Leptospira spp. in cats from tropical Mexico

The natural exposure of domestic cats to Leptospira spp. and some associated risk factors were studied in a large city from tropical Mexico. Two hundred and sixty blood samples were collected from clinically healthy cats in Merida Yucatan, Mexico, and tested for 13 leptospira serovars by using the microscopic agglutination test (MAT). Forty-six (17.7%) of the cats were serologically positive to some of the antigens of seven serovars, particularly australis (54.3%), pyrogenes (15.3%), gryppotyphosa (13%) and others. Titters recorded were within 1:100 and 1:200. No clinical signs of the disease were observed in the cats. Cats with no access to outdoors were more prone to become in contact with the agent (P<0.01). There is a wide distribution of Leptospira spp. in the population of owned cats in the studied tropical area, particularly the serovar australis. These results give important information about the epidemiology of leptospirosis, including the role of cats as a potential reservoir.