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199Th). Furthermore, no. “vertical” transmission of L. interrogans serovar hal- ... Ashby,. 1995) sug- gests that the acquisition of infection may be associated with.
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of

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TRANSMISSION

OF LEPTOSPIRA

BALCANICA

INFECTION

POSSUMS

IN NEW

T. D. Day,123

INTERROGANS

AMONG

SOCIALLY

HOUSED

J. R. Waas,2

A. J. Pearson1

and

1995

BRUSHTAIL

L R. Matthews1

2

3

Corresponding

(e-mail:

571i-5S1

ZEALAND

C. E. O’Connor,1

Author

PP

Ass(Xitmi(

SEROVAR

Animal Behaviour and Welfare Research Centre, AgResearch, Ruakura Research Department of Biological Sciences, University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand

,

199S.

I)isast’

Centre,

Hamilton,

New

Zealand

[email protected])

Leptospira interrogans serovar balcanica is a potential vector being investigated for spreading a biological control agent among introduced brushtail possums (Trichosurus vulpecula) in New Zealand. As previous studies have shown that possums are unlikely to contract leptospirosis through a contaminated environment alone, the objective was to determine whether L. interrogans serovar balcanica could be transmitted between sexually mature, socially housed possums. Possums were infected experimentally with L. interrogans serovar balcanica and housed in pairs or groups with uninfected possums for either 70 or 140 days, during the breeding or non-breeding seasons. No transmission occurred between any infected and uninfected possums during the non-breeding season. However, transmission occurred between females that had been socially housed in pairs or groups in the breeding season. Mixed sex transmission also occurred in pairs and groups, both from males to females and from females to males. Mixed sex transmission usually occurred rapidly (18 mo of age Ashby,

in

host

that

possums.

a

is

infection

or kidney

interrogans

and

tospirosis

al.,

indicate

in

of

possum

1978).

et

damage

Transmission

its specificity

dictate

(Hathaway,

appears to be predominantly

control

The balcanica

1981) L.

a vector

maintenance

of renal

possums,

presently

as

the

signs

biological interrogans

serovar

Zealand

pathogenicity

infect and surhave a possum(Jolly,

clinical

use

agent.

to be

(Hathaway,

(Living-

biological

New

of

for

organisms for

interrogans

evidence

stone, 1991). Biological control may be the only affordable option for achieving a long-term major reduction in possum numbers throughout New Zealand (Jolly et

potential

control

in

a vector

Trans-

to occur that L. in-

Leptospira

investigated

considered L.

in

transmission,

biological

browsing

through

and (Tb)

(Tn-

severe

selective

and predation, adversely na (Innes, 1995). Possums in

possums

seasons.

but is unlikely study suggest

desired

is among

being

Zealand, vulpecula)

behaviour, in this

brushtail possum, disease Trichosurus vulpecula.

INTRODUCTION

In New chosurus

or the non-breeding

sexual determined

types host

when pass

body directly

sexual

Indirect

occur

occasionally

hosts species,

or

of

lep-

species

usu-

fluids

from

to

contact

another or

suck-

transmission between

from maintenance as a result of contact

mainhosts with

DAY

environments containing is not known whether sion of L. interrogans occurs New

from Zealand.

trials

this

possums to However,

leptospire

al., 199Th). transmission canica has

terrogans

possums gests be

the

associated

away,

1978;

appear

to be

by

contact (Day et

and

and was

L.

Presidente, designed

transmitted mature

behaviours

MATERIALS

sugmay

possums associated

to with

AND METHODS

in this

study were box trapped 1995 and January 1997 from (36#{176}26’S, 174#{176}50’E) and Nelson (41#{176}20’S, 172#{176}43’E), New Zealand. Possums from both areas are reportedly free of L. interrogans serovar balcanica infection (Homer et al., 1996). Animals were transported to the

December Kawau Island

Animal

Behaviour

and

Welfare

Research

Cen-

tre (AgResearch, Ruakura, Hamilton, North Island, New Zealand). All possums were aged by tooth wear (Winter, 1980) and sexual maturity was determined during routine veterinary checks. All procedures used in the present study were approved by the AgResearch Ruak-

ura (Hamilton, New Waikato (Hamilton, Ethics Committees.

