Sero-Prevalence of Leptospira pomona Infection among Cattle Slaughtered in Sokoto Metropolitan Abattoir, Sokoto State, Nigeria

Aim: Leptospirosis is a transmissible zoonotic disease that is widely distributed worldwide, it causes public health problems and affects both developed and developing countries. This study investigated sero-prevalence of Leptospira pomona infection among cattle slaughtered in Sokoto State Metropolitan Abattoir. Methods: One hundred and eighty-four (184) samples were collected aseptically from the jugular vein of different breeds of cattle (Red Bororo, Sokoto Gudali and White Fulani) at slaughter position in Sokoto metropolitan abattoir using aseptically anticoagulant-free vacutainers twice in a week and the samples were centrifuged and sera separated. Indirect Enzyme Linked-Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) technique (specific for the detection of antibodies against Leptospira pomona and L. hardjo in bovine serum) was employed and the procedures were carried out according to the manufacturer’s protocol (ELISA Bovicheck® Lepto HP, Bioveta, Canada). The optical density was read using an ELISA reader (Optic System IVYMEN® 2100C, USA). Results: Overall prevalence of Leptospira pomona in the study area was found to be 25 % (46). The prevalence in cows was higher (25.3%) than that recorded in males (24.8%). There was absence of a statistically significant difference (p>0.05) in seropositivity of leptospiral infection between the bulls. The age-specific prevalence of L. pomona infection showed that adult cattle are more exposed, but no statistical association was observed p>0.05. The breed specific prevalence of Leptospira pomona infection showed that Sokoto Gudali recorded a higher prevalence of 28% (7), while Red Bororo and White Fulani recorded a prevalence of 24.8% (26) and 20.4% (11) respectively. There was no statistical association between age and Leptospiral infection (p>0.05). The most predominant breed in the study area was the White Fulani cow. Conclusions: This study concluded that cattle in the study area are exposed to infection by Leptospira spp. The presence of leptospirosis among cattle slaughtered in the abattoir may serve as an occupational hazard to the abattoir workers. These abattoir workers are at risk of being infected by Leptospira spp. serovar pomona. Age, sex, and breed are not associated with Leptospira infection in cattle slaughtered in Sokoto State abattoir.