Biomaterial Database

The serologic and cultural prevalence of Leptospira interrogans serovar balcanica in possums (Trichosurus vulpecula) in New Zealand. 1978

S C Hathaway, and D K Blackmore, and R B Marshall

In a serologic and cultural survey of 127 brush-tailed possums (Trichosurus vulpecula) occupying pasture land in New Zealand, leptospires of the Hebdomadis serogroup were obtained from 48 (38%) of the animals sampled. Eight isolates were identified by cross-absorption agglutin ation studies as being Leptospira interrogans serovar balcanica. There was a marked age difference in prevalence with 41 positive cultures from 64 mature adults (64%) and no recoveries being made from juveniles. Isolation of leptospires was aided by the use of a new technique involving the homogenation of whole kidneys in gamma sterilized plastic bags in a "Coleworth Stomacher". The use of this apparatus allowed the processing of whole kidneys and the technique was efficient in both the recovery of leptospires and the prevention of contamination. In view of the fact that serovar balcanica has been recorded previously only in East Europe in man, cattle and pigs, the high prevalence of infection in a wild animal population in New Zealand is an interesting development in the world distribution of this serovar.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007668	Kidney	Body organ that filters blood for the secretion of URINE and that regulates ion concentrations.	Kidneys
D007921	Leptospira interrogans	A genus of question mark-shaped bacteria spirochetes which is found in fresh water that is contaminated by animal urine. It causes LEPTOSPIROSIS.	Leptospira icteroides,Spirochaeta icterogenes,Spirochaeta icterohaemorrhagiae,Spirochaeta interrogans,Spirochaeta nodosa
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
D009520	New Zealand	A group of islands in the southwest Pacific. Its capital is Wellington. It was discovered by the Dutch explorer Abel Tasman in 1642 and circumnavigated by Cook in 1769. Colonized in 1840 by the New Zealand Company, it became a British crown colony in 1840 until 1907 when colonial status was terminated. New Zealand is a partly anglicized form of the original Dutch name Nieuw Zeeland, new sea land, possibly with reference to the Dutch province of Zeeland. (From Webster's New Geographical Dictionary, 1988, p842 & Room, Brewer's Dictionary of Names, 1992, p378)
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
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
D000907	Antibodies, Bacterial	Immunoglobulins produced in a response to BACTERIAL ANTIGENS.	Bacterial Antibodies