Zealand) New

for

the

presence

of lepto-

Public

Health

(Massey

University,

Palmer-

ston

1979).

and

(400x)

spires. None of the captured possums used in this study had serological or urinary evidence of infection; therefore they were considered to be uninfected with L. interrogans serovar balcanica prior to the commencement of the experiments. Twenty three sexually mature experimentally infected possums (mean age ± SE = 4.2 ± 0.3 yr; 12 female, 1 1 males) were used in this study. Possums were anaesthetised and inoculated intraperitoneally with 0.5 ml L. interrogans serovar balcanica (about 1 X 10 organisms). The inoculum was cultured from an infected possum at the Department of Veterinary Pathology

and

(Hath-

to deterserovar haldirectly be-

interrogans

be

sexually

used

1995)

maturity

sexual

identify likely transmission.

Possums between

Ashby,

with study

present whether canica could

(Hathaway, of L. inin immature

of infection

Durfee

The mine

tween

microscopy

not

acquisition

577

in

balcanica

Furthermore, no “vertical” of L. interrogans serovar halbeen seen between infected

(Pearson that

IN POSSUMS

If no reaction was seen in a 1:50 dilution, resuits were reported as negative. Mid-stream urine also was collected from possums before the experiments and examined under dark-fiehd

possums environments

and their offspring A very low seroprevalence serovar balcanica

TRANSMISSION

It

urine. transmis-

other species in experimental

does

transmitted between with contaminated

mothers 1978).

infected indirect serovar

ET AL.-LEPTOSPIROSIS

and University of Zealand) Animal

Serological testing for any evidence of L. interrogans serovar balcanica infection was conducted prior to the beginning of the experiments using a modified version of the Microscopic Agglutination Test (MAT) by the Central

Animal Health Laboratory (AgResearch Wallaceville, Wellington, North Island, New Zealand). Cross absorption procedures (Fame, 1982) were used to discriminate between L. interrogans serovar balcanica and other serovars. Positive tests were reported as the greatest serum dilution at which serum showed a reaction.

North, New Zealand) and confirmed as New Zealand possum L. interrogans serovar balcanica isolate, using restriction endonuclease analysis and DNA verification. The characteristics of experimental and free-living L. interrogans serovar balcanica infection in possums have been thoroughly examined (Hathaway, 1981), and do not appear to differ significantly. Using MAT serology, all expenmentally infected possums were shown to be infected with L. interrogans serovar balcanica at 12 days post inoculation (pi).

Each

experimentally

infected

possum

was

housed with other animals in a grass enclosure from day 12 pi, either with one uninfected possum (in pairs) or with 3 uninfected animals (in groups). Each of the eight enclosures used was individually fenced (ranging in size from 51m2 to 130m2), contained at least two wooden nest

boxes

and

natural bitum

weather conditions. access to fresh pellets

Mill,

two

Auckland,

climbing

logs and

Zealand),

New

was

Possums (Northern

subject had

apples

to

ad iiRolling

and

wa-

ter

in their enclosure. Seventeen pairs of sexually mature possums (four female/female, eight male/female, five male/male pairs), each containing one of the infected animals, were housed in the enclosures

for

a 70

day

period,

ing” or “non-breeding” were housed together

during

the

“breed-

seasons. Thirteen in

the

breeding

pairs season

female/female, six male/female, four male/male) and four pairs in the non-breeding season (one female/female, two male/female, one male/male). In four of the mixed sex pairs a male was infected and in the other four pairs a female was infected. Serum was sampled and tested for evidence of L. interrogans serovar balcanica infection from each infected possum on day 0 (12 pi) and day 70 (82 pm) of social (three

578

JOURNAL

OF WILDLIFE

DISEASES,

VOL.

34, NO. 3, JULY

housing, and from uninfected possums on days 30, 44 and 70. Mid-stream urine was sampled from infected possums at day 30 (42 pm) and examined under dark field microscopy (400x) for the presence of leptospires. All females also

were

examined

(pouch

Four

for

evidence

young)

at days

30,

groups

of four

sexually

44

of and

1997)

season

and

the

70

and

day

groups

(82

pm)

0 (12

for

the

breeding

pi)

and

day

housed

together

to

seasons.

from

infected

Mid-stream

Paired

t-tests

were

titers tween

over time. Differences the breeding and

were tests

used

L. interrogans

serological

analyzed in the

(Release thamsted

using

to

was

sampled

analyze

changes

Fisher’s

exact

Genstat 5 statistical analysis package 3.1; Lawes Agricultural Trust, RoExperimental Station Hertfordshire,

of

the

23

had serovar

experimentally

L. by

interday

12

pi (mean ± SE, 1:420 ± 70; range, 1:100 to 1:1,600). Leptospires were detected in the urine of 19 of the infected possums at either day 42, 82 or 152 pi (4 with motile and

15 with non-motile leptospires). At day 82 pi, the mean L. interrogans serovar balcanica titre had decreased (1:200 ± 40; range, 1:50 to 1:800; t(17) 5.31, P < 0.001),

but

was

still

present

female possum. However, in non-motile urinary leptospires

Non-breeding

1’

33

6

31)

50

Male

4

0

0

Female

1

0

0

2

0

0

1

0

0

sex

Mixed

sex

Male .)

