Asian Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances1683-99191996-3289Academic Journals Inc.10.3923/ajava.2016.258.262Leptospira spp., Antibodies in Wild Raccoons (Procyon lotor) in Osaka, Japan]]>SaekiJ. NakanishiH. MasubuchiK. MatsubayashiM. FuruyaM. TaniH. SasaiK. 42016114Background and objective: Leptospirosis can cause a wide range of symptoms with an acute febrile disease in humans and animals. Recently, in Japan, there has been an increase in the number of feral raccoons (Procyon lotor) and they have been implicated as a source of zoonotic pathogens, including Leptospira spp. However, there are only a few reports on the prevalence of Leptospira spp. in wild animals, although 7 serovars of Leptospira spp. have been reported. The objective of this study was to examine seroprevalence of Leptospira spp. in raccoons. Methodology: The seroprevalence of Leptospira spp. antibodies was determined in 40 raccoons (Procyon lotor) in Osaka, Japan, from April-June, 2011. Leptospira spp., antibodies were detected in 23 raccoons (57.5%) using the Microscopic Agglutination Test (MAT). Antibodies against Leptospira interrogans serovar hebdomadis were most frequently detected (30.0%), followed by those against Leptospira interrogans serovar autumnalis (17.5%), Leptospira kirschneri serovar grippothyphosa (15.0%), Leptospira interrogans serovar copenhageni (7.5%) and Leptospira interrogans serovar australis (2.5%). Results:Leptospira interrogans serovars hebdomadis and australis were detected in all areas examined in Osaka. Leptospira kirschneri serovar grippothyphosa and Leptospira interrogans serovar copenhageni were detected only in animals from Southern Osaka, suggesting a regional distribution. Raccoons are environmentally adaptable omnivores and are expanding their range into urban areas and forests in Japan. Conclusion: Therefore, it is important to elucidate the potential risks that they may pose to public health by conducting surveys throughout Japan for zoonotic pathogens, such as Leptospira spp. that they may carry.]]>Jogahara, T., M. Nakamura, N. Morine, O. Ishibashi, G. Ogura, Y. Kawashima and S. Oda,2005Leptospira in Mus caroli and M. musculus yonakunii on Okinawa Island].]]>108590, (In Japanese)Koizumi, N., M.M. Muto, S. Akachi, S. Okano and S. Yamamoto et al.,2013Leptospira and leptospirosis in dogs in Japan.]]>62630636Renaud, C., S. Andrews, Z. Djelouadji, S. Lecheval and N. Corrao-Revol et al.,2013Leptospira serovars bratislava, grippotyphosa, mozdok and pomona in French dogs.]]>196126127Rodriguez, J., M.C. Blais, C. Lapointe, J. Arsenault, L. Carioto and J. Harel,201428284293Giangaspero, M., B. Bonfini, R. Orusa, G. Savini, T. Osawa and R. Harasawa,2013Toxoplasma gondii, Chlamydiapsittaci var. ovis, Mycobacterium paratuberculosis, Coxiella burnetii, Brucella spp., leptospirosis and Orf virus among sheep from Northern districts of Japan.]]>75679684Saito, M., S.Y.A.M. Villanueva, T. Masuzawa, Y. Haraguchi and S. Ita et al.,2015Leptospira strains from wild rats in an urban area of Fukuoka, Japan.]]>59322330Ikeda, T., M. Asano, Y. Matoba and G. Abe,20048125131Prescott, J.,2008178397398Allen, S.E., D. Ojkic and C.M. Jardine,2014Leptospira in wild mammals trapped on livestock farms in Ontario, Canada.]]>50666670Tan, C.G., G. Dharmarajan, J. Beasley, O. Rhodes Jr., G. Moore, C.C. Wu and T.L. Lin,2014Procyon lotor) in Indiana, USA.]]>34110Koizumi, N., M. Muto, T. Tanikawa, H. Mizutani and Y. Sohmura et al.,2009Leptospira interrogans in urban areas of Tokyo, Japan.]]>5812271230Yoshiki, A., Y. Matoba, M. Asakawa, T. Takahashi, Y. Nakano and N. Kikuchi,2011Leptospira from raccoons and serological survey of leptospirosis in Hokkaido, Japan].]]>15100105, (In Japanese)WHO.,2003pp: 69-73pp: 69-73Sykes, J.E., K. Hartmann, K.F. Lunn, G.E. Moore, R.A. Stoddard and R.E. Goldstein,201125113Takeda, M., M. Konishi, M. Shiono, Y. Iida and H. Nagata et al.,2004Leptospira antibodies among stray dogs in Osaka, Japan.]]>57809812Wada, Y., Y. Fujisaki, K. Maeda, H. Sato and M. Yokoyama et al.,2010Leptospira antibodies in raccoons and dogs in Osaka and Hyogo prefectures].]]>63707710, (In Japanese)O'Keefe, J.S., J.A. Jenner, N.C. Sandifer, A. Antony and N.B. Williamson,2002Leptospira in dogs in the lower North Island of New Zealand.]]>502325Fuchigami, E.,200356812816