Identification of Prevalent Leptospira Serovars Infecting Water Buffaloes, Cows, Dogs, Pigs, and Rats in the Philippines

Leptospirosis is an infectious disease that affects humans and a wide range of wild and domestic animals. Pathogenic leptospires dwell in the renal tubules of carrier animals, especially rodents, and may shed the pathogens in their urine. In this study, 222 animals (50 water buffaloes, 25 cows, 84 dogs, 12 pigs, and 51 rats) from Metro Manila and Nueva Ecija, Philippines were tested for seropositivity against Leptospira and culture isolation from blood, urine, and kidney. A total of 213 animals (95.9%) had antibodies against leptospires. The topmost prevailing serovar infecting the animals were: Tarassovi for water buffaloes (18/50); Patoc for cows (9/25); Manilae for dogs (23/84); Poi for pigs (7/12); and, Copenhageni for rats (20/51). Blood cultures were negative. However, 7 rats were culture-positive, 4 were positive for both kidney and urine cultures, 2 were positive for kidney culture, and 1 was positive for urine culture. Leptospirosis in domestic animals poses not only health problems but also a serious economic burden. It is endemic in the Philippines and identification of locally relevant serovars infecting animals can aid in formulating prevention and control measures of this zoonosis in the country such as vaccine development and methods of carrier control.