Abstract
Background and Aim:Leptospirosis is an emerging disease of animals and humans. Among rodents brown rats (Rattus norvegicus) are an important reservoir of bacteria Leptospira. There is a paucity of information on reservoirs of Leptospira in Grenada. This study was conducted to estimate the prevalence of antibodies against Leptospira spp. in brown rats in a densely human populated area of Grenada.Materials and Methods:Blood samples from 169 brown rats were collected and sera screened for antibodies against Leptospira spp. using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.Results:Among a total of 169 brown rats trapped in two parishes in Grenada, 77/169 (45.5%) were positive for Leptospira spp. antibodies. A significant difference in seropositive population of brown rats between two collection sites was observed. No differences were found between sex and age of seropositive rats.Conclusion:Due to the close contact of brown rats with humans in Grenada, rats should be considered a high-risk factor in transmission of Leptospira to humans. Appropriate preventive measures should be instituted to prevent the transmission of Leptospira infection to humans.
Highlights
Leptospirosis is an emerging zoonosis in the world
This study was conducted to estimate the prevalence of antibodies against Leptospira spp. in brown rats in a densely human populated area of Grenada
Among a total of 169 brown rats trapped in two parishes in Grenada, 77/169 (45.5%) were positive for Leptospira spp. antibodies
Summary
Leptospirosis is an emerging zoonosis in the world. Leptospirosis is caused by spirochetes of the genus Leptospira [1]. Leptospira spp. include pathogenic and non-pathogenic bacteria. Pathogenic Leptospira include eight species divided into 250 serotypes and 24 serogroups [2]. Leptospirosis is a disease of humans and animals. Humans can get infected from animal reservoirs. Rodents are important reservoirs of Leptospira [3,4]. Leptospirosis is an emerging disease of animals and humans. Among rodents brown rats (Rattus norvegicus) are an important reservoir of bacteria Leptospira. There is a paucity of information on reservoirs of Leptospira in Grenada. This study was conducted to estimate the prevalence of antibodies against Leptospira spp. in brown rats in a densely human populated area of Grenada
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