Leptospira ballum isolated from hedgehogs

Authors: Brockie RE, Till DG
Publication: New Zealand Veterinary Journal, Volume 25, Issue 1-2, pp 28-30, Jan 1977
Publisher: Taylor and Francis

Animal type: Wildlife
Subject Terms: Bacterial, Disease transmission, Epidemiology, Zoonosis, Disease/defect, Infectious disease, Public health
Article class: Scientific Article

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Abstract: This paper records the isolation of Leptospira ballum from the kidneys of five healthy hedgehogs caught on dairy farms near Kaitaia, Ngatea and Eltham. Serological evidence is presented to establish that a large proportion (56%) of hedgehogs from dairy farms had contracted the infection but only a negligible number of city hedgehogs. It is suggested that hedgehogs are a major reservoir for L. ballum in New Zealand…

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