Treponemal infection in free-ranging European brown hares (Lepus europaeus) in central Italy: serology and epidemiology.
In the winters of 2008 and 2009, treponemal infections in 154 free-ranging wild European brown hares (Lepus europaeus) from Central Italy were diagnosed by serologic tests for human syphilis. Antibodies were found in 51/154 samples (33%). Antibody prevalence was positively correlated with age and with population density. There were no significant differences in prevalence between sexes.
Department of Animal Pathology, Prophylaxis and Food Hygiene, University of Pisa, Viale delle Piagge 2, 56124, Pisa, Italy. rverin@vet.unipi.it
Ranieri
R
Verin
Mariana
M
Pestelli
Alessandro
A
Poli
D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D000835:Animals, Wild; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D034621:Hares / Q000382:microbiology*; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D011156:Population Density; D012621:Seasons; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D013587:Syphilis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D013588:Syphilis Serodiagnosis / Q000662:veterinary*; D014210:Treponema pallidum / Q000276:immunology*
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial