ISOLATION OF LEPTOSPIRA-INTERROGANS SEROVAR GRIPPOTYPHOSA FROM THE SKIN OF A DOG

Leptospira interrogans serovar grippotyphosa was isolated from the skin of a 14-year-old male dog with deteriorating health. Necropsy revealed numerous lesions characteristic of aged dogs, but no evidence of acute hepatitis or nephritis, which are common features of pathogenic Leptospira infections. Antibody to Leptospira was not detected in the dog's serum by microagglutination. Leptospires grew slowly in Barbour-Stoenner-Kelly medium, a medium commonly used to isolate Borrelia, but then grew abundantly in Tween 80-bovine albumin leptospire medium. The isolate was pathogenic to hamster and was identified by microagglutination and restriction endonuclease analysis.