Prevalence of antibodies to Leptospira serovars in sheep and goats in AltoAdige-South Tyrol

Serum samples from 313 sheep and 95 goats were collected during November 19 93 in 26 localities in Alto Adige-SouthTyrol and tested by microscopic aggl utination test for antibodies to 28 serovars of the genus Leptospira. At th e time of blood collection all the animals appeared healthy with no clinica l sign suggestive of leptospirosis. The observed seroprevalence in sheep wa s 6.1%, whereas the seropositivity rate for goat serum samples was 2.1%. Th e highest serological prevalence in sheep was recorded for serovar castello nis, followed by poi, sejroe, hardjo subtype hardjobovis, copenhageni, and cynopteri. Titres to poi were the only ones found in goats. These findings, which are proof of Leptospira infection in Alto Adige-South Tyrol, indicat e that loci of several serovars exist in this region.