Leptospirosis, an important zoonotic disease with worldwide distribution, is emerging as public health problem in south Gujarat, India where it is endemic. In infected animals, persistent colonization of leptospires in renal tubules is not uncommon and hence chronically infected hosts shed leptospires in urine and contaminate the environment. A study was undertaken to identify leptospiral carrier goats in south Gujarat using urine polymerase chain reaction. A total of 292 urine and sera samples each were collected randomly from goats reared in different villages of south Gujarat region and studied using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and microscopic agglutination test (MAT), respectively. In MAT, seroreactivity was noted in 61 (20.89 %) goats while leptospiral DNA was detected in 42 (14.38 %) goats using PCR. There was low concordance between two tests. To the best of author’s knowledge, it is the first study indicating use of PCR in detection of carrier goats from south Gujarat, India. Present findings indicate existence of carrier status of leptospirosis among goats in this area. In conclusion, leptospiral DNA was detected from urine of goats using PCR hence use of PCR may be considered as a valuable tool for identification of carrier goats. Present results also necessitate effective control measures in south Gujarat.

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