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During the 10-year survey (1996)(1997)(1998)(1999)(2000)(2001)(2002)(2003)(2004)(2005), a total of 868 blood samples from different game species in Croatia were analyzed for the presence of leptospiral antibodies. The specific antibodies (AB) were detected in 242 samples (27.88%). According to the species in red deer (Cervus elaphus), the antibodies against six different leptospiral serovars were found in 43 of 226 analyzed sera (19.02%). The most frequent antigen serovars in the deer population were Pomona and Ballum (with the same frequency of 23.6%), whereas the highest titer was recorded for serovar Sejroe (1:800). In the analyzed roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) serum samples, a low level of leptospiral antibodies (6.07%) was determined, with just two AB for antigen serovars-Australis and Sejroe. In wild boar (Sus scrofa), leptospiral antibodies were detected in 151 of 431 samples analyzed (35.03%), with AB for nine antigen serovars. The serovars most frequently found were Australis (48.70%) and Pomona (22.70%), and these serovars also recorded the highest titer (1:3,200). Among brown bear (Ursus arctos) samples, leptospiral antibodies were detected in 25.00% of the samples, with four AB for antigen serovars, of which the most frequent was Icterohaemorrhagiae (>40%). This serovar had the highest recorded titer (1:400). From 112 analyzed red fox (Vulpes vulpes) samples, leptospiral antibodies were found in 35 samples (31.25%). The determined antibodies were specific for four antigen serovars, of which the most frequent (46.2%) and with highest titer (1:1600) was serovar Australis. No antibodies (28/0) were recorded in mouflon (Ovis musimon). The most important game species from an epizootiological point of view in the studied area were certainly wild boar and red foxes. With strong serological reactions, these two species could be emphasized as important hosts for Leptospira interrogans sv. Australis in Croatia, but for their declaration as 'maintaining hosts,' isolation of sv. Australis is needed. According to aerial distribution, the highest number of positive samples from different game species was recorded in the central and eastern parts of Croatia, known as the 'historical natural foci' of leptospirosis-the regions of Posavina, Podravina, Slavonija, and Baranja. In contrast, the areas of Kordun and Gorski Kotar are declared as leptospira low-risk regions for the game species studied.

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During the years 2001 and 2002 on seven localities in Croatia a survey on the prevalence of brucellosis in wild boar was carried out. The survey included 271 (52.7%) female and 243 (47.3%) male animals between 7 months and 4 years of age and weighing from 14 to 135 kg. On that occasion 514 blood samples of wild boar were serologically analysed. For serological analysis indirect enzyme immunoassay (iELISA), Rose Bengal test (RBT), complement fixation test (CFT) and slow agglutination test (SAT) were used. In all of the wild boar from all of the localities investigated positive reactions to brucellosis were established. Most of the positive reactions were established by iELISA (13.6%), then by RBT (11.5%), CFT (10.5%) and SAT (8.9%). Tissue samples of 106 animals: testes samples from 67 animals, uterus tissue from 38 animals and 5 fetuses of piglets from 1 mother were analysed bacteriologically. Brucella suis biovar 2 was isolated from 18 (17.0%) animals that originated from all of the localities investigated. Isolates were identified by PCR using BRU-UP and BRU-LOW primers specific for genus Brucella and primers specific for IS711. Based on our results it could be concluded that in Croatia wild boar are natural vector and/or reservoirs of B. suis biovar 2. This permanent risk factor is hazardious for domestic and wild animals in the Republic of Croatia.

ABSTRACT:In total the samples of blood and kidneys of 379 small rodents and 154 wild swine were analysed. The antibodies to different serovars of leptospires were determined in 12.7% of small rodents, most o�en in the species Mus musculus (34.4%), A. agrestis (14.8%), A. flavicolis (10.8%), C. glareolus (9.4%) and A. sylvaticus (6.5%). Most frequent were the findings of antibodies to sv. pomona (27.1%), sv. sejroe (20.8%), and sv. australis (14.6%), and the antibodies to sv. hardjo, sv. saxkoebing, sv. tarassovi, sv. grippotyphosa, sv. bataviae and sv. icterohaemorrhagiae were also established. Seventeen (4.5%) isolates were identified, belonging to the serogroups sejroe (10 isolates), pomona (4 isolates) and australis (1 isolate) and one isolate was not identified. In wild swine positive reactions were established in 26% of the blood sera analysed. Most frequently the antibodies to sv. pomona (47.5%), sv. australis (40%), sv. grippotyphosa (10%) and sv. icterohaemorhagiae (2.5%) were established. Thirteen (8.4%) isolates belonging to the serogroups pomona (10 isolates), australis (2 isolates) and icterohaemorhagiae (1 isolate) were identified.