Shave, H.J. Epidemiologic Study of Leptospriosis, Wind Cave National Park, July-September, 1985. 3 p.

Abstract

In January 1985, elk blood samples from the Boland Ridge herd of Wind Cave National Park were tested for the presence of antibodies to Leptospira interrogans. All 52 samples were positive to serovar icterohaemorrhagiae, indicating contact with this organism. This serovar is carried by rodents which shed the organism into the water, creating a possible source of infections for other animals using the water. To determine of this is the contact route in Wind Cave National Park, mice were trapped near water sources and the kidneys cultured for L. interrogans. Water for 4 sources was given to weanling hamsters to determine if the organism is in water at the current time.