Speakers - 2026

Title: Serological and molecular study of leptospirosis in slaughtered cows of guilan province of iran

Abstract

Background: Leptospirosis is a mysterious disease with global spread which causes dysfunction in multiple organs. The disease causes important economic and health losses in both livestock and human population annually. The northern provinces of Iran, characterized by high rainfall and humidity, experience a higher prevalence of waterborne diseases like leptospirosis. Between ruminants, cattle are specially more susceptible to leptospirosis compared to small ruminants.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the serological and molecular prevalence of Leptospirosis in slaughtered cows in Guilan province of Iran using MAT and Nested Polymerase Chain Reaction (N-PCR).

Methods: For the present study, 300 blood and urine samples were randomly collected from cows referred to the Deylam industrial slaughterhouse in Guilan province during the spring and summer of 2023.

Results: The results of this study showed that 62 animals (20.66%) had a positive serum reaction by MAT method, the most of which was related to the Harjo serotype with 37 cases (59.6%) and the least was related to the ictrohemorrhagiea serotype with 5 cases (8.06%). The results of this study also showed that 49 animals (16.33%) had Leptospira DNA in urine samples by PCR method, of which 36 animals (73.5%) were female and 13 animals (26.5%) were male.

Conclusion: The high prevalence of leptospirosis in the studied population and the high presence of the agent of this disease in their urine are considered a serious threat to the livestock industry and public health of the country. Therefore, it is necessary for the health and veterinary executive organizations to put effective control measures on their agenda in the northern provinces of Iran.