Volume 16, Issue 1: 2026 - Article 231

Abstract
Leptospirosis is a neglected, globally disseminated zoonotic disease transmitted through contact with contaminated soil, water or urine of infected animals and humans. The clinical manifestations in small ruminants include abortion, stillbirths and the birth of weak offspring. The present study was an abattoir-based survey of the occurrence of Leptospira species antibodies in small ruminants slaughtered in Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria. The survey was done on 120 small ruminants, from June to August 2025.  Blood (5 ml) was collected from the 120 small ruminants and aliquoted into two: one for serology, the other was anti-coagulated and used for haematology. The species, breed and sex of each sampled animal were noted. Serum samples were tested for antibodies against eight Leptospira serovars using the microscopic agglutination test (MAT). Haematological parameters were evaluated on the anti-coagulated blood following standard methods. Chi-square test was used to measure the strength of association between the MAT results and variables such as species, breed and sex. Student's t-test was used to determine differences in haematological values of seropositive and seronegative cases. The occurrence of Leptospira antibodies in slaughtered small ruminants was 80%. The most prevalent serovars recorded were icterrohaemorrhagiae (20.1%), followed by canicola and grippotyphosa (18% each). Leptospira mini was the least occurring serovar (5.8%).  Twenty-one percent of the small ruminants were seropositive to two serovars, and 7% to three serovars. There was no significant association (p > 0.05) between species, breed, and sex of the sampled animals and being seropositive. The mean blood eosinophil count of the seropositive animals was significantly (p < 0.05) lower than that of the seronegative animals. The high occurrence (80%) of Leptospira spp. antibodies in slaughtered small ruminants in Nsukka as recorded in this study indicates endemic leptospirosis and potential zoonotic risk to abattoir workers and animal handlers. This highlights the necessity for continuous surveillance and public health education on the subject.

Keywords: Leptospira species antibody; Small ruminants (goats and sheep); Occurrence; Abattoir-based survey; Nsukka Nigeria; Microscopic agglutination test (MAT).

How to cite this article:
Chukwudi IC, Emena CC, Ogbu KI, Obiekwe UC and Ogunniran TM (2026). Serological evidence of exposure of small ruminants slaughtered in Nsukka, Nigeria to Leptospira infection, and haematological alterations associated with it. Journal of Veterinary and Applied Sciences, 16(1): 1514 – 1524.

*Correspondence: E-mail:     ijeoma.adieme@unn.edu.ng     Phone: +2348033572147

Serological evidence of exposure of small ruminants slaughtered in Nsukka, Nigeria to Leptospira infection, and haematological alterations associated with it

  Ijeoma C. Chukwudi ^{1 *}, Chisom C. Emena ¹, Kenneth I. Ogbu ², Uchechukwu C. Obiekwe ¹ and Temitope M. Ogunniran ^1
1 Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria.
² Department of Animal Health, Federal College of Animal Health and Production Technology, National Veterinary Research Institute, Vom, Plateau State, Nigeria.

Download .pdf copy here >>