Analysis of cross-sectional studies of leptospirosis in donkeys: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Leptospirosis is a neglected zoonosis that infects donkeys and other animal species, with economic and public health concerns. Donkeys have an important role in the development of societies, the reduction of their effective population in recent years, and the little attention given to the diseases that affect them, reducing their productivity and performance. This study aimed to investigate the pooled prevalence of Leptospira spp. infection in donkeys worldwide through a systematic review and meta-analysis. Overall, 21 surveys met the eligibility criteria, with an overall combined prevalence of 34.90% (95% CI = 23.58% - 48.23%). Cochran’s Q test (p<0.01) was used to identify heterogeneity between studies, classified as high heterogeneity by the Higgins and Thompson test (I2 = 95.4%). Egger’s test did not identify the presence of publication bias (p=0.9892). This scenario suggests the need for standardization of epidemiological studies for leptospirosis in this species, such as the use of probabilistic sampling, collection of minimal information on the animals used, and the establishment of a cutoff point for the serological diagnostic test (microscopic agglutination test - MAT) and essential serogroups to be used in serology to determine reliable epidemiological indicators. In addition, there is a need for molecular studies and isolation of Leptospira spp. in donkeys for better elucidation of the disease epidemiology.

Keywords

• Public health
• zoonoses
• prevalence
• epidemiology
• Equidae
• donkeys
• leptospirosis