Equine immune response to leptospiral infection

Project Title: Equine Immune Response to Leptospiral Infection

PI: Craig Carter, DVM, Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, University of Kentucky

Relevance: After evaluating over 16,000 blood serum samples from horses in Kentucky, Leptospiral organisms were found in blood serum samples of horses almost exclusively in four watersheds in central Kentucky. The results of this study support the hypothesis that Leptospirosis is transmitted among horses through water. The results were used to propose a study of horse farm workers for immunologic evidence of Leptospirosis infection and to propose interventions to prevent waterborne spread of the disease among horses. Lepstospirosis is known to cause fetal abortions among thoroughbred horses.