Distribution of leptospirosis in possums from New Zealand and its offshore islands

Authors: Heath DD, Horner GW, Cowan PE
Publication: New Zealand Veterinary Journal, Volume 44, Issue 4, pp 161, Aug 1996
Publisher: Taylor and Francis

Animal type: Possum, Wildlife
Subject Terms: Bacterial, Biosecurity, Disease surveillance, Disease/defect, Epidemiology, Zoonosis, Infectious disease, Public health
Article class: Correspondence

---

Abstract: As part of a larger project investigating methods of brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula) biocontrol, possum sera were collected from 15 sites throughout New Zealand and its offshore islands. These sites were selected to cover the original release sites of possums in New Zealand. From each site, 30 sera were randomly selected and tested for antibodies against Leptospira balcanica using the standard microscopic agglutination test (MAT) and doubling dilutions of serum beginning at 150. Leptospira balcanica was first isolated from a possum in New Zealand in 1976 and the possum has subsequently been shown to be the maintenance host for this serovar. The data shows the prevalence of antibodies to L. balcanica was high in all mainland North Island areas except Northland. No antibodiedies were detected in the South Island…

---