Experimental Ovine Leptospirosis, Leptospira Pomona Infection

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Abstract
Both bovine and porcine strains of L. pomona will infect sheep. The disease may be contracted subsequent to contact with infected hogs. Hyperpyrexia, hemolytic anemia and hemoglobinuria represent the severe manifestations of ovine leptospirosis. Leptospiremia is observed by the 5th day and continues until the 8th day. Leptospiruria commences on about the 14th day and usually lasts until the 45th day. One animal excreted leptospirae for 62 days, but not 65 days. Sheep did not transmit the infection to other sheep, pigs or goats. Few leptospirae are shed in the urine of sheep. It is postulated that either a hemolytic endotoxin is possessed by L. pomona, or a substance contained within the leptospiral cell in the presence of specific antibody and complement, is capable of lysing erythrocytes in vivo.

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