BACKGROUND: Leptospirosis is a worldwide zoonosis causedby Leptospira interrogans. Leptospirosis results in decreasedmilk production, abortion, stillbirth, infertility and mortality,which causes financial loss in the cattle industry. OBJECTIVES:The aim of this research was to perform a serological andbacteriological study of leptospirosis in 6 industrial dairy herdsand 3 feedlots with previous records of leptospirosis in Tehransuburbs in 2011-2012. METHODS: For the purpose of this study,408 blood samples from dairy cattle and 154 blood samples fromfeedlots were collected using sterile 10ml venoject vacutainersfrom tail vein. Two months later, 118 urine samples werecollected from 20% of the two groups of serological negative andpositive animals. All serum samples were serologically tested bymicroscopic agglutination test (MAT), a standard method forserological diagnosis of leptospirosis. The serum samples weretested for antibodies against five live antigens of Leptospirainterrogans serovars: Pomona, Grippotyphosa, Hardjo, Icterohaemorrhagiaeand Canicola. Urine samples were used forbacteriological isolation of Leptospira spp. RESULTS: Serologicalresults showed that 228 (40.6%) of animals had a positivereaction against one or more serovars. The most prevalentLeptospira serovars was Pomona 118 (40.3%) and the leastprevalent was Canicola 4 (1.4%). The most prevalent titer was1:100, and the highest titer was 1:1600. Also the mostseropositive cases were observed in 3 to 4-year-old cows.Bacteriological results revealed that in 11 (9.3%) urine samplesLeptospira spp. were isolated, all taken from one feedlot farm.According to the history taken from each farm, the main riskfactors were the presence of rodents and low hygienic conditionsof the farms. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study revealedthat cows could have a major role in maintaining Pomona,Grippotyphosa and Hardjo serovars; indeed, they are a potentialzoonotic risk to slaughter house workers, meat inspectors,milkers and farmers.

BACKGROUND:Cystitis and pyelonephnitis in ruminants mostoften result from ascending urinary tract infection (UTI).OBJECTIVES: Investigating the prevalence of urine infection andits relationship with histopathological findings of bladder andkidney. METHODS: This study was carried out on 353 slaughteredbuffalos (143 female and 210 male) at Ahvaz abattoir, southwest ofIran. After slaughter, urinary samples were taken directly frombladder by sterile syringe. The bladder and kidney were inspectedand samples from them were taken for histophatological study. Allof the urine samples were incubated for isolation of bacteria onblood agar and MacConkey. Biochemical characterizations of theisolates were performed according to Bergey's manual of systemicbacteriology. Histopathological samples were taken fromrepresentative parts of each bladder and kidney and were stainedwith haematoxylin and eosin. RESULTS: Out of the 353 urinesamples, 19 (5.38%) were positive. The percentages of infectedcattle in female and male were 6.3% and 4.8%, respectively. Thesebacteria were isolated: E.coli (21%), Staphylococcus spp. (31.6%),Streptococcus spp. (15.8%), Proteus spp. (15.8%), Klebciella spp.(5.3%), Yercinia spp. (5.3%), and Actinimyces and Pasteurelle spp.(5.3%). In histopathological examination, 51(14.4%) and 5 (1.4%)of the buffalos had chronic cystitis and pyelonephritis, respectively.Bacteria were isolated only in 3 cases of chronic cystitis and 2 casesof pyelonephritis. Statistical analysis showed there was norelationship between isolation of bacteria from urine with cystitisand pyelonephritis. CONCLUSIONS:Some cases of chronic cystitisare not able to isolate of bacteria from urine and for causingpyelonephritis they need predisposing factors which caused urineretention.