PREVALENCE AND RISK FACTORS OF LEPTOSPIRA AND BRUCELLA INFECTION IN STABLED HORSES IN KADUNA METROPOLIS, KADUNA STATE, NIGERI
PREVALENCE AND RISK FACTORS OF LEPTOSPIRA AND BRUCELLA INFECTION IN STABLED HORSES IN KADUNA METROPOLIS, KADUNA STATE, NIGERI
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Date
2014-09
Authors
NWOKIKE, Edith Chinyere
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Abstract
Equine leptospirosis and brucellosis are important zoonotic bacteria infections of horses causing a range of clinical conditions including abortion and reduced fertility. This study was aimed to determine antibodies to Leptospira and Brucella species in horses and to assess the risk factors associated with the infections of these bacteria in horses. A cross-sectional study was set up to sample 284 horses in seven stables within Kaduna Metropolis. Sera from the horses were screened for antibodies to Leptospira species using indirect enzyme linked immunosorbent assay and those of Brucella species using competitive enzyme linked immunosorbent assay methods. Structured questionnaire that sought information on risk factors associated with infections with the bacteria were prepared and administered to 77 horse handlers, horse owners, veterinarians and stable managers in the various stables. Associations of risk factors with the presence of antibodies were assessed using chi square analysis, odds ratio and by setting up 95% confidence interval on the odds ratio. About 27.2% of the horses were seropositive for Leptospira antibodies and 53.5% were seropositive for Brucella antibodies. Sex -specific rate for antibodies to Leptospira species were 34.0% for males and 23.43% for females and antibodies to Brucella species were 57.0% and 51.0% for male and females respectively. There were no significant (p > 0.05) associations between sex of horses and seroprevalences of either Leptospira or Bruella antibodies. The highest age- specific seroprevalences for both Leptospira species and Brucella species were in horses of 16 years and above. There were no significant (p > 0.05) associations between age and seroprevalence of both infections. This study revealed that not having open source of drinking water for horses (OR = 0.04, 95% CI 0.01- 0.12), having no wounds on the body of the horses (p<0.05, χ2 = 8.59, OR = 0.29, 95% CI 0.10 - 0.79), being fed with home-made only (p<0.05,
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χ2 = 16.69, OR = 0.07, 95% CI 0.03 - 0.17), and not having veterinary clinic in the stable (p< 0.05, χ2 = 6.59, OR = 0.13, 95% CI 0.05 - 0.35) were significantly protective for a horse being seropositive to Leptospira species. This implies that having open source of drinking water, presence of wound on the horse body, being feed with both home and commercial-made feed, having veterinary clinic in the stable were risk factors for Leptospira species. Also, this study revealed that horse being fed with home-made feed (p<0.05, χ2 = 68.18, OR = 0.08, 95% CI 0.02 - 0.43) and having veterinary clinic in the stable (p< 0.05, χ2 59.04, OR = 0.13, 95% CI 0.04 - 0.40) were protective to being seropositive for Brucella species while not having open source drinking water (p<0.05, χ2 = 34.67, crude OR = 5.18, 95% CI 2.92 - 9.17) and absence of other animals species in the stable (p<0.05, χ2 = 47.57, crude OR = 6.73, 95% CI 3.80 - 11.95) were significant associated with presence of antibodies to Brucella species. This also implies that being fed with home-made feed, having veterinary clinic in the stable, not having open source drinking water and not having other animals species in the stables were risk factors to Brucella species infection. Proper stable management practices would decrease the risk factors and thus reduce the risk of infection of horses with the bacteria.
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LEPTOSPIRA AND BRUCELLA, INFECTION IN STABLED HORSES