The effect of Leptospira interrogans serotype pomona infection on some characteristics of pig urine

Authors: Hodges RT, Millar KR, Hammington MW
Publication: New Zealand Veterinary Journal, Volume 25, Issue 5, pp 115-117, May 1977
Publisher: Taylor and Francis

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

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Abstract: Urine samples were collected from two groups of pigs during a 10-week period of exposure to a natural infection of Leptospira interrogans serotype pomona. One group was protected against infection by immunization. No differences were observed between the degree of proteinuria in infected and protected animals. However, urine from infected pigs was more dilute than that from protected pigs. This was reflected in the paler colour, lower refractive index and lower untraviolet absorbance of urine samples from infected pigs. Sodium and potassium ion concentrations correlated with the degree of dilution and did not show any increase as a result of infection. These findings suggest that infection of pigs with pomona does not lead to severe functional kidney damage.

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