Survey of rats (Rattus norvegicus) in Kuwait for the presence of Leptospira.
A survey of brown rats (Rattus norvegicus) was made in Kuwait in 1979 for the presence of Leptospira organisms. Kidney tissue from 49 rats, trapped mostly from various Kuwait City districts, were cultured on E.M.J.H. and Stuart media. Eight leptospira strains were isolated; all strains were identical and belonged to Leptospira interrogans Canicola serogroup; they were later identified as a new serovar kuwait. The frequency of L. interrogans group Canicola carriers among the local rats in Kuwait was 16.3%, which is higher than reported so far. A summary of published data on the isolation of Leptospira other than L. interrogans serogroup Icterohaemorrhagiae from rats, particularly the brown rat, is presented with emphasis on the Middle East.
D000818:Animals; D007672:Kidney Cortex / Q000382:microbiology; D007730:Kuwait; D007921:Leptospira interrogans / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D051381:Rats / Q000382:microbiology*