A complement fixation test for the serological diagnosis of leptospirosis in pigs experimentally infected with serotype pomona

Authors: Hodges RT
Publication: New Zealand Veterinary Journal, Volume 21, Issue 1-2, pp 1-6, Jan 1973
Publisher: Taylor and Francis

Animal type: Livestock, Pig, Production animal
Subject Terms: Bacterial, Clinical pathology, Diagnostic procedures, Zoonosis, Disease/defect, Infectious disease, Public health
Article class: Scientific Article

---

Abstract: Leptospirosis is a disease of growing importance as a zoonosis. More than 120 serotypes are recognized (W.H.O., 1967), but present evidence suggests that serotype pomona predominates in farm livestock in New Zealand (Jamieson et al 1970). Other serotypes including medanensis, tarassovi (formerly known as hyos, W.H.O., 1967) and copenhageni (formerly known as icterohaemorrhagiae, see Kmety, 1966) appear to occur less frequently. Infection of pregnant sows with serotype pomona in the latter stages of gestation may result in abortions, stillbirths or the birth of piglets that have a high neonatal mortality rate (Ryley and Simmons, 1954). In severe outbreaks of leptospirosis in breeding herds, losses may approach 100% (Ferguson, 1970). However, the disease in pigs may also assume an asymptomatic form. At present the agglutination test is the method routinely used for the serological diagnosis of leptospirosis…

---