Experimental infection of pigs with Leptospira hyos Savino and Rennella

Abstract

Three of four sows inoculated intramuscularly with L. hyos showed agglutinins and excreted Leptospira in the urine. The only clinical evidence of infection was inappetence and slight rise of temperature in two of the sows. Leptospiruria was evident at 15 days in one sow and at 21 days in the other two. It extended over periods of 20, 16 and 15 days respectively and was continuous with one sow and intermittent with the others. No Leptospira were isolated from the sows when slaughtered up to four months after inoculation. Of 29 piglets produced by the three infected sows, 4 were mummified and 6 were born dead. No Leptospira were isolated from the dead piglets. The three infected sows and 11 piglets that were tested showed antibodies to L. hyos, the maximum titre being 1:3,000 in the sows and 1:1,000 in the piglets.