Susceptibility of the “Gopher,” Citellus richardsonii (Sabine),to Leptospira icterohemorrhagiœ.

Summary

Evidence is presented of the susceptibility of the gopher or Richardson ground-squirrel, Citellus richardsonii (Sabine), to the etiological agent of Weil's disease, Leptospira ictero-hemorrhagiœ. Two series of 5 and 15 passages through gophers, respectively, were effected by the parenteral introduction of blood or tissue-suspensions. The organisms were tested in guinea pigs following the serial passages in gophers; no changes in pathogenicity were noted. Passage was also accomplished by permitting normal gophers to feed on infected gophers, dying or dead of the spirochetal disease.

The findings presented in this note suggest that gophers, or similar wild rodents, might act in nature as hosts for Leptospira icterohemorrhagiœ.