Seroprevalence and factors associated with Leptospira spp. in cattle from the Mexico-United States border region
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.19136/era.a13n3.4498Keywords:
Leptospirosis, bovine breed, microscopic agglutination, seroprevalence, serovarAbstract
Leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease caused by spirochetes of the genus Leptospira that affects humans and animals, mainly bovines, and causes significant economic losses in reproductive performance. In Mexico, specifically in the Mexico-USA border region, leptospirosis is important due to the export of livestock that occurs, but there are few studies for its control. Therefore, the study aims to serologically determine anti-Leptospira spp antibodies. in bovine blood sera during the period 2017-2022, using the microscopic agglutination technique that included 11 serovars of Leptospira spp. for reference; Sera were considered positive when showing 50% agglutination at a dilution ≥ 1:100. The association of the seroprevalence of Leptospira spp. with race, sex, and age was evaluated using chi-square analysis and k-means clustering. The results showed 473 positive samples of 689 collected, which represents 68.6% of seroprevalence, with the serovar Tarassovi occurring with the highest seroreaction (218/1126; 19.3%). Regarding the geographical location in the state, the highest seroprevalence was found towards the southern area, in the municipality of Aldama and the Brahman, Brangus and Charolais breeds showed the highest seroprevalence compared to the other breeds studied (p = 0.0024). In conclusion, a high prevalence of Leptospira spp. was found, mainly from serovar Tarassovi. Furthermore, the place where the cattle live and the breed could be associated with seropositivity. The results emphasize the need to establish strategies to prevent and control leptospirosis in northeastern Mexico.
Downloads
References
Aliberti A, Blanda V, Di Marco Lo Presti V, Macaluso G, Galluzzo P, Bertasio C, Sciacca C, Arcuri F, D’Agostino R, Ippolito D, Pruiti Ciarello F, Torina A, Grippi F (2022) Leptospira interrogans serogroup pomona in a dairy cattle farm in a multi-host zootechnical system. Veterinary Sciences 9(2): 83. https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci9020083
Arteaga-Troncoso G, Jiménez-Estrada JM, Montes de Oca-Jiménez R, López-Hurtado M, Luna-Álvarez M, Hernández-Andrade L, Moreno-Alfaro A, Galan-Herrera JF, Guerra-Infante FM (2015) Seroprevalencia y factores de riesgo asociados con la transmisión dentro de la bandada de interrogadores de Leptospira en sistemas de cría transhumanta en México. Epidemiología e infección 143(13): 2894-2902. https://doi.org/10.1017/S095026 8814003549
Aymée L, Gregg WRR, Loureiro AP, Di Azevedo MIN, Pedrosa JDS, Melo JDSLD, Carvalho-Costa FA, De Souza GN, Lilenbaum W (2021) Bovine genital Leptospirosis and reproductive disorders of live subfertile cows under field conditions. Veterinary Microbiology 261: 109213. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetmic.2021.109213
Blessington T, Schenck AP, Levine JF (2020) Frequency of animal Leptospirosis in the Southern United States and the implications for human health. Southern Medical Journal 113(5): 240–249. https://doi.org/10.14423/SMJ.0000000000001093
Bonhomme D, Werts C (2022) Host and species-specificities of pattern recognition receptors upon infection with Leptospira interrogans. Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology 12: 932137. https://doi.org/10.3389/fcimb.2022.932137
Bulla-Castañeda DM, Buitrago HAL, Lancheros-Buitrago DJ, Díaz-Anaya AM, Garcia-Corredor DJ, Tobón-Torreglosa JC, Ortega DO, Pulido-Medellín MO (2022) Seroprevalencia y factores de riesgo asociados a la presencia de leptospirosis bovina en el municipio de Sotaquirá, Colombia. Open veterinary journal 12(5): 668-675. https://doi.org/10.5455/OVJ.2022.v12.i5.11
Cantú CA, Banda-Ruiz VM (1995) Seroprevalence of bovine leptospirosis in three southern cities of Tamaulipas (Technical note). Tecnica Pecuaria en Mexico. 33: 121-124.
Carvajal-de-la-Fuente C, Zapata-Campos C, Loredo-Osti J, López-Zavala R, Jasso-Obregón JO, Martínez-Bautista E (2012) Seroprevalence and risk factors associated with Leptospirosis (L. interrogans) in bovine cattle in Northeastern Mexico. The Thai Journal of Veterinary Medicine 42(1): 7-12. https://doi.org/10.56808/2985-1130.2369
Chiebao DP, Valadas SYOB, Minervino AHH, Castro V, Romaldini AHCN, Calhau AS, De Souza RAB, Gennari SM, Keid LB, Soares RM (2015) Variables associated with infections of cattle by Brucella abortus, Leptospira spp. and Neospora spp. in Amazon region in Brazil. Transboundary and Emerging Diseases 62: e30-e36. https://doi.org/10.1111/tbed.12201
DGSIAP (2023) Dirección General del Servicio de Información Agroalimentaria y Pesquera. https://nube.agricultura.gob.mx/poblacion_ganadera/. Fecha de consulta: 27 febrero de 2024.
