Leptospira interrogans serovar hardjo in pigs: a new host-parasite relationship in the United Kingdom
Hathaway, S.C.; Ellis, W.A.; Little, T.W.; Stevens, A.E.; Ferguson, H.W.
Veterinary Record 113(7): 153-154
1983
ISSN/ISBN: 0042-4900 PMID: 6623873 Document Number: 219703
Leptospires were isolated from 5 of 697 (0.72%) swine at abattoirs in southern England, and from one aborted fetus in Northern Ireland. The isolate from the aborted fetus (S76) and from one sow in the abattoir survey (442) were members of the Sejroe serogroup and were both identified as serovar hardjo. Two pregnant gilts were inoculated i/m with strain S76 on days 81 (gilt I) and 67 (gilt II) of pregnancy. Leptospiraemia was detected in gilt I on days 6, 9, 15, 18 and 26 after infection and in gilt II on days 6 and 9. Leptospires were isolated from the urine of both gilts only on day 15 after infection. The gilts farrowed at term, 33 and 47 days after infection, respectively. Gilt I produced 4 dead piglets and 10 weak, viable piglets which were killed. Hardjo infection was detected in all 14 piglets and in 6 fetal membranes. Gilt II produced 4 live, healthy piglets which were not infected with leptospires. Leptospires were not isolated from kidneys of the gilts which were killed 35 and 56 days after infection, respectively. Hardjo appears to be poorly adapted to pigs, and this species may constitute an accidental host.