Survey for selected diseases in nutria (Myocastor coypus) from Louisiana.

Abstract

Thirty-two trapper-caught nutria (Myocastor coypus) from East Baton Rouge, Iberville, Tangipahoa, and St. Helena Parishes in Louisiana (USA) were sampled for several disease agents. Antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii, Chlamydia psittaci, Francisella tularensis, Leptospira spp., and encephalomyocarditis virus were detected in 7%, 14%, 0%, 7%, and 0% of nutria, respectively. Both animals seropositive for leptospirae were positive for L. interrogans serovar canicola. No Salmonella spp. were isolated from feces, and no Giardia spp. were seen in trichrome-stained fecal preparations.