Emerging Infectious Diseases (Jul 2006)

Leptospirosis in Squirrels Imported from United States to Japan

  • Toshiyuki Masuzawa,
  • Yoshihiro Okamoto,
  • Yumi Une,
  • Takahiro Takeuchi,
  • Keiko Tsukagoshi,
  • Nobuo Koizumi,
  • Hiroki Kawabata,
  • Shuji Ohta,
  • Yasuhiro Yoshikawa

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3201/eid1207.060370
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 12, no. 7
pp. 1153 – 1155

Abstract

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We diagnosed leptospirosis in 2 patients exposed to southern flying squirrels imported from the United States to Japan. Patients worked with exotic animals in their company. Leptospira isolates from 1 patient and 5 of 10 squirrels at the company were genetically and serologically identical and were identified as Leptospira kirschneri.

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