title: Temporal and spatial distribution of Leishmania mexicana infections in a population of Neotoma micropus.
abstract: A 19-month mark-release-recapture study of Neotoma micropus with sequential screening for Leishmania mexicana was conducted in Bexar County, Texas, USA. The overall prevalence rate was 14.7% and the seasonal prevalence rates ranged from 3.8 to 26.7%. Nine incident cases were detected, giving an incidence rate of 15.5/100 rats/year. Follow-up of 101 individuals captured two or more times ranged from 14 to 462 days. Persistence of L. mexicana infections averaged 190 days and ranged from 104 to 379 days. Data on dispersal, density, dispersion, and weight are presented, and the role of N. micropus as a reservoir host for L. mexicana is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Biology Department, University of the Incarnate Word, San Antonio, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Russell W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Raymond
authors.forename: Chad P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: McHugh
authors.forename: Loren R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Witt
authors.forename: Sara F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Kerr
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004197:Disease Reservoirs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D015994:Incidence; D007894:Leishmania mexicana; D016773:Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D011156:Population Density; D011157:Population Dynamics; D015995:Prevalence; D012621:Seasons; D016205:Sigmodontinae / Q000469:parasitology*; D013781:Texas / Q000453:epidemiology