Abstract
The results of combined epidemiological, clinical, serological, bacteriological and histopathological studies following an outbreak of disease caused by L. pomona on a farm stocked with cattle, sheep, pigs, goats and horses maintained for experimental purposes, are reported.
The incidence of infection was high in horses, cattle and pigs. A few low titres were seen in sheep. The goats were not infected. Apart from a single bovine abortion all the clinical symptoms observed occurred in pregnant sows. Seven of these aborted or gave birth to stillborn pigs within a six week period.
Fifteen species of wildlife were trapped or shot on the farm during the year following the outbreak. L. pomona was isolated from four skunks and a porcupine. Epidemiological studies indicated that wildlife reservoir hosts were the primary source of infection for the domestic livestock.
Leptospiruria and the serological response were studied in a group of eight infected sows. Microscopic agglutination titres of 102 or less could not be associated with leptospiruria and the duration of leptospiruria was found to range from a few weeks to over two years in individual sows. Direct dark-field examination of urine proved superior to guinea-pig inoculation as a method of detecting leptospiruria and it is suggested that the former technique could be adopted with advantage as a routine aid to diagnosis.
Full text
PDF
Selected References
These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.
- BOULANGER P. Agglutination tests on leptospirosis in cattle. Can J Public Health. 1958 Apr;49(4):142–147. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Boulanger P., Mitchell D., Smith A. N., Rice C. E. Leptospirosis In Canada. III. A Study Of The Importance Of The Disease In Cattle As Shown In Combined Serological, Clinical And Bacteriological Investigations. Can J Comp Med Vet Sci. 1958 Apr;22(4):127–143. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Boulanger P., Smith A. N. Serological Investigations Of Leptospirosis in Canada. II. Preliminary Agglutination - Lysis Studies Of Cattle Sera With Leptospira Pomona and Leptospira Canicola Antigens. Can J Comp Med Vet Sci. 1957 Jan;21(1):4–11. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Fish N. A., Ryu E., Hulland T. J. Bacteriological and Pathological Studies of Natural and Experimental Swine Abortion Due to Leptospira Pomona. Can Vet J. 1963 Dec;4(12):317–327. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Greve J. H., Gaafar S. M. Natural transmission of Demodex canis in dogs. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 1966 May 1;148(9):1043–1045. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- McGowan J. E., Karstad L. Field and laboratory studies of skunks, raccoons and groundhogs as reservoirs of Leptospira pomona. Can Vet J. 1965 Oct;6(10):243–252. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- ROBERTS S. J. A study of leptospirosis in large artificial insemination stud. Cornell Vet. 1958 Oct;48(4):363–371. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- ROTH E. E., ADAMS W. V., SANFORD G. E., MOORE M., NEWMAN K., GREER B. LEPTOSPIRURIA IN STRIPED SKUNKS. Public Health Rep. 1963 Nov;78:994–1000. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]