SEROPREVALENCE OF LEPTOSPIRA HARDJO IN THE MEGHALAYA CATTLE POPULATION: A PILOT STUDY

Leptospirosis is a seemingly unexplored disease among cattle population of Meghalaya. Prior to the present study, the seroprevalence of Leptospirosis in cattle population of Meghalaya was unknown. This pilot study was designed to find out serological evidence of Leptospirosis in dairy cattle. For this purpose, 276 bovine serum samples were collected from two cattle dense districts of Meghalaya. Serological testing was performed employing a commercially available double sandwich ELISA and the seroprevalence was found as 8.33% (23/276). Therefore, it could be stated that the cattle population of Meghalaya is maintaining Leptospira Hardjo, which is one of the most important host specific (cattle) serovar. This warrants further studies, intensive surveillance and control strategies in the state in order to reduce the disease burden and economic loss.