Eva. Aisser Ajaj, Maab Ibrahim AL– Farwachi*
Department of Internal and Preventive Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Mosul University, Mosul, Iraq
*Corresponding author: maabalfrwche@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT
The present study involves evaluation of various techniques such as direct dark field microscopy, direct microscopic examination of urine sediments stained with fountana stain , Congo red and acridine orange stains as well as microbiological isolation for diagnosis of leptospirosis in clinically suspected cases. A total 127 samples comprised of 92 sera and 35 urine samples were collected from adult local breed cattle aged 2 – 7 years old during 7 months period of September 2012 to March 2013. The diagnosis of the disease was performed by direct dark field microscopic examination, direct microscopic examination of urine sediments stained with fountana stain, Congo red and acridine orange stains and microbiological isolation. Serodiagnosis of Leptospira interrogans serovars Hardjo and Pomona was carried out using a commercial indirect ELISA (BOVICHEK® LEPTO kit , Biovet , Canada ). Thirty–three ( 94.3 % ) of 35 urine samples were found positive by each of the direct dark field microscopy, and direct microscopic examination of urine sediments stained with fountana stain , Congo red and acridine orange stains and microbiological isolation. From a total of 92 sera, 6 (6.5 %) were positive for Leptospira hardjo and only one animal (1 %) was seropositive to L. pomona . The present results suggested that direct dark field microscopy, and direct microscopic examination of urine sediments stained with fountana stain, Congo red and acridine orange stains and indirect ELISA form the basis of diagnosis of leptospirosis in clinically suspected cases. L. interrogans serovar hardjo has the highest prevalence in the region under study.

Key Words: Cattle; ELISA; Serodiagnosis ; Leptospira hardjo