Di-Rienzo J, Casanoves F, Balzarini MG, Gonzalez L, Tablada M, Robledo CW (2020) InfoStat versión 2020. Centro de Transferencia InfoStat, FCA, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Argentina. Infostat – Software estadístico. Fecha de consulta :18 de enero de 2025.
El-Tras WF, Bruce M, Holt HR, Eltholth MM, Merien F (2018) Update on the status of leptospirosis in New Zealand. Acta Tropica 188: 161-167. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actatropica.2018.08.021
Galarde-López M, Bobadilla-del Valle M, Sánchez-Zamorano LM, Ordaz-Vázquez A, Velazquez-Meza ME, Soberanis-Ramos O (2021) High exposure to pathogenic leptospires by the population residing in dairy farms in Hidalgo, Mexico. Brazilian Journal of Microbiology 52: 1013–1019. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42770-021-00453-y
Gaytán-Camarillo F, Rico-Chávez O, Palomares-Resendiz EG, Gutiérrez-Hernández JL, Díaz-Aparicio E, Herrera-López E (2021) Spatial autocorrelation and co-occurrence of six serovarieties of Leptospira in goat herds of the State of Guanajuato, Mexico. Brazilian Journal of Microbiology 52: 953–960.
Grippi F, Giudice E, Pietro SD, Sciacca C, Santangelo F, Galluzzo P, Barreca S, Guercio A (2020) Leptospira interrogans serogroup Sejroe serovar Hardjo in aborting cows: two herd cases in Sicily (Italy). Journal of Veterinary Research 64: 73-78. https://doi.org/10.2478/jvetres-2020-0021
Gutiérrez‐Molina R, Acevedo P, Sánchez‐Montes S, Romero‐Salas D, López‐Ortiz S, Flores‐Primo A, Cruz‐Romero A (2022) Spatial epidemiology of Leptospira sp. exposure in bovines from Veracruz, México. Transboundary and Emerging Diseases 69: e682-e692. https://doi.org/10.1111/tbed.14346
Hagedoorn NN, Maze MJ, Carugati M, Cash‐Goldwasser S, Allan KJ, Chen K, Cossic B, Demeter E, Gallagher S, German R, Galloway RL, Habuš J, Rubach MP, Shiokawa K, Sulikhan N, Crump JA (2024) Global distribution of Leptospira serovar isolations and detections from animal host species: A systematic review and online database. Tropical Medicine & International Health 29(3): 161-172. https://doi.org/10.1111/tmi.13965
Hamond C, LeCount K, Putz EJ, Bayles DO, Camp P, Goris MGA, Van Der Linden H, Stone NE, Schlater LK, Sahl JW, Wagner DM, Nally JE (2022) Bovine Leptospirosis due to persistent renal carriage of Leptospira borgpetersenii Serovar Tarassovi. Frontiers in Veterinary Science 9: 848664. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2022.848664
Ibrahim NA, Alrashdi BM, Elnaker YF, Elmahallawy EK, Alblihed MA, Daib MS, Abd Elmoety AM, Abo Elfadl EA, Badawy BM, Elbaz E (2022) Serological investigation and epidemiological analysis of bovine Leptospirosis in Egypt. Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease 7(9): 208. https://doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed7090208
Ikotun AM, Ezugwu AE, Abualigah L, Abuhaija B, Heming J (2023) K-means clustering algorithms: A comprehensive review, variants analysis, and advances in the era of big data. Information Sciences 622: 178-210. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ins.2022.11.139
INEGI (2021) Aspectos Geográficos Tamaulipas 2021. Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Geografía. https://www.inegi.org.mx/contenidos/app/areasgeograficas/resumen/resumen_28.pdf. Fecha de consulta: 13 febrero de 2024.