Tramusmuuissioml

I,

Tsvo

after

days

1t)

tramusniissiomus

frommu

s(xial

mimaIc

Imousimug.

to femmuale amud 0mw

from

ft._

imuale to imuale.

in all but this

day 82 pi. At day 152 pi, L. serovar balcanica titers were still positive (1:180 ± 90; range, 1:50 to 1: 400) in the four infected possums. Transmission occurred between possums in three of six male/female pairs during the breeding season, but in neither of

one

female, were still

on

the two breeding passed from sion One two

male/female season both

from

pairs (Table males

1). to

outside Infections

the

females

and

females to males, with all transmisoccurring by day 44 of association. transmission also occurred between females after 160 days during the

breeding season. corded between no transmission breeding season, cally rate

infected

positive serological balcanica titers

of

trans‘ mmmis- Traumssinim nuissiolu

3

Mixed

interrogans

RESULTS All

type

Female

detected

UK).

possums rogans

Breeding

col84, in

serovar balcanica in transmission benon-breeding season

one-tailed

Pair

Seasomu

Un-

possums between days 77 and 82 pi or days 142 and 152 pi and examined for the presence of leptospires. Females from all social groups were examined for pouch young when each senmm sample was collected. in

ci-

the

seasons.

urine

(luring

groups,

pm) for

infected possums in all groups had serum lected on days 21, 30, 44 and 70, plus days 98, 1 12, 126 and 140 for the groups housed

both

of socially

seasons.

her

March March

(152

both

interrogans

tYpes period

Nuimmu-

season

in

timer the breeding

of L

possums

(mid

140

housed

transmissions

between different pairs over a 70 day or mion-breeding

Oh-

May 1997). Two additional groups of four possums (one all female, one mixed sex), also contaming an infected possum, were housed in the enclosures for a 70 day period during the breeding season only. Serum was collected from each infected possum on day 0 (12 pi) and day

balcanica possum

70.

to early

season

1.

serovar

SerV(’(I

mature

(January

breeding

Observed

TABLE

offspring

(one all female, two mixed sex, one all male group), each containing one of the infected animals, were also housed in separate enclosures for a 140 day period that encompassed both the

non-breeding

1998

significant between

No transmission was remales (Table 1). Although was observed in the nonthere was not a statistidifference seasons (P

in transmission 0.30), due

to

the relatively low rate of transmission overall in the breeding season (31%). The initial serological L. interrogans serovar balcanica titres of possums that became naturally infected during social housing were similar to those seen after recent experimental infections (mean ± SE, 1:550 ± 170; range, 1:200 to 1:800; t(3) = -0.78, P > 0.05). All possums that became infected

in the

pairs

continued

to

have

de-

tectable L. interrogans serovar balcanica titres until the end of the experiment (70

DAY

2.

TABLE as

Serological

a result

of

at which

social

serum

contact

showed

reactions of the six with experimentally a reaction.

ET AL.-LEPTOSPIROSIS

possums naturally infected infected animals. Titres

Da Possum

0

of s(x’ial

44

with L. interrogans serovar given are the greatest serum

luousing 70

98

126

l)

-

1:200

1:100

1:50

Neg

1:800

1:400

1:100

-

-

3

Neg

Neg

1:400

1:200

-

-

-

4

Neg

Neg

Neg

Neg

-

-

1:800

-

-

5

Neg

1:1,600

1:200

Neg

Neg

6

Neg

1:12,800

1:200

1:50

1:50

with

no

not

reaction

at

1:50

serum

Table

by the females housed transmission occurred

No

during

Neg

2).

the

dilution.

No

offspring

were

pro-

in pairs. in the groups

non-breeding

season.

tospires

were

these

ter

During

detected

animals

the

first

balcanica

positive

tween males during the breeding season. Again, there was no statistically significant difference in transmission between sea-

mating would have male with a pouch fected throughout

sons came

(P = 0.35). infected

od.

high

litres

and

(1:1,600

which

one

The two possums that the groups initially

of

quickly

these

balcanica from 40 days other, a titre was

detected in the after

90

days

3.

serovar

balcanica

possum

groups and

Non-motile

transmissions

in different over 70 day

non-breeding

types periods

Breeding

seasons.

