Abstract
The prevalence of Leptospirosis was surveyed by PCR and microscopic agglutination test (MAT) in 73 premature and stillborn fetuses obtained from 55 sows in 17 farms with reproductive failure during the period from 2002 to 2004 in Japan. Leptospira was positive using PCR on fetal kidneys in 26 out of 73 aborted fetuses (35.6%), in 23 out of 55 sows (41.8%) and in 12 out of 17 farms (70.6%). Antibodies against Leptospira were detected by MAT using thoracic and/or peritoneal fluid in 17 out of 53 fetuses (32.1%). The serovars detected were L. Pomona, L. Icterohaemorrhagiae, L. Bratislava, L. Australis and L. Autumnalis. These results suggest that swine Leptospirosis is prevailing and is associated with the premature birth or stillbirth of swine in Japan.
