Clinical and biochemical changes in sheep inoculated with leptospira interrogans serotype pomona

Clinical and biochemical changes occurring in whole blood, urine, plasma and serum of sheep experimentally infected with Leptospira interrogans serotype pomona were studied.

Half-time and fractional clearance rates of sulphobromophthalein, phenosulphophthalein and chromium (^5lCr) EDTA were also measured to assess functional damage to the liverand kidney.

The results suggested that the biochemical changes occurring following pomona infection were due mainly to haemolysis of erythrocytes and to mild impairment of tubular and glomerular kidney function. No alteration in liver function was observed: Analyses of isocitrate dehydrogenase, arginase, and total bilirubin in serum and measurements of kidney glomerular and tubular function appeared to be the most useful biochemical indicators of pomona infection in sheep.