Serologic Studies on Five Selected Zoonoses in Wild Japanese Serows (Capricornis crispus)

Abstract

The prevalence of antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii, Brucella abortus, Leptospira interrogans (serovars; icterohaemorrhagiae, autumnalis, hebdomadis, australis and canicola), Chlamydia psittaci and Japanese encephalitis virus was determined in serum samples collected from hunter-killed wild Japanese serows in Gifu Prefecture during the winter months of 1981 to 1984. Seropositive rates for each agent were 10.7% (36/335) for Chlamydia psittaci, 10.4% (42/404) for Leptospira interrogans and 5.4% (41/765) for Toxoplasma gondii, in descending order. Antibodies to Brucella abortus and Japanese encephalitis virus were not detected in 718 and 208 serum samples, respectively. The results obtained suggest that wild Japanese serows have serologic evidence of infection with some of the zoonosis agents tested.