title: Leptospires in Rattus spp. on Barbados.
abstract: Among 138 Rattus norvegicus and 98 R. rattus trapped on Barbados in 1964-65 and examined for evidence of leptospiral infection, seropositivity prevalence rates were similar (34 and 30%, respectively), but isolation/dark field microscopy rates were higher in R. norvegicus (27%) than R. rattus (15%). R. norvegicus carried mainly serogroup Icterohaemorrhagiae and R. rattus mainly serogroup Autumnalis. These two serogroups cause 90% of severe human leptospirosis on the island.
authors.affiliation: Leptospira Laboratory, St Michael, Barbados.
authors.forename: K D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: L H
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Turner
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Everard
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood; D001460:Barbados; D004197:Disease Reservoirs; D007919:Leptospira / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D007921:Leptospira interrogans / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D007922:Leptospirosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D009115:Muridae; D051381:Rats; D012376:Rodent Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012423:Rural Health; D014504:Urban Health
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial