Bovine leptospirosis: microbiological and serological findings in normal fetuses removed from the uteri after slaughter

Leptospires were demonstrated by a combination of the direct fluorescent antibody technique and culture in six (4.6 per cent) of 130 fetuses from apparently normal uteri collected at an abattoir. Fetal ages ranged from the fifth to the seventh months. In addition, leptospires were isolated from the oviducts of two uteri whose fetuses were not infected. All the strains isolated were similar antigenically to serovar hardjo. Leptospiral antibodies were not detected in any of the fetuses.