A serological survey of leptospirosis in cats

Authors: Shophet R
Publication: New Zealand Veterinary Journal, Volume 27, Issue 11, pp 236, 245-246, Nov 1979
Publisher: Taylor and Francis

Animal type: Cat, Companion animal
Subject Terms: Bacterial, Biosecurity, Clinical pathology, Diagnostic procedures, Disease surveillance, Zoonosis, Disease/defect, Infectious disease, Public health
Article class: Scientific Article

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Abstract: A serological survey of 225 cats from different parts of the North Island 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.

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