Biomaterial Database

A sero-epidemiological study of Leptospira interrogans serovar Balcanica in four brush-tailed possum populations in Victoria, Australia. 1979

P T Durfee, and P J Presidente

The microscopic agglutination (MA) test was utilised to study the prevalence of antibodies to Leptospira interrogans serovar hardjo in 4 populations of brush-tailed possums (Trichosurus vulpecula). The overall antibody prevalence varied from 14% to 66%; however, the age distribution of MA test titres was remarkably similar in all 4 populations. Antibody prevalence was similar in both males and females and demonstrable antibodies were limited to sexually mature animals. The greater prevalence of high titres (greater than or equal to 1:128) in the 18- to 24-month age group suggested that primary infections were acquired at this age. The findings suggested that infection was maintained in possum populations by direct transmission, probably associated with breeding. Focal interstitial nephritis was observed in kidneys of possums greater than 18 months of age and was associated with MA titres to hardjo (P less than 0.001). Serovar balcanica was isolated from possum kidneys from 2 of these populations, suggesting that balcanica infections were responsible for most of the hardjo titres. However, agglutinin-absorption tests indicated that some possums may be infected with a leptospire more closely related to hardjo than to balcanica.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007919	Leptospira	A genus of aerobic, helical spirochetes, some species of which are pathogenic, others free-living or saprophytic.
D007922	Leptospirosis	Infections with bacteria of the genus LEPTOSPIRA.	Cane-Cutter Fever,Canicola Fever,Leptospira Canicola Infection,Leptospira Infection,Leptospirosis Canicola,Mud Fever,Rice-Field Fever,Stuttgart Disease,Swineherd's Disease,Cane Cutter Fever,Fever, Canicola,Fever, Mud,Fever, Rice-Field,Fevers, Cane-Cutter,Infection, Leptospira,Infection, Leptospira Canicola,Infections, Leptospira,Infections, Leptospira Canicola,Leptospira Canicola Infections,Leptospira Infections,Leptospiroses,Leptospirosis Canicolas,Rice Field Fever,Swineherd's Diseases
D008297	Male		Males
D009893	Opossums	New World marsupials of the family Didelphidae. Opossums are omnivorous, largely nocturnal and arboreal MAMMALS, grow to about three feet in length, including the scaly prehensile tail, and have an abdominal pouch in which the young are carried at birth.	Didelphidae,Opossum
D005260	Female		Females
D000367	Age Factors	Age as a constituent element or influence contributing to the production of a result. It may be applicable to the cause or the effect of a circumstance. It is used with human or animal concepts but should be differentiated from AGING, a physiological process, and TIME FACTORS which refers only to the passage of time.	Age Reporting,Age Factor,Factor, Age,Factors, Age
D000372	Agglutination Tests	Tests that are dependent on the clumping of cells, microorganisms, or particles when mixed with specific antiserum. (From Stedman, 26th ed)	Agglutination Test,Test, Agglutination,Tests, Agglutination
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D000820	Animal Diseases	Diseases that occur in VERTEBRATE animals.	Diseases, Animal
D000828	Animal Population Groups	Animals grouped according to ecological, morphological or genetic populations.	Animal Population Group,Population Group, Animal,Population Groups, Animal