Proceedings of the First Symposium on Marsupials in New Zealand
Abstract
Abstract
The common brushtail possum has been established as a primary host reservoir for Leptospira balcanica (subgroup Hebdomadis) in New Zealand, and evidence of infection was present in over 80% of mature adults in this survey. The presence of balcanica has not been established in domestic stock or man in New Zealand to date, however with definitive reference laboratory typing of isolates, Hebdomadis infections diagnosed in these species may be found to be mainly due to balcanica.
Extensive wildlife surveys in East Europe and throughout the world have failed to identify balcanica in wildlife species. Therefore, the possum is the only reported wildlife reservoir of this organism in the world.