First epidemiological data on pathogenic leptospires isolated on the Azorean islands
peer reviewed Insectivores (Erinaceus europaeus) and rodents (Rattus rattus, R. norvegicus and Mus musculus) from different islands of the Azores archipelago were found to carry three distinct Leptospira interrogans s.l. serovars (copenhageni, icterohaemorrhagiae and ballum) which have never been pr...
Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , |
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Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
Language: | English |
Published: |
Kluwer Academic Publishers
1997
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Subjects: | |
Online Access: | https://orbi.uliege.be/handle/2268/111624 https://orbi.uliege.be/bitstream/2268/111624/1/lepto.pdf https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1007383405833 |
Summary: | peer reviewed Insectivores (Erinaceus europaeus) and rodents (Rattus rattus, R. norvegicus and Mus musculus) from different islands of the Azores archipelago were found to carry three distinct Leptospira interrogans s.l. serovars (copenhageni, icterohaemorrhagiae and ballum) which have never been previously investigated there. The house mouse and the black rat were the major Leptospira reservoir showing isolation rates ranging from 0% for both species (in Graciosa) to 88 % and 33 %, respectively (in São Miguel). This study also showed that the majority of the animals with positive kidney cultures exhibited specific agglutinins agaibst the isolated strains of Leptospira. The observed isalation rates in the different islands, with a very interesting island variation in prevalence, suggest that small mammals, serving as sylvatic reservoirs of pathogenic leptospires, may represent an important risk to the health of humans and the livestock, particularly in the islands of Terceira and São Miguel. |
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