Prevalence and risk factors associated with equine leptospirosis in an endemic urban area in Southern Brazil Prevalência e fatores de risco associados com a leptospirose equina em uma área urbana endêmica no sul do Brasil ABSTRACT The burden of equine leptospirosis in Pelotas (RS) remains unclear due to underreporting. In this city, socially vulnerable families use these animals to collect food and recyclable material. In this context, this study aimed to know the seroprevalence of

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... in urban working horse population in Pelotas, and to assess risk factors for equine leptospirosis in the study area. Serum samples from 119 horses were analysed by microscopic agglutination test (MAT). As results, 28.57% (n=34) animals were positive in the MAT with titres equal or above 400. Canicola was the most prevalent serovar in this study, followed by Hardjo, Bratislava, and Ballum. Exposure to risk factors was assessed and the occurrence of abortions (p = 0.04) and the occurrence of stillborn foals in the establishments (p = 0.04) were associated with the disease. Furthermore, abortion itself was associated with factors usually regarded as having leptospirosis risk, these were: Grazing on open pastures (p<0.01); the presence of rodents in or around the house (p<0.01); and forage being kept in sheds (p=0.03). Conversely, fodder stored in plastic barrels (with lids) seems to reduce the risk of abortion (p=0.01). Thus, urban working horses used to collect food and recyclable materials in different parts of the city may be potential spreaders of the disease to humans and other animal species. In addition, our study indicates that these animals may be viable sentinels in the research of circulating serovars in urban settings.