A serological survey to detect antibodies against Leptospira spp. was conducted on dairy goats serum samples collected from 15 counties on the State of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Serum samples collected from a total of 354 goats were tested against 12 serological Leptospira serovar, using the microscopic agglutination test. At the time of blood collection, all the animals were clinically examined and no clinical sign suggestive of Leptospirose was observed. The prevalence of positive serum, as determined at dilution of 1:100 or higher, was 3.4%. Agglutinins against three serovar (icterohaemorragiae, pomona and hardjo) were found in positive animals. These findings are suggestive of the presence of Leptospira infection on goats herds grazed on the State of Rio Grande do Sul and also does suggest the presence of more than one serovar on the herds studied.
leptospirosis; goats; Leptospira
