Serological studies on leptospirosis in cattle in east central Alabama

Serological surveys of leptospiral antibodies in cattle were carried out in Macon and the surrounding counties of East Central Alabama. A total of 286 bovine serum samples were screened for the presence of antibodies against live antigens from twelve pathogenic leptospiral serotypes using a microscopic agglutination test. The most frequently encountered serotypes were Leptospira hardjo (47%), Leptospira wolffi (34%), Leptospira canicola (12%), Leptospira pomona (10%) and Leptospira ballum (10%). Leptospira autumnalis, Leptospira grippotyphosa, Leptospira icterohemorrhagiae, Leptospira pyrogenes and Leptospira tarassovi were observed in less than 5% of the samples.