[Tailless tenrec (Tenrec ecaudatus): natural maintenance host of leptospires?].
In order to know if the Tailless tenrec (Tenrec ecaudatus), endemic insectivorous mammal of Madagascar and present only on Indian Ocean islands, is a natural maintenance host of leptospires carrier in La Reunion, we conducted a research of anti-leptospire antibodies by microagglutination test in 37 individuals. 81.1% of serums tested were positive, (> 1/50) with the highest titers for the Icteroharmorrhagiae serogroup. So, in la Reunion, the Tailless tenrec can be suspected of being a reservoir of leptospires. A more detailed study should confirm or not this hypothesis and should possibly quantify its importance.
Sigaud
M
M
Office national de la chasse et de la faune sauvage, Cellule technique océan Indien s/c DIREN Réunion, 12 allée de la Forêt, Parc de la Providence 97400 Saint-Denis, la Réunion.
Caceres
S
S
Picard
M
M
Desvars
A
A
Michault
A
A