%0 Journal Article
%T Effect of Vaccination against Leptospira on Shelter Asymptomatic Dogs Following a Long-Term Study.
%A Sant'Anna da Costa R
%A Di Azevedo MIN
%A Dos Santos Baptista Borges AL
%A Aymée L
%A Martins G
%A Lilenbaum W
%J Animals (Basel)
%V 12
%N 14
%D Jul 2022 12
%M 35883334
%F 3.231
%R 10.3390/ani12141788
%X (1) Background: Vaccination of dogs against leptospirosis is of paramount importance, as they ideally must provide not only long-term protection, but also against the renal carrier state of leptospires. This study assessed the post-vaccine humoral response against Leptospira in naturally exposed dogs and effects on renal carrier status. (2) Methods: A total of 118 dogs were studied for 365 days, separated into Group A (vaccinated, n = 94) and Group B (non-vaccinated, n = 24). Group A was subdivided into three groups: A1 with 32 dogs immunized with the vaccine #1; A2 by 32 dogs with #2; and A3 30 dogs with #3. Serology (MAT and IgG-ELISA) and urinary PCR were conducted. (3) Results: Seroreactivity increased at D15 post-vaccination and, regardless of vaccine brand, remained high up to D180, with antibody switch to IgG after D30. A total of 46.8% of animals from Group A were PCR-positive at least once, in contrast to 75% in Group B, regardless of vaccine brand (p < 0.05; OR: 0.3). (4) Conclusions: All commercial vaccines succeeded at eliciting a long-term IgG-based response and were partially effective at protecting against kidney infection.