Transmission type Female

Mixed Male Non-breeding

lep-

of L. interrogans of socially housed during the breed-

sex

Female

Mixed Male

sex

young from

This serovar

tial transmnission

Ohserved tramus-

urine

of

days

af-

51

L. interrogans

the

were

found

mixed

sex

season, during

serovar in

three

groups

fe-

during

two of which had the period in which occurred. The other feyoung remained uninthe experimental peri-

study showed balcanica can

tween when

sexually housed

season. with

%

mnis-

Trans-

sion

mnissiomu

work

sums

(Day

some

aspect

for

interrogans

had

17

4

0

0

sums

4

0

0

mals

4

0

0

4

0

0

one

gans

and

no

infected

therefore be

im-

longer

of

the had

balcanica after the

possums of

those

1981).

titres, described

However, infected

socially detectable

in

infection

balcanica to

experimentally two

serovar 90 days

transpos-

must

characteristics

serovar

the

and

and

contact

(Hathaway,

of

con-

indirect between

199Th),

direct

similar

previously

13

that

shown

environments

experimentally

(L.

1

has

transmission.

leptospiruria)

1

al.,

of

study

6

possums breeding

to allow leptospire

et

this

8

brushtail during the

contaminated

alone is insufficient mission of this

The

that L. interrogans be transmitted be-

mature together

Previous

tact

portant Poten-

Season

2).

interro-

titre was no longer after infection and no longer detected

of infection.

Observed

TABLE

L.

the and

DISCUSSION

(Table

the

Pouch males

respec-

decreased

possums,

serovar

gans

1:12,800

behad

46

titre.

the breeding positive titres

in

in

between

the breeding season, transmission occurred between an infected female and uninfected male and between two females (Table 3). No transmission occurred be-

lively)

-

tested.

duced

ing

halcanica dihution

Nega

days;

In

579

1

mn(hcates

-

30

IN POSSUMS

2

a Negative

h

TRANSMISSION

pos-

infected

L.

ani-

interro-

titres between establishment

30 of in-

JOURNAL

580

fection. tected between

OF WILDLIFE

DISEASES,

VOL.

34, NO. 3, JULY

Non-motile leptospires were dein the urine of all of these animals 46 and 82 days after infection

(between 8 days before the negative titre was transmission

and 16 days after detected), but no

occurred

the

in

group

con-

taming the experimentally infected female that ceased to have a detectable titre. This typ e of transient serological response to L. interrogans serovar balcanica has been described previously in a possum after experimental days, was

infection

L. recovered but

(titer

lasting

interrogans serovar from kidneys 70

infection; tenance

Hathaway, hosts for

negative

animals

1981). L.eptospira

that

are

only

30

balcanica days after

spire. in

Therefore,

the

transmission

balcanica

of

must

have

role

L.

remains

potential for non-breeding Transmission

of

mating

serovar

uncertain,

resulted

itself

interrogans as

transmission season. between

to

from

than mating, also However, female

does

occur

the in the

females,

which

behaviour

other

occurred to female

in this study. transmission

also only occurred during the breeding season, suggesting that transmission is associated with particular behaviours occurring during this period. In female to female and mixed sex contacts between cap-

In many spp.,

mainsero-

tive den

infected

with

are

still

1998

possums, sharing, common

affiliative allogrooming,

behaviours food

(e.g., sharing)

during

breeding

season

the

leptospirosis are found. This infers that leptospires, which are generally localized in the renal tubules, exert only minor antigenic stimulus on maintenance hosts (Hathaway, 1978). Therefore, the animals in this study that no longer had L. inter-

(Day, 1996), but occur less frequently in the non-breeding season. These behaviours may be important for the transmission of L. interrogans serovar balcanica

rogans

serovar

to still presence

be

iours towards no transmission

urine were

around observed.

Based rogans primarily

balcanica

titres

were

infected, as is suggested of non-motile leptospires the

time

that

likely by the in the

negative

titres

son and Ashby, 1995), transmission during the son in this study, direct with sexual maturity

no successful presence/absence

and the lack of non-breeding seacontact associated and possibly the

appears to of infection. mating of

(as pouch

be

important In the pairs,

measured young)

by oc-

curred, so it is unknown whether the mixed sex transmission occurred as a result of unsuccessful mating or through some other behaviour. Successful curred in the groups between uninfected possums, although evitably rogans

result serovar

behaviour (such stage of infection critical for the

in this

study.

