Studies on leptospiral antibody in canine and murine species

Leptospira 속균(屬菌)에 대한 개와 쥐의 혈중항체조사(血中抗體調査)

Investigation of Leptospira icterohaemorrhagiae and Leptospira canicola in dogs was carried out from May, 1970 to March, 1971 in Korea. A total of 943 random samples from 18 animal hospitals in 9 cities were collected and sent to Taipei and tested by the rapid microscopic agglutination test giving the following results. 1. The 943 samples gave 141 positives (14.95%). 2. Among the 18 animal hospitals a total 14 positives were found, with 30.0% being the highest and 9.1% the lowest reaction, comparing each hospital. 3. Monthly positive comparison gave the highest reaction for December (31.3%) the lowest August (5.8%). Seasonal comparison June, July and August was the lowest of all four seasons. 4. Of all the 913 cases examined, males were 505 (55.3%) and females 408 (44.7%), which gives only a difference of about 10% on the basis of sex. Comparing positive reaction cases on the basis of sex gave a large difference, of almost twice. Male${\cdots}$92: Female${\cdots}$47 5. Comparing 436 (46.9%) sick dogs against 492 (53.1%) healthy dogs gave 13.3 and 16.1% positive respectively. Thus indicating that some of the healthy dogs have inapparent infection. 6. Comparing on the basis of positive serum type L. icterohaemorrhagiae gave 133 (54.7%) and L. canicola 110 (45.3%) Generally both L. icterohaemorrhagiae and L. canicola produce common reaction with positive serum. 7. Comparing by age a total of 89 positive cases gave the following results. less than 1 year${\cdots}$49 (55.5%) from 1 year to 2 years${\cdots}$26 (29.2%) from 2 year to 3 years${\cdots}$12 (13.5%) over 3 years${\cdots}$5 8. Among 80 field rats collected at Suwon and tested by rapid microscopic agglutination test for L. icterohaemorrhagiae and L. canicola gave all negative reactions.