MOLECULAR CHARACTERIZATION OF LEPTOSPIRA HARDJO IN CATTLE

Abstract

Leptospirosis is a potential threat to dairy industry responsible for early embryonic death and infertility which can lead to significant economic losses for cattle producers. A cross sectional study was conducted for molecular characterization of Leptospira Hardjo in sero-positive dairy cows by using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique. Organisms were isolated from urine and fetus by using Ellinghausen-McCullough-Johnson-Harris (EMJH) media and initial tracing by dark field microscopy from 45 sero-positive selected cows. Prevalence of Leptospira Hardjo in dark field microscopy was 55.55% (25 out of 45) and 32% (8 out of 25) respectively in urine and fetus samples. No band was found in PCR from urine samples (none out of 45) besides 32% (8 of 25) fetal samples were found positive for L Hardjo. Maximum cases of abortion were occurred during the second trimester of pregnancy and their difference among the gestation varies significantly (P<0.05). The overall results of this study expressed that Leptospira Hardjo is one of the potential causes of abortion in the dairy industry of Chittagong, Bangladesh.