Susceptibility and Resistance of Certain Species of American Deer Mice, Genus Peromyscus, and Other Rodents to Leptospira icterohaemorrhagiae

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Abstract
Of 32 spp. and subspp. of rodents inoculated with virulent strains of L. icterohaemorrhagiae, 26 were found to be susceptible and 6 resistant to the exptl. infection. L. icterohaemorrhagiae were demonstrable in the circulating blood of the susceptible animals 1-5 days following intra-perit. inoculation; their number increased, and at the height of infection from 5 to over 100 Leptospira were demonstrable per microscopic field. The infection in these rodents ran an acute course and usually terminated fatally in 3-15 days. 2-3 days before death of the animals external jaundice, particularly of the ears, toes, and feet was, as a rule, a constant feature. At autopsy marked internal hemorrhages and jaundice were noted. Among the individuals of some spp. susceptible to the disease a few recoveries occurred. The blood serum of these recovered animals agglutinated freshly prepared formalinized antigen of L. icterohaemorrhagiae. The agglutination reaction was prompt and clear cut. P. c. californicus, P. e. eremicus, P. maniculatus gambelii (albino), P. polionotus polionotus, and P. t. truei are apparently suitable as susceptible small laboratory animals for exptl. studies of icterohemorrhagic spirochetosis and for the diagnosis of Weil''s disease.

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