Serological survey of leptospirosis in rodent of North Khorasan Province, Northeast of Iran

Leptospirosis is a reemerging neglected zoonotic diseases caused by leptospires, belonged to the species of Interrogans which containing over 250 serovars. Rodents can act as a main source of infection for humans and animals. The disease has a global distribution, mainly in humid, tropical and sub-tropical regions. In Iran the disease is being reported in many areas and is endemic in north of the country.
Material & This study was conducted to investigate the existence of Leptospira antibodies in rodent of North Khorasan Province, Iran. For this study, thirty six rodents were trapped alive. The infecting serovars were identified and the antibody titers were measured by standard microscopic agglutination test (MAT), using a panel of 7 strains of live Leptospira species as antigens and a serial dilutions (1/100 to 1/12800) of serum were used for tiration.
Antibody of Leptospira detected in spices of Meriones libycus, Rhombomys opimus and Apodemus witherbyi of the the rodents for the first time in Iran. The result of this study showed that 12 samples (33%) had a positive reaction against one or two sarovars. In general, 4 samples had a posistive reaction with serovar Pomona, 3 samples with Grippotyphosa, 3 samples with Australis, 2 samples with Tarassovi and 2 samples with Icterohaemorrhagiae. The results also showed that the most prevalent leptospira serovar was Pomona (14%) and the most common titer was 1/100 (10 samples) and the highest titer was 1/200 (2 samples).
This study is the first serological investigation of rodent infection to leptospirosis in this region and it showed that Leptospirosis is prevalent in rodents in North Khorasan Province.