between potential risk factors and both seropositive horses to the predominant serovar Bratislava and to Leptospira spp were statistically evaluated using univariable analysis and multivariable logistic regression models.Adult horses admitted to each equine hospital and horses seen on ambulatory service for various purposes were included in the study. Severely-ill, chronically infected, and horses with underlying immunosuppressive conditions were excluded from sampling, to control for potential bias.A total of 663 horse sera were collected and tested against a panel of 24 leptospiral serovars using the microscopic agglutination test. The most predominant serovars in Gauteng were The apparent prevalence to one or more serovars of Leptospira spp at a serum dilution of 1:100 in Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and Western Cape Provinces was 49%; 37% and 32% respectively. The true prevalence was calculated for each province taking into account the clustering effect during the sampling and was found to be between 24-74% in Gauteng; 26-39% in the Western Cape and 20-54% in KwaZulu-Natal.iv Nooitgedacht (South African horse breed) horses were found to be at greater risk of being seropositive to both serovar Bratislava (OR=5.08) and Leptospira spp (OR=6.3). Similarly, horses residing on properties with forestry in the vicinity were found to be at greater risk of being seropositive to both serovar Bratislava (OR=9.3) and Leptospira spp (OR=5.2). This study has shown that a high proportion of horses in South Africa are exposed to a wide range of serovars, inferring a complex epidemiology. It also describes for the first time new serovars of Leptospira in South African horses that have not previously been reported.v

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