The susceptibility of five species of wild animals to experimental infection with Leptospira grippotyphosa

Abstract

Five species of wild animals including opossums, Didelphis marsupialis, striped skunks, Mephitis mephitis, red, Vulpes vulpes, and gray foxes, Urocyon cinereoargenteus and raccoons, Procyon lotor, were inoculated intraperitoneally with varying numbers of Leptospira grippotyphosa, organisms. Clinical signs were not detected, however, leptospiremia, leptospiruria and antibodies for the homologous organism, were demonstrated. Lesions attributed to leptospirosis were observed in liver and kidney tissue of infected animals. Infections were demonstrated in 5 of 9 opossums, 3 of 9 striped skunks, 3 of 9 red foxes, none of the gray foxes, and 9 of 9 raccoons. Therefore, it would appear that under conditions of this experiment that raccoons were most, opossums moderately, and skunks and red foxes least susceptible; gray foxes were not susceptible.