Misleading report of Leptospira icterohaemorrhagiae infection in deer

Authors: Mist KA
Publication: New Zealand Veterinary Journal, Volume 32, Issue 12, pp 219-220, Dec 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: Correspondence

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Abstract: A recent letter in the N.Z. Veterinary Journal reported the presence of serological titres to Lepprospira icterohuemorrhagic (sic) in deer, and implied that this was the tirst report of this serotype in New Zealand. This is not correct. For over thirty years, Wallaceville Animal Research Centre, diagnostic section, has been recording and reporting titres to “Icterohaemorrhagiae” in various feral and domestic species. This work was originally stimulated by Kirschner and Gray`s isolation of an Icterohaemorrhagiae group organism from a rat. Two more recent isolations from calves of Leptospiru copenhugeni [previously L. icterohuemorrhagiae AB (vide infra)] have been reported in the N.Z. Veterinary Journal. I suspect some of the confusion is caused by nomenclature changes. Saprophytic Leptospires are usually classified as Leptospira btflexa pathogens classilied as Leptospira interroguns. Roth are subdivided into Serotypes. Those serotypes showing marked cross-agglutination of antibodies are gathered together in the old `sero groups`. Because of the name changes, the New Zealand isolates previously known as…

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