Detection and Prevalence of Canine Leptospirosis from Navsari District of South Gujarat, India

Aims: Leptospirosis is endemically prevalent in coastal area of south Gujarat. Generally, pets are vaccinated against Leptospira interrogans but whosoever left unvaccinated, are prone to infection. The present study was conducted to detect canine leptospirosis and its prevalence from south Gujarat.

Place and Duration of Study: A total of 46 serum samples and 33 urine samples were collected from 56 dogs suspected of having leptospira infection. The study was done from September 2019 to May 2020.

Methodology: Serum samples were diagnosed by IgG based ImmunoComb solid phase dot ELISA test for antibody against genus specific Leptospira interrogans. Urine samples were visualized under dark field microscopy (DFM) following laboratory manual on leptospirosis of WHO. Sex and age of dogs were noted to find out the percent positivity and prevalence. Chi square test was applied to find out any significant difference among the age groups.

Results: Out of 46 serum samples, 17 (36.95%) found positive by dot ELISA and out of 33 urine sample, 13 (39.39%) found positive by DFM. Sex wise prevalence found 42.10 percent (16/38) in Male while 55.55 percent (10/18) in female dogs. Age group wise prevalence was recorded 63.63 percent (07/11) in 1- ≤ 3 years group. 27.77 per cent (05/18) in > 3- ≤ 6 years group whereas, 51.85 percent (14/27) in > 6- ≤ 12 years group.

Conclusion: Detection and prevalence of canine leptospirosis were studied first time from Gujarat. Overall 46.42 percent (26/56) dogs were diagnosed positive for canine leptospirosis. Dogs having age group of 1- ≤ 3 years found more susceptible. Prevalence was found more in female than male dogs.