospirosis in swine from rural communities of Argentina

JULIA SILVA; SCIALFA EXEQUIEL; GUTIÉRREZ S; ADELA TISNES; MARCELO RODRÍGUEZ; ESTEIN S; M. RIVERO

REVISTA MVZ CORDOBA

UNIV CORDOBA

Año: 2023

0122-0268

Objective. To determine the seroprevalence of brucellosis andleptospirosis in pigs reared in small-scale farms from rural areas ofTandil county, Buenos Aires province, Argentina, to analyze theassociated risk factors, to describe the prevalent Leptospira spp.serogroups and to determine the spatial distribution of both diseases.Materials and methods. A total of 340 serum samples wereobtained. Buffer Plate Agglutination Test, Rose Bengal Test, andFluorescence Polarization Assay were used to detect antibodiesagainst Brucella spp. Microscopic Agglutination Test was applied forserological diagnosis of leptospirosis. Statistical methods were usedto evaluate the factors associated with the infections. Results.Seroprevalences of 0% and 22.6% were observed for brucellosis andleptospirosis, respectively. The most prevalent Leptospira serogroups2identified were Canicola, Ballum, Icterohaemorrhagiae and Pomona.The main risk factors associated with leptospirosis infection were thehigher number of pigs, the presence of horses and wild boars near orwithin the farms. The use of milling by-products of cereal grains asanimal feed and the presence of weaning cage were also associated.A relevant spatial cluster of seropositivity to Leptospira spp. wasidentified in a low altitude area. Conclusions. Our results suggestthat brucellosis probably was controlled in these productions butLeptospira spp. is present. Knowledge of brucellosis and leptospirosisseroprevalence, spatial distribution, and associated risk factors canbe useful for prevention and control of endemic zoonotic diseases inthe region