Ismail ZB, Abutarbush SM, Al-Majali AM, Gharaibeh MH, Al-Khateeb B (2019) Seroprevalence and risk factors of Leptospira serovar Pomona and Leptospira serovar Hardjo infection in dairy cows in Jordan. The Journal of Infection in Developing Countries 13(6): 473-479. https://doi.org/10.3855/jidc.11146
Karpagam KB, Ganesh B (2020) Leptospirosis: a neglected tropical zoonotic infection of public health importance-an updated review. European Journal of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases 39: 835-846. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10096-019-03797-4
Kasiano KEJ, Alinaitwe L, Okello W, Methodius T, Aturinda CJ, Lubega A, Sabbath-Frazer TE, Marin PM, Onafruo DK, Jubara AS, Biryomumaisho S, Kankya C (2025) Leptospira seroprevalence and associated risk factors among cattle in Bor County, South Sudan. Plos One 20(6): e0325492. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0325492
Levett PN (2001) Leptospirosis. Clinical Microbiology Reviews 14(2): 296-326. https://doi.org/10.1128/CMR.14.2.296-326.2001
Loureiro AP, Lilenbaum W (2020) Genital bovine leptospirosis: A new look for an old disease. Theriogenology 141: 41-47. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.theriogenology.2019.09.011
Martínez-Carbajal JC, Uvalle-Sauceda JI, González-Saldívar FN, Requena-Lara GN, Lozano-Cavazos EA, Rubio-Pequeño LG, Cantú-Ayala CM, Ramírez-Martínez C (2025) Estructura y composición primaria y secundaria de Selva Baja Espinosa Caducifolia en San Carlos, Tamaulipas. Ecosistemas y Recursos Agropecuarios 12(V). https://doi.org/10.19136/era.a12nV.4606
Mazzanti M, Scialfa E, Rivero M, Passucci J (2023) Epidemiology of Leptospira spp. infection in a beef cattle area of Argentina. Frontiers in Veterinary Science 10: 1083024. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2023.1083024
Méndez C, Benavide L, Esquivel A, Aldama A, Torres J, Gavaldón D, Meléndez P, Moles L (2013) Pesquisa serológica de Leptospira en roedores silvestres, bovinos, equinos y caninos en el noreste de México. Revista de Salud Animal 35: 25-32.
Monroy-Díaz ÁL, Vargas-Arias JA, Di-Filippo-Iriarte G, Quimbaya-Ramírez JJ (2021) Leptospirosis en reservorios animales. Revista Lasallista de Investigación 17(2): 266-279. https://doi.org/10.22507/rli.v17n2a23
Moore DP, Cantón GJ, Louge Uriarte EL (2021) Editorial: infectious diseases affecting reproduction and the neonatal period in cattle. Frontiers in Veterinary Science 8: 679007. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2021.679007
Nau LH, Emirhar D, Obiegala A, Mylius M, Runge M, Jacob J, Bier N, Nöckler K, Imholt C, Below D, Princk C, Dreesman J, Ulrich RG, Pfeffer M, Mayer-Scholl A (2019) Leptospirose in Deutschland: Aktuelle erkenntnisse zu erregerspezies, reservoirwirten und erkrankungen bei mensch und tier. Bundesgesundheitsblatt - Gesundheitsforschung - Gesundheitsschutz 62: 1510-1521. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00103-019-03051-4
Ochoa-Valencia JL, Cruz-Romero A, Sánchez-Montes S, Esparza-González SC, Romero-Salas D, Domínguez-Mancera B, Ramos-Vázquez JR, Becker I, Torres-Castro M (2022) Serological and molecular evidence of pathogenic Leptospira species in cattle from slaughterhouses in Veracruz State, Mexico. Revista Científica Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias 33(1): 1-9. https://doi.org/10.52973/rcfcv-e33201
OMS (2017) Leptospirosis - OPS/OMS | Organización Panamericana de la Salud. https://www.paho.org/es/temas/leptospirosis. Fecha de consulta: 26 febrero de 2024.
