DETECTION OF Leptospira interrogans ANTIBODIES BY ELISA AND MICROSCOPIC AGGLUTINATION TEST (MAT) IN CATTLE IN TRAKYA DISTRICT, AND BACTERIOLOGICAL STUDIES ON LEPTOSPIROSIS IN SLAUGHTERED CATTLE.

Leptospiras could not be demonstrated by dark-field microscopy or cultured with EMJH medium in the kidney tissue samples of 96 slaughtered cattle in Trakya district. In the matches blood sera and the blood sera of % cattle raised in different farms located in four provinces (Istanbul. Edirne. Kırklareli and Tekirdağ) of the district, seven (3.65%) were determined to be positive by MAT. Antibodies to serovar hardjo and grippatyphasa were detected in six (85.7%) and in one (14.3%) of seven sera, respectively. In ELISA. 12 (6.25%) of 192 sera were found to have antibodies. Antibody prevalences in these 12 sera to serovar hardjo and grippoiyphosa were determined as 10 (83.3%) and two (16.7%). respectively. Antibodies to the other serovars used in the study were not found in the both tests. The sensitivity and specificity of ELISA were calculated to be 85.7% and 96.8%. respectively when MAT was considered as a reference test. The seroprevalence of the infection was higher in females than in males by the both tests while in ELISA the difference by sex was found Statistically significant (p<0.05). The highest prevalence was found in the city of Edime. Statistically significant differences (p<0.05). between Edirne and Tekirdağ. Istanbul were found by the both tests.