ISOLATION OF LEPTOSPIRES FROM BOVINE URINE AT MIDDLE PROVINCES IN IRAQ

The present study was designed to investigate of Leptospirosis in cattle in middle of Iraq and isolate the Leptospires. One hundred and fifty  urine samples were randomly collected from cattle at a slaughtering in the state of Karbala, Najaf and Babylon in Iraq. Direct examination using dark field microscopy (DFM) was carried out immediately after collection. Then samples were cultured in modified EMJH medium, and the culture identifying by staining, biochemical tests (catalase and oxidase) and examination by DFM . Results show eight samples were positive in DFM (5.3%) and thirteen samples positive by culturing (8.6%). Cattle can represent an increasing risk for severe leptospirosis in large populations, mainly living in rural areas.