Orjuela AG, Parra-Arango JL, Sarmiento-Rubiano LA (2022) Bovine leptospirosis: Effects on reproduction and an approach to research in Colombia. Tropical Animal Health and Production 54(251): 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-022-03235-2
Philip N, Bahtiar Affendy N, Ramli SNA, Arif M, Raja P, Nagandran E, Renganathan P, Taib NM, Masri SN, Yuhana MY, Than LTL, Seganathirajah M, Goarant C, Goris MGA, Sekawi Z, Neela VK (2020) Leptospira interrogans and Leptospira kirschneri are the dominant Leptospira species causing human leptospirosis in Central Malaysia. PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases 14(3): e0008197. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0008197
Rosete-Fernández JV, Ríos-Utrera Á, Zárate-Martínez JP, Socci-Escatell GA, Fragoso-Islas A, Barradas-Piña FT, Olazarán-Jenkins S, Granados-Zurita L (2021) Prevalencia de diversos serovares de Leptospira interrogans en vacas no vacunadas en los estados de Puebla, Tabasco y Veracruz, México. Revista Mexicana de Ciencias Pecuarias 12(4): 1305-1316. https://doi.org/10.22319/rmcp.v12i4.5310
Ruano MP, Burgos-Macías DI, Goicochea CAB, Zambrano-Aguayo MD, Sandoval-Valencia HP, Falconi-Flores MA, Vera-Loor LA, Revelo-Ruales AP, Fonseca-Rodríguez O (2020) Seroprevalence and risk factors of bovine leptospirosis in the province of Manabí, Ecuador. Comparative Immunology, Microbiology and Infectious Diseases 72: 101527. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cimid.2020.101527
SAGARPA (2018) Consolida México el séptimo lugar en ranking mundial como productor de proteína animal. Secretaría de Agricultura, Ganadería, Desarrollo Rural, Pesca y Alimentación. https://www.gob.mx/agricultura/prensa/consolida-mexico-el-septimo-lugar-en-ranking-mundial-como-productor-de-proteina-animal. Fecha de consulta: 15 febrero de 2024.
Salgado M, Otto B, Sandoval E, Reinhardt G, Boqvist S (2014) A cross sectional observational study to estimate herd level risk factors for Leptospira spp. serovars in small holder dairy cattle farms in southern Chile. BMC Veterinary Research 10(126): 1-6. https://doi.org/10.1186/1746-6148-10-126
Selim A, Marzok M, Gattan HS, Abdelhady A, Salem M, Hereba AM (2024) Seroprevalence and associated risk factors for bovine leptospirosis in Egypt. Scientific Reports 14: 4645. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-54882-4
Shiokawa K, Welcome S, Kenig M, Lim B, Rajeev S (2019) Epidemiology of Leptospira infection in livestock species in Saint Kitts. Tropical Animal Health and Production 51: 1645-1650. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-019-01859-5
Soo ZMP, Khan NA, Siddiqui R (2020) Leptospirosis: Increasing importance in developing countries. Acta Tropica 201: 105183. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actatropica.2019.105183
SS (1999) Norma Oficial Mexicana NOM-029-SSA2 (1999) Para la vigilancia epidemiológica, prevención y control de la leptospirosis en el humano. http://www.salud.gob.mx/unidades/cdi/nom/029ssa29.html. Fecha de consulta: 13 febrero de 2024.
Sykes JE, Haake DA, Gamage CD, Mills WZ, Nally JE (2022) A global one health perspective on Leptospirosis in humans and animals. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 260(13): 1589-1596. https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.22.06.0258
Talpada MD, Garvey N, Sprowls R, Eugster AK, Vinetz JM (2003) Prevalence of Leptospiral infection in texas cattle: implications for transmission to humans. Vector-Borne Zoonotic Diseases 3(3): 141-147. https://doi.org/10.1089/153036603768395843
Vincent AT, Schiettekatte O, Goarant C, Neela VK, Bernet E, Thibeaux R, Ismail N, Mohd Khalid MKN, Amran F, Masuzawa T, Nakao R, Amara Korba A, Bourhy P, Veyrier FJ, Picardeau M (2019) Revisiting the taxonomy and evolution of pathogenicity of the genus Leptospira through the prism of genomics. PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases 13: e0007270. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0007270
Yescas-Benítez JE, Perez NR, Montiel-Díaz H, Valladares-Carranza B, Peláez-Acero A, Morales-Ubaldo AL, Zaragoza-Bastida A (2020) Comportamiento epidemiológico de la leptospirosis en México durante el período 2013-2019. Revista Salud Pública 22(4): 1-7. https://doi.org/10.15446/rsap.v22n4.87535
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Ecosistemas y Recursos Agropecuarios
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Aviso de copyright
Los autores que se envían a esta revista aceptan los siguientes términos:
una. Los autores conservan los derechos de autor y garantizan a la revista el derecho a ser la primera publicación del trabajo con una licencia de atribución de Creative Commons que permite a otros compartir el trabajo con un reconocimiento de la autoría del trabajo y la publicación inicial en esta revista.
B. Los autores pueden establecer acuerdos complementarios separados para la distribución no exclusiva de la versión del trabajo publicado en la revista (por ejemplo, en un repositorio institucional o publicarlo en un libro), con un reconocimiento de su publicación inicial en esta revista.
C. Se permite y se anima a los autores a difundir su trabajo electrónicamente (por ejemplo, en repositorios institucionales o en su propio sitio web) antes y durante el proceso de envío, ya que puede conducir a intercambios productivos, así como a una cita más temprana y más extensa del trabajo publicado. (Consulte El efecto del acceso abierto).
