Distribution of antibody against Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae in cattle.

Serum samples collected from 854 cattle in nine prefectures of Japan, from Hokkaido to Okinawa, between 1988 and 1992 were examined for presence of antibodies against Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae by growth agglutination test. Most of the sera showed positive reactions, and the antibody titers ranged from below 4 to above 128. Seventy-six percent of the sera showed titers of 32 or above, and 34% showed titers of 128 or above. The titers had a tendency to be higher in the south and lower in the north and were clearly low in sera from areas with no swine industry. These results indicated that Japanese cattle had been infected with E. rhusiopathiae and that clinical cases of the disease were possible.