EXPERIMENTAL INFECTIONS OF BRUSH‐TAILED POSSUMS, COMMON WOMBATS AND WATER RATS WITH LEPTOSPIRA INTERROGANS SEROVARS BALCANICA AND HARDJO

Abstract

Summary. Of 12 brush-tailed possums {Trichosurus vulpecula) inoculated with Leptospira interrogans serovar balcanica 11 developed migroagglutination (MA) antihody to hardjo antigen hy 14 days postinoculation (PI). Leptospiruria was observed in 2 possums 117 to 145 days PI. Of 6 possums inoculated with serovar hardjo 4 developed low short-lived titres hy day 18 PI. Two of 3 womhats (Vombatus ursinus) inoculated with balcanica had high MA titres (^ 1:128) by day 16 PI and leptospiruria occurred by day 16. One wombat inoculated with hardjo developed a low MA titre. Low transitory MA titres to hardjo were found in 1 of 3 water rats (Hydromys chrysogaster) after inoculation with balcanica and 1 of 2 given hardjo. Histopathological examination of kidneys revealed mild to moderately severe focal interstitial nephritis in 4 of 8 possums, in 2 wombats and in 2 water rats following experimental infeetion with balcanica. Similar lesions were observed in 2 of 4 possums, 1 wombat and 2 water rats following experimental infection with hardjo.

Serological survey for leptospires of agricultural importance in common wombats (Vombatus ursinus)

“…Leptospirosis has been identified in various Australian native fauna. Brush—tailed possums (Trichosurus vulpecula) have been shown to be the maintenance host species for L interrogans serovar Balcanica in Australia and New Zealand (Durfee and Presidente 1979a, Hathaway 1981). Serological studies indicate that macropods are rarely infected with either serovar Hardjo or serovar Pomona, even though macropod species are widespread in grazing areas inhabited by infected cattle (Durfee and Presidente 1979b, Milner and others 1981).…”