engleski

Incidence of leptospiral antibodies in different game species over a 10-year period (1996– 2005) in Croatia

During the ten-year survey (1996-2005) a total number of 868 blood samples from different game species in Croatia were analyzed for the presence of leptospiral antibodies. The specific antibodies (AB) were detected in 242 samples (27.88 %). According to the species, in red deer (Cervus elaphus) the antibodies against six different leptospiral serovars were found in 43 of 226 analyzed sera (19.02 %). The most frequently antigen serovars in deer population were pomona and ballum (with the same frequency of 23.6%), while the highest titre was recorded for serovar sejroe (1:800). In analyzed roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) serum samples low level of leptospiral antibodies (6.07 %) was determined, with just two AB for antigen serovars - australis and sejroe. In wild boar (Sus scrofa), leptospiral antibodies were detected in 151 of 431 analyzed samples (35.03 %), with AB for nine antigen serovars. The most frequently found serovars were australis (48.70 %) and pomona (22.70 %) and these serovars also recorded highest titre (1:3200). Among brown bear (Ursus arctos) samples, leptospiral antibodies were detected in 25.00 % of samples, with four AB for antigen serovars, of which the most frequent was icterohaemorrhagiae (>40 %). This serovar had the highest recorded titre (1:400). From 112 analyzed red fox (Vulpes vulpes) samples, leptospiral antibodies were found in 35 samples (31.25 %). Determined antibodies were specific for four antigen serovars, of which the most frequent (46.2 %) and with highest titre (1:1600) was serovar australis. No antibodies (28/0) were recorded in mouflon (Ovis musimon). Most important game species from epizootiological point of view at the researched area certainly were wild boar and red fox. With strong serological reaction these two species could be emphasized as important hosts for Leptospira interrogans sv. australis on Croatian territory, and for their declaration as ‘ maintaining hosts’ isolation of sv. australis is needed. According to aerial distribution the highest number of positive samples from different game species was recorded in central and eastern part of Croatia, known as ’ historical natural foci’ of leptospirosis - the regions of Posavina, Podravina Slavonija and Baranja. Contrary, areas of Kordun and Gorski Kotar are declared as leptospira low-risk regions for researched game species.

leptospiroza; divljač; serologija; epidemiologija; Hrvatska

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