Prevalence of and risk factors for leptospirosis exposure in cattle in Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam, 2022

Abstract

A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2022 to estimate the true prevalence of Leptospira spp. exposed cattle herds in Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam and to identify characteristics associated with herd level Leptospira spp. exposure. Herd managers completed a questionnaire about herd management and whole blood samples were collected from their cattle and tested for Leptospira spp. serovars using the microscopic agglutination test (MAT). Multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to identify characteristics associated with seropositive herd status. Sixty of 99 dairy herds and 28 of 61 beef herds had at least one animal with Leptospira spp. antibodies detected using the MAT. For the total of 160 herds, the estimated true prevalence was 27 (95% CI 5-47) Leptospira spp. exposure positive herds per 100 herds at risk. The odds of being Leptospira spp. exposure positive for dairy herds with a median cow age of greater than 3 years was 3.8 (95% CrI 1.7-15) times that of dairy herds with a median cow age of less than or equal to 3 years. Given the high herd-level prevalence of Leptospira spp. exposure we conclude that leptospirosis is a risk not only to animal health and productivity, but also to herd managers and those who work with their stock in this area of Viet Nam. Action to minimise water pooling in the farm environment and to implement rodent control and cattle leptospirosis vaccination programs are strongly recommended as key measures to reduce infection pressure, pre….