Molecular detection of pathogenic Leptospira spp. in rural horses from Ecuador

Neglected tropical zoonotic diseases such as leptospirosis continue to have a significant impact on animal and human health, especially in low-income countries due to limitations in surveillance systems. In this context, working equines are likely to play a critical role in the maintenance and transmission of Leptospira spp. due to their asymptomatic susceptibility to different serovars and close contact with humans, making them a potential neglected occupational hazard.