Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences
Abstract
Sixty-five rats (Rattus norvegicus) and 5 mice (Mus musculus) were trapped from 8 outdoor farms and the presence of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli was not detected in any individual. Nevertheless, using the microscopic agglutination test, it was found that 20% (13/65) of rat serum samples were positive for anti-Leptospira antibodies, and DNA of pathogenic leptospires was detected in 3.07% (2/65) of the rat kidneys by real-time polymerase chain reaction. The most common infecting serovar was Castellonis (7.69%), followed by Canicola (6.15%) and Mangus (6.15%). According to these results, rats from outdoor farms may be considered a reservoir host for Leptospira in the study area.
DOI
10.3906/vet-1301-6
Keywords
Rodents, Shiga-toxin producing Escherichia coli, Leptospira spp., outdoor farms
First Page
750
Last Page
753
Recommended Citation
GARCIA, A, MARTINEZ, R, GARCIA, L, BENITEZ-MEDINA, J. M, RISCO, D, GARCIA, W. L, REY, J, ALONSO, J. M, & KODJO, A (2013). Prevalence of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli and pathogenic Leptospira spp. in rodents from outdoor farms in western Spain. Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences 37 (6): 750-753. https://doi.org/10.3906/vet-1301-6
