LEPTOSPIROSIS IN CEYLON - EPIDEMIOLOGICAL AND LABORATORY INVESTIGATION.

Abstract

Investigations are being carried out to establish the vectors for leptospira in Ceylon. For this purpose domestic and wild animals are trapped alive and, (1) their blood is examined for evidence of leptospiral antibodies, (2) their kidney tissue is cultured and (3) surface waters, which may be polluted by carrier animals, are examined. Serological findings show that cattle, dogs and swine are carriers of leptospira in Ceylon. In addition leptospira belonging to the following serogroups have been isolated; viz: L.icterohaemorrhagiae and L.javanica from rodents (paddy field rats, sewer rats and bandicoots); L.icterohaemorrhagiae, L. javanica, L.hebdomadis and L.pomona from dogs and L.javanica from the shrew. Through L.autumnalis, L.canicola and L.grippotyphose have been isolated from patients, these have not been isolated from any animal vectors. Studies have to be continued to establish the association between the serotypes and their animal hosts, in Ceylon, before the epidemiology of leptospirosis in this country could be fully understood. (Author)

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Oct 01, 1969
Accession Number
AD0698587

Entities

People

  • Kumaraswamy Nityananda

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Antibodies
  • Chemical Compounds
  • Domestic
  • Epidemiology
  • Leptospirosis
  • Surface Waters
  • Water

Fields of Study

  • Biology

Readers

  • Immunology
  • Microbial Pathology
  • Vector-Borne Disease and Entomology