Seroprevalence of leptospiral Antibodies in Humans and Domestic Animals in Iran

Background: Leptospirosis is an important re-emerging zoonotic disease in tropical and subtropical areas and acute febrile infection and a conveyable bacterial disease of animals and humans caused by pathogenic spirochetes of the genus Leptospira. Methods: Five hundred and ninety seven serum samples (159 cattle, 142 sheep, 147 goats and 149 humans) were collected from center, southeast and northeast of Iran. MAT was performed mainly as described by Turner with some modification in Leptospira Research Laboratory. Results: Antibodies were detected at least against one serovar of Leptospira interrogans in 97 sera (17.24%) among 597 samples at a dilution 1:100 or greater. Conclusion: The most prevalent serovar was icterohaemorrhagiae and the least prevalent was canicula