Serological survey of leptospiral antibodies in cattle, sheep and goats in Nyandarua district of Kenya

Abstract

Leptospirosis is a common zoonotic disease of a world-wide importance. It causes economic loss to livestock industry from abortions, stillbirths, deaths, decreased milk production and infertility, The Leptospira organisms survive best in areas with high rainfall, soil pH of around neutral and temperature range of about 7-34°Cl11. A study was carried out to establish the prevalence of leptospiral antibodies in cattle, sheep and goats in Nyandarua district which has climatic conditions favour¬able to survival of Leptospira organisms. The district has a high relative humidity (65%)' high annual average rainfall (839 mm), annual average temperature of about 14.1°C and an average soil pH of 6.4(31.