Objectives: Study of the frequency rate of leptospiral infection in dogs of Tehran area by serological procedures and detecting leptospiral antibobies in positive cases and identifying the serogroups of leptospiral antibodies by serogrouping them in the studied population of dogs in Tehran and surrounding areas.
Design: A research project was designed to determine seroepidemiologic status of canine leptospirosis in order to find out the relationship between natural positive cases and some important factors such as age, sex, and environmental conditions of animals.
Animals: Three hundred dogs were selected among the non- vaccinated dogs against canine leptospirosis , referred to Small Animal Clinic of Tehran University within two years. These dogs which were 3 months to 11 years old involved the studied population of dogs in Tehran area.
Procedure: Serologic survey was conducted by MAT at different dilutions on 300 blood serum samples which were collected from selective dogs. The minimum dilution of each serum sample was 1:100 and the maximum dilution was 1:800. Urine samples from dogs that were serologically positive (93 cases) were collected in aseptic conditions or through cystosynthesis technique and were cultured in specific mediums such as Fletcher, Elinghausen and Razi-Gardner broth mediums (solid and semi-solid).
Statistical analysis: Chi square test was used for statistical analysis of data.
Results: On the basis of MAT procedure, 93 out of 300 dogs (31.00 %) showed positive reactions in serological examination at 1: 100 dilution of serum titer against to one or more leptospiral serogroups that were used in this research project. The dominant serogroups were Canicola (9.00%), Icterohaemorrhagiae (6.00%) and Grippotyphosa (3.67%) as individual seroproup, respectively. The seroprevalence rate of canine leptospirosis ,obtained by MAT at
1:100 dilution titer of serum samples, in multiserogroups were as follow: 1 . Canicola & Grippotophosa (3.33%). 2. Canicola & Icterohaemorrhagiae (3.00%). 3.Gropo1yphosa & lctemhaemorrhagiae (0.67%). 4. Gr4opotvpho.ca & Icterohaemorrhagiae & Canicola (5.33%).
Conclusion: Considering of seroepidemiologic findings in this study, in order to prevention of canine leptospirosis among
the companion animals as well as in farmer dogs , the authors
suggest and recommend the vaccination of all dogs with polyvallant vaccine of canine leptospirosis against Leptospiral serotypes of canicola, icterohaeniorrhagiae and grippotyphasa in Tehran area and suburbs. J. Fac. Vet. Med. Univ. Tehran. 58, 2: 133-137, 2003.
)