1Reference laboratory Leptospira, Department of Microbiology, Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute, Karaj, Iran
2Department of Microbiology, Veterinary Faculty, Armenian National Agrarian University
3Department of Veterinary Research, Research Organisation, Ardabil, Iran
*Email: smoradibidhendi@yahoo.com
Online published on 26 May, 2015.
The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence of Leptospira infection in bactrian camels in North West Iran by culture and microscopic agglutination test (MAT). Blood and urine samples were collected from 60 bactrian camels (19 males and 41 females) in Ardabil province, North West Iran during an 11-months study spanning between April 2008 to February 2009. Twelve out of 60 (20%) serum samples had a titre against Leptospira, out of which 58% (7/12) were from female and 42% (5/12) from male. The predominant serovars observed were Leptospira grippotyphosa (6/50%) followed by Leptospira icterohaemorrhagiae (4/3%), Leptospira pomona (1/33%) and Leptospira canicola (1/33%). No other serovar was detected among camels of this province. The highest antibody titres were 1:1600 for L. icterohaemorrhagiae and L. canicola (2x), 1:400 for L. grippotyphosa and L. icterohaemorrhagiae (4x) and 1:100 for L. grippotyphosa and L. canicola (6x). None of the sera showed reaction with more than one serovar. All 60 urine samples were negative when cultured for 6 weeks.
Bactrian camels, culture, Leptospira, MAT, north west Iran
