Diagnosis of Leptospirosis with levaditi and immunohistochemical methods in abortion cases in ruminants in marmara region and comparison with histopathological

Leptospirosis is a bacterial infection of zoonotic character, which causes abortion, stillbirth, infertility and milk yield losses and is very important for livestock economically. In this study was aimed to diagnose and compare the abortion cases with leptospirosis in ruminants coming to Pendik Veterinary Control Institute from the provinces and districts of Marmara region between 2013-2018 by immunohistochemical (IHC) and Levaditi methods and to compare with histopathological findings. A total of 1252 aborted fetuses; 750 lambs, 218 kids and 284 calves from 12 different provinces were used as materials. After the necropsies of the fetuses, the samples taken from the internal organs were routinely followed and stained with hematoxylin eosin. In addition, leptospira agents were searched by IHC and Levaditi methods from kidneys, liver and lungs. In the study, macroscopically, some fetuses showed subcutaneous edema and fluid accumulation in body cavities, icterus and miliary necrosis foci in the liver, but most had autolytic changes. Microscopic examination revealed periaciner necrosis in liver and necrosis and hyaline cylinders in renal tubules. Positive staining was observed in 160 of 1252 fetus samples in IHC staining and Levaditi staining of IHC positive samples revealed 108 positive staining. Levaditi staining method was used to determine the agent only in kidney tissue, but not in the liver and lung. However, positive results were obtained in liver, kidney and lung by IHC method. As a result, the abortion rate of leptospirosis in ruminants was determined as 12,8% in Marmara region of Turkey. In the diagnosis of leptospirosis, IHC method is more sensitive than Levaditi staining method. As a result of this study, it has been shown that leptospirosis has an important place in abortions in ruminants in Marmara Region of Turkey and it is concluded that raising awareness about the disease and vaccination will be very effective in combating the disease.