mission

of

gans

on the observation that L. interserovar balcanica infection occurs in sexually mature animals (Pear-

breeding season in the acquisition

between possums. sums very rarely

in transmission balcanica. The

mating ocinfected and did not inof L. timing

interof a

as mating) relative to the in the possum, may be transmission of the lepto-

serovar

sexual mission

Furthermore, show affiliative

each

other occurred

mice,

the

mice

and

trans-

leptospire (L. interroalso is dependant on

maturity, but not on mating. can occur between mature

female

posbehav-

(Day, 1996) and between males

In laboratory another ballum)

male

mature

Transpairs of

mixed-sex

pairs,

but ture

does not occur between sexually mamale mice (Hathaway, 1978). The rate of transmission of L. interrogans serovar balcanica in this study was lower in the groups than in the pairs. While the reasons for this are unknown, it is possible

that

fected possum contact with the would have had fore, transmission contacts such iours (as our

in

the

groups,

each

as affiliative data suggest),

or sexual behavmay occur rel-

atively slowly in a group situation. ever, the transmission rate observed groups is comparable to the rate mission tive

found

unin-

had less opportunity for infected animal than they if housed in pairs. Therethat is reliant on close

previously

possums (Pearson Social transmission

in groups and of

Howin the of transof cap-

Ashby, 1995). L. interrogans

DAY

serovar sirable

balcanica from the

control,

as it would

species-specific

agent

more

that

et

is transmitted that

al.,

actively season

FAINE,

may

appears during

be

to the

associated

behaviour.

with

affiliative

L.

Therefore,

ovar

balcanica

appears

sion

properties

that

biological

suited

1994.

HATHAWAY.

S.

animals

use

Health,

serovar

tion.

New

ITORNER,

in

vectored

immunocontraception

possums. 462.

Joturnal

of

of Applied

ofa

novel

for

New

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canica

Leptospira

interrogans

transmnission

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in the

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possums

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Ws,

A.

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P. W

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infection (Trichosu

MATI’HEWS,

Leptospirosis

Zealand,

halcanica

serovar

University

C. E. O’CONNoR.

AND

of experimental

interrogans

Thesis,

refer-

tYul,)ecmda). aml(1 Piublic

I. Characteristics

I).

In of

NUGENT,

(Tn-

I).

1995.

veillance

ha!-

possum

vith

Veterinary

Zealand

ceedings

hand

454-

serovar

brushtail

infectious

balcanica

LIVINGSTONE,

viral-

Zealand

Ecology

hiving

Palmerstomi

)

Veterinary

flora.

T. D.

DAY,

effect

model

free

pp.

1)istributiomu

New

a

in particular

( Tnichosu ni.s Pathology

vu!pecu!a

New

INNES,

the

CRC

pp.

with

University, 434

W,

C.

1996.

26

agent:

I 93

125.

CITED

Predicting

lep-

\Vmrld

Switzerland,

Leptospirosis

Zealamid

Contract

1994.

of

67,

leptospirosis.

Zeahamsd, possum Veterinary

ni

gamis

from

biocontrol

aml(l

comutroh

No.

334

198 1 . Experimental

.

(Tnicho.su

This research was funded by the New Zealand Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries. Thanks are due to T Painting and L. Hartley for assistance in animal manipulations and to T. Day for veterinary assistance. We are indebted to R. Marshall and J. Collins-Emerson for providing L. interrogans serovar balcanica inoculum and advice.

D.

the

and

1978.

New

Zealamid,

fatuna.

N.

for

Florida,

Massey

New

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

vertebrate

C.

in

Zealand

BARLOW,

Aims-

Biology

Gemieva,

Raton,

ence to the Ph. D. Thesis,

control.

LITERATURE

Australia.

publication

IA’pto.spina

Boca

sexual

for

Victoria,

(;uuidehines

Organisatioms,

.

interrogans serto have transmis-

are

bnush-tailed

191-201.

Offset

Press,

most and

or

inter-

Leptospina four

Experimnental

57:

1982.

Health

seek mates dur(Jolly et al., 1992),

be transmitted breeding season

S.

imi

581

pp.

which would allow an agent to continue spreading as possum density reduced (Barlow, 1994). The data collected in this study have shown that L. interrogans serovar balcanica effectively

of

Science

tospirosis.

the

behavbiological

,

Possums breeding

Medical

of

ic(, in

Joturnal

IN POSSUMS

stuudv /)a!can

populations

trahian

An

during

serovar

possum-mu

be

or other

occur

season (e.g. affiliative may be most useful for

control. ing the

to

1992).

by sexual

primarily

rogans

biological

likely

TRANSMISSION

sero-epidemiological

is de-

of

be

(Jolly

behaviours breeding iours)

possums

between

perspective

ET AL.-LEPTOSPIROSIS

19.97.

\‘ihdhife

in

Tnic/aoRe-