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Seroepidemiology of leptospirosis in Minnesota wolves

M.A. Khan·S.M. Goyal·S.L. Diesch·L.D. Mech·S. H. Fritts
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Abstract

Serum samples (n = 457) from wolves (Canis lupus) in northern Minnesota were collected from 1972 through 1986 and were tested for antibodies against Leptospira interrogans using a microtiter agglutination test. Twelve serovars included in the study were: australis, autumnalis, ballum, bataviae, bratislava, canicola, copenhageni, grippotyphosa, hardjo, pomona, pyrogenes, and tarassovi. Fifty-two (11%) sera had antibody titers of greater than or equal to 1:50 against one or more serovars of L. interrogans. The seroprevalence of different serovars in decreasing order was: grippotyphosa, bratislava, autumnalis, canicola, pomona, ballum, pyrogenes, hardjo, and copenhageni. No antibodies were found against australis, bataviae, and tarassovi. These results indicate that L. interrogans infection may occur in wolves of Minnesota.

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M.A. Khan, S.M. Goyal, S.L. Diesch, L.D. Mech, S. H. Fritts. 1991. Seroepidemiology of leptospirosis in Minnesota wolves. https://doi.org/10.7589/0090-3558-27.2.248

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