Leptospirosis associated with serovars hardjo and pomona in red deer calves (Cervus elaphus)

Authors: Blackmore DK, Schollum LM, Fairley RA
Publication: New Zealand Veterinary Journal, Volume 32, Issue 5, pp 76-78, May 1984
Publisher: Taylor and Francis

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

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Abstract: Four red deer calves (Cervus elaphus) died with severe nephritis apparently associated with infection by Leptospira interrogans serovarpomona. The sera of 12 in-contact red deer calves were examined for leptospiral agglutinins and nine showed titres topomona consistent with recent infection. Two also showed titres of 1:100 to serovar hardjo. The urine of five of these in-contact calves was examined periodically over a period of nine months. All were initially leptospiruric, four being infected with pomona and one with hardjo. In four animals leptospiruria could only be detected for up to six months, but one animal infected with pomona was leptospiruric for at least eight months. The apparent source of infection was from infected cattle, and it is suggested that deer are unlikely to act as maintenance hosts for serovar pomona.

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