Antibiotic Awareness Week. Wednesday’s mystery bacterium is…?

For today’s mystery bacterium, we have a genus of bacteria that can infect all our veterinary species, but is most commonly associated with acute kidney disease in dogs and abortion in cattle. Sheep and cats generally act as asymptomatic carriers, while the human form of the disease is often associated with workers who come into contact with wild rats.

Can you name the mystery bacterium? Here are some hints about today’s guest bacterium:

  • The bacterium can survive for long periods in damp conditions, and canine disease is more commonly reported in young male working dogs and in areas with a lot of drainage ditches such as the Fens.
  • Yearly vaccination against the commonest serovars is the best means of prevention for dogs and in at-risk herds of dairy and beef cattle.

And now the microbiology part… this is a Gram-negative spiral-shaped bacterium with a hook at one or both ends. Because they are so thin, live bacteria are best observed by dark field microscopy.

Can you name the bacterium? Send your answer (with your name) to [email protected] and be entered in the draw to win a free Gratnells trolley at the end of the week.

Don’t let microbes survive. Learn about Gratnells Antimicrobial.

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