Cross-sectional Epidemiological Survey of Leptospirosis Risk Factors in Cattle Farms in the Morobe Province of Papua New Guinea
Leptospirosis represents a critical zoonotic bacterial disease affecting cattle productivity in tropical regions, yet limited epidemiological data exists for Papua New Guinea (PNG). This cross-sectional survey was conducted from June to August 2023 to assess risk factors associated with potential leptospirosis transmission and evaluate farmers’ knowledge and management practices in cattle farms across Morobe Province, PNG. Data were collected from 22 cattle farms (4 commercials, 18 smallholder) through structured questionnaires and interviews covering farm characteristics, environmental risk factors, farmers’ knowledge, clinical observations, and management practices. Among 22 farms surveyed (response rate 100%), 82% of farmers lacked knowledge about leptospirosis. High-risk environmental factors were prevalent: 73% reported rat infestations, 59% experienced high rainfall, and 41% faced flooding. Vary clinical signs potentially associated with leptospirosis were observed in all the farms, including skin diseases (23%), Diarrhoea (21%), weak offspring (17%), stillbirths (13%) and others (less than 7%). Veterinary service access was limited to 23% of farms, and 86% lacked biosecurity measures. This study identified multiple risk factors potentially facilitating leptospirosis transmission in PNG cattle farms, including poor water management, limited disease knowledge, and inadequate veterinary support. However, definitive leptospirosis diagnosis requires laboratory confirmation. These findings provide baseline data for developing targeted intervention strategies.
Keywords: Leptospirosis, Cattle health, Zoonotic disease, Papua New Guinea, Disease epidemiology, Biosecurity measures, Morobe Province, Environmental risk factors, Veterinary access.
