Abstract
In order to detect the distribution of leptospires in Hokkaido, the authors investigated the kidneys of 13 stray dogs in Sapporo and isolated one strain. In serological tests, three of twelve sera exhibited positive agglitination-lysis and all the three reacted to "Utrecht IV" at a dilution of more than 1:10, 000. The newly isolated strain was named the Sapporo 14, which was identified as L. canicola from the result of Schuffner-Bohlander's absorption test. The results of the present study indicate serologically and etiologically that leptospirosis exists among dogs in Hokkaido. This finding disapproves one of the opinions denying the etiological role of leptospires in the occurrence of equine periodic opthalmia observed in this most northern district of Japan, where no cases of leptospirosis had been reported before the present study was carried out.
