[Tailless tenrec (Tenrec ecaudatus): natural maintenance host of leptospires?]

Bull Soc Pathol Exot. 2009 Feb;102(1):19-20. doi: 10.3185/pathexo3219.
[Article in French]

Abstract

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.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Animals, Wild / microbiology
  • Antibodies, Bacterial / blood
  • Eulipotyphla / immunology
  • Eulipotyphla / microbiology*
  • Leptospira / immunology
  • Leptospira / isolation & purification*
  • Madagascar
  • Reunion
  • Serologic Tests

Substances

  • Antibodies, Bacterial