Sero-Epidemiology of Bovine Leptospirosis and Associated Risk Factors in a Flood Affected Zone of Pakistan

Bovine leptospirosis is an emerging zoonotic disease that compromises farm economy. Keeping in view limited studies on bovine leptospirosis, this project was designed to estimate its sero-prevalence in flood-hit zone of Pakistan, along with its associated risk factors. A total of 385 serum samples were randomly collected from tehsils Rajanpur, Jampur and Rojhan of district Rajanpur with necessary information captured in data form for risk factors analysis. Chi-square test, univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were applied to check association of hypothesized risk factors with disease. The study showed 23.12% of the bovine samples positive for Leptospira antibodies with non-significant difference (P>0.05) between cattle (25.52%) and buffaloes (20.72%). The non-significant difference (P>0.05) of bovine leptospirosis among tehsils of study area presented 26.56, 21.88 and 20.93% in tehsils Jampur, Rajanpur and Rohan, respectively. Chi-square test analysis depicted body temperature and socio-economic status of worker positively associated (P<0.05) with the disease. The univariable analysis based on Mantel Haentzel test and Wald statistics found early age, confined system, fodder type, jaundice status, and socio-economic status of the animal's owner as significant candidates (Odds ratio OR>1) while, multivariable logistic regression showed bovine specie, gender of animal, fodder type, jaundice status, and socio-economic status of the animal's owner as key risk factors for leptospirosis dynamics (Odds Ratio>1). The study concluded that, the flood hit area is having considerable prevalence of bovine leptospirosis and is positively associated with presence or absence of certain animal, management and environmental factors. (C) 2017 PVJ. All rights reserved