Leptospirosis in wildlife in Brazil: isolation of a new serotype in the pyrogenes group.

A new leptospiral serotype in the serogroup Pyrogenes is described. The strain was isolated from one gray "four-eyed" opossum (Philander opossum). It is proposed that the serotype be designated guaratuba, strain An-7705. The isolations of serotypes ballum from the South American field mouse (Akodon arviculoides), szwajizak and icterohaemorrhagiae from the North American opossum (Didelphis marsupialis), and grippotyphosa from many other wild animal species as well as domesticated animals are also described.