A serological survey of leptospirosis in cats |
| |
Authors: | Rashel Shophet |
| |
Institution: | Department of Veterinary Pathology and Public Health , Massey University , Palmerston North, New Zealand |
| |
Abstract: | A serological survey of 225 cats from different parts of the NorthIsland was conducted using 11 leptospiral serovar antigens. Twenty (8.8%) of the sera gave titres to the microagglutination test.The prevalence of titres to the serovars were as follows: five (2.22%) to copenhageni, five (2.22%) to hardjo, four (1.77%) to ballum, four (1.77%) to pomona, one (0.44%) to balanica and one (0.44%) to canicola; no titres to tarassovi, bataviae, pyrogenes and australis were recorded. It is hypothesised that prey-predator transmission between cats and rodents is responsible for infections with serovars copenhageni and ballum. Infections with the other serovars are presumed to result from contact with infected animals or a contaminated environment. |
| |
Keywords: | |
|
|