title: A serological survey of Leptospira interrogans serotype pomona in Alberta and Saskatchewan striped skunks and possible transmission between cattle and skunks.
abstract: The range of known occurrence of Leptospira interrogans serotype pomona is extended to Alberta in striped skunks (Mephitis mephitis); no evidence of L. sejroe was found. Reacting sera from skunks were confined to the southern portion of Alberta and adjacent Saskatchewan, although a number of reactors were found sufficiently further north in Saskatchewan suggesting that a different mode of infection may be functioning there. Of 95 skunk sera from near a dairy farm infected with serotype pomona 40% were reactors. Of 438 skunk sera from other areas only 5.7% were reactors; that difference was suggestive of transmission from cattle to skunks on the dairy farm. Of 22 skunk sera collected near the dairy farm in summer none were reactors, whereas 52% of skunk sera taken the previous and following winters were. That seasonal difference was not evident among sera from other locations.
mesh_terms: D000416:Alberta; D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis*; D002335:Carnivora / Q000276:immunology*; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000635:transmission*; D007921:Leptospira interrogans / Q000276:immunology*; D012889:Mephitidae / Q000276:immunology*; D012525:Saskatchewan; D014895:Weil Disease / Q000635:transmission / Q000662:veterinary*
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial