Occurrence of Leptospira sp. antibodies in swine in Poland

The aim of the study was to evaluate the prevalence of antibodies specific to different serogroups of Leptospira sp. in swine populations in Poland. The serological survey was conducted in 2006. A total of 7 252 swine serum samples coming from all provinces of the country were investigated. The samples were examined by the use of a microscopic agglutination test. As antigens, six Leptospira serovars were used: Leptospira interrogans serovars - Icterohaemorrhagiae, Pomona, and Canicola, L. borgpetersenii serovars - Sejroe and Tarassovi, and L. kirschneri serovar Grippotyphosa. Altogether, 97 (1.34%) of the examined serum samples were found to be positive. They were obtained from 12 provinces. The highest number of samples among positive sera demonstrated titres to serovar Sejroe (44.33%) followed by Pomona (37.11%), Icterohaemorrhagiae (8.25%), Canicola (7.22%), and Tarassovi (3.09%). No samples with titres to serovar Grippotyphosa were found. The data concerning the highness titres to particular serovars and the prevalence of animals demonstrating antibodies to different serovars in particular provinces are presented and analysed in the article.