A cross-sectional serological survey of domestic animals in
Wes t Malaysia revealed that 2 5 . 5 percent of the animals examined had
agglutinating antibodies to one or more antigens belonging to
Leptospira interrogans . Significant prevalence of infection was
observed in cattle ( 40 . 5 % ) , buffaloes ( 31 % ) and pigs ( 16% ) .The
Sejroe and Pomona serogroups were the principal one s involved whilst
infections to the other eight serogroups appeared insignificant and
were indicative of sporadic infection . Majority of the large cattle
and buffalo farms demonstrated high prevalences of leptospiral infection . Amongst cattle , the droughtmasters had the highest
prevalence whilst the Kedah-Kelantan ( an indigenous breed ) had the
lowest prevalence of leptospiral infection . Leptospiral infection in
goats and sheep was shown to be sporadic .
A bacteriological survey of cattle revealed 18.9 percent
( 42 /222 ) had leptospiral infection . Isolates were obtained from all
herds except one . Six leptospiral serovars , namely , canicola,
australis, javanica, ballum, pomona and hardjo were isolated for
the first time in cattle in Malaysia . An isolate obtained from a
bovine kidney proved to be a new serovar and was given the name.\ud
unipertama . The small number of buffalo urine samples examined were
all negative on culture
