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 leptosporal infection, sero-positivity prevalence rates were similar (34 and 39 percent, respectively), but isolation/dark field microscopy rates were higher in R. norvegicus (27 percent) than R. rattus (15 percent). R. norvegicus carried mainly serogroup Autumnalis. These two serogroups cause 90 percent of severe human leptospirosis on the island. (AU)