Prevalence and Risk Factors of Leptospira spp. Infection in Backyard Pigs in the State of Paraná, Brazil

Abstract

Leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease that poses a significant threat to human and animal health worldwide. Among different animal species, pigs are known to play a crucial role in the transmission of the pathogenic Leptospira spp. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of Leptospira spp. infection and associated risk factors in backyard pigs in the state of Paraná, Brazil. A set of 1393 blood samples were collected from pigs on 188 subsistence properties from 136 different municipalities of the Paraná state and tested using the microscopic agglutination test (MAT) to detect antibodies against 24 different Leptospira spp. serovars. The results revealed an overall seroprevalence of 15.87% (221/1393; 95% CI: 13.95–17.78%) for Leptospira spp. antibodies, with Icterohaemorrhagiae, Butembo, and Pomona being the most commonly detected in serovar levels. The lack of rodent control (OR 1.12, 95% CI: 0.63–1.98, p = 0.02) was the only variable associated with disease incidence and was identified as a significant risk factor for Leptospira spp. infection in this context. These findings highlight the urgent need to implement effective control measures, such as improved housing conditions, rodent control, and veterinary assistance, to prevent the spread of this zoonotic disease in backyard pigs in Paraná, Brazil.