Molecular Detection of Leptospira Species Serotypes in Iranian Stray Dogs

Background and Aims: Leptospirosis is a spirochetal disease with public health importance globally. This disease affects a wide range of domestic and wild animals. Dogs are one of the species most sensitive to Leptospira canicola and Leptospira icterohaemorrhagiae. The present study was concluded to evaluate the prevalence rate of Leptospira species and L. canicola and L. icterohaemorrhagiae serovars in Iranian stray dogs. Materials and Methods: One-hundred and twenty blood samples were first taken from stray dogs. Then the samples were transferred to the laboratory. Sera were extracted from blood samples and genomic DNA was extracted. DNA samples were subjected to conventional polymerase chain reaction. Positive samples for Leptospira spp. were analyzed for presence of L. canicola and L. icterohaemorrhagiaeserovars using the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). Results: Nine samples out of 120 serum samples (7.5%) were positive for the flagella gene of the Leptospira spp. Prevalence of Leptospira spp. in serum samples of male and female dogs were 5.4% and 10.86%, respectively. Prevalence of L. canicola and L. icterohaemorrhagiae serovars were 55.55% and 33.33%, respectively. We found that 11.11% of samples were positive for both serovars. Two to three and 3-4 year old dogs had the highest prevalence of Leptospira spp. Conclusions: The considerable prevalence of leptospirta spp. and also their zoonotic serovars among Iranian stray dogs represented an important public health issue regarding the contact of healthy human with these dogs. Identification of infected dogs and their vaccination can inhibit the distribution of Leptospira spp.