Sheep as maintenance host for Leptospira interrogans serovar hardjo subtype hardjobovis
Gerritsen, M.J.; Koopmans, M.J.; Peterse, D.; Olyhoek, T.
American Journal of Veterinary Research 55(9): 1232-1237
1994
ISSN/ISBN: 0002-9645 PMID: 7802389 Document Number: 436062
Transmission of Leptospira interrogans serovar hardjo subtype hardjobovis from naturally infected sheep to uninfected sheep and calves was studied. A microscopic agglutination test and ELISA were used to determine specific antibody responses in serum. Polymerase chain reaction was used to detect bacterial shedding in urine. Six sheep were derived from a dairy farm where cows were infected with L. hardjobovis. Three of these sheep were seropositive for L. hardjobovis, and 1 also shed leptospires in the urine. The other 2 sheep shed leptospires in the urine 7 days after the first observation date. The 6 sheep were placed on an isolated pasture together with a second group of 6 noninfected sheep. During the observation period of 140 days, 1 sheep of the second group became infected with L. hardjobovis. On 5 consecutive days, a urine mixture from the 4 infected sheep was sprayed on the heads of 4 noninfected calves. Within 56 days, all calves that had been sprayed with urine shed L. hardjobovis in the urine and became seropositive for L. hardjobovis.