Serologic survey for certain zoonotic diseases in black bears in California

Black bears (Ursus americanus) from 3 geographic areas of California were tested for antibodies against agents of 6 zoonotic diseases: toxoplasmosis (indirect hemagglutination), Q fever (microagglutination), trichinosis (latex particle agglutination), botulism (passive hemagglutination), leptospirosis (plate agglutination), and plague (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay). Of 149 sera tested, 40 (27%) were positive for Toxoplasma gondii antibodies and 25 (17%) had antibodies against Coxiella burnetii. Of 141 bears tested for Trichinella spiralis, 18 (13%) were seropositive, and 19 (15%) of 125 tested had antibodies against the plague organism, Yersinia pestis. Only 2% (2 of 123 tested) had antibodies against Clostridium botulinum. Sera from 129 bears were tested against 4 pools of Leptospira interrogans representing 12 serovars, and 16% of the sera reacted with the pool containing the serovars australis, hyos, and mini georgia.