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Leptospirosis is strongly associated to estrus repetition on cattle

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Abstract

Although prevalent, the exact impact of infectious diseases on reproductive failures remains to be determined. Among them, leptospirosis has commonly been reported as cause of abortions on outbreaks. Nevertheless, the majority of the animals present a chronic, silent form of the disease, which is characterized by low reproductive efficiency and is frequently neglected. In that context, we conducted a study that aims to estimate the impact of chronic leptospirosis on reproductive disorders on cattle. A total of 25 different dairy herds with history of reproductive losses from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, were selected. From each herd, a questionnaire was applied and sera from 20 cows were randomly tested for leptospirosis (totaling 500 cows). Chi-square was performed to estimate the association of seroreactivity with reproductive disorders. A total of 32% of the herds were positive, all of them against serogroup Sejroe. Estrus repetition was the most important reported reproductive problem and it was strongly associated to seroreactivity against leptospirosis. Besides, specific vaccination against leptospirosis was an important protection factor against that disorder. In conclusion, control programs including, but not limited to, vaccines must be implemented on those herds in order to reduce reproductive losses, particularly estrus repetition.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank the veterinarians who helped in the field: Marcello Souza, José Carlos, Sebastião Poubel, Márcio Silva, Antônio Roberto, Pedro Afonso, José Gabriel and Guilherme Machado; Eduardo Cavalcante (MVD, UFAC); Bruno Cabral (MSc, UFF); Gabriel Mendes de Souza Martins (PhD, UFF), Luiz Altamiro Nogueira Garcia (PhD, UFF); and Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (FAPERJ). WL and FZB are CNPq fellows.

Funding sources

This research received grants from FAPERJ—Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Veterinary Bacteriology, Biomedical Institute, Fluminense Federal University, 101 Prof. Hernani Mello Street, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

    H. A. Libonati & W. Lilenbaum

  2. Veterinary College, Fluminense Federal University, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

    G. B. Santos & F. Z. Brandão

  3. EMBRAPA Gado de Leite, Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais, Brazil

    G. N. Souza

Authors
  1. H. A. Libonati
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  2. G. B. Santos
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  3. G. N. Souza
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  4. F. Z. Brandão
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  5. W. Lilenbaum
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Correspondence to W. Lilenbaum.

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Libonati, H.A., Santos, G.B., Souza, G.N. et al. Leptospirosis is strongly associated to estrus repetition on cattle. Trop Anim Health Prod 50, 1625–1629 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-018-1604-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-018-1604-9

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