Antibodies to lepto-spiral serotypes in sera of North Queensland cattle

Abstract

Serum from cattle in North Queensland was tested for antibodies to ten leptospire strains. The samples were collected either at slaughter or in the field and came from two main geographical areas, the Atherton Tableland and the East Coast (the coastal area from Tully to Bowen). The greatest number of positive reactions was found with L. pomona (3.37%) and L. hyos (6.3%). In cattle from the East Coast there was a lower incidence of L. pomona antibodies and a higher incidence of L. hyos antibodies than in those from the Atherton Tableland. Titres to the hebdomadis serogroup were present in 1.67% of animals tested. There were a few positive titres to australis, broomi, canicola, icterohaemorrhagiae and zanoni. No antibodies to grippotyphosa and robinsoni were detected.