[Relation between characteristics of the small mammal population and occurrence of Leptospira antibodies]

Five rodent species (Apodemus flavicollis, A. agrarius, A. microps, Clethrionomys glareolus and Microtus arvalis) were examined serologically for presence of antibodies to leptospira. Small mammals were caught in several areas of eastern Slovakia, an important part of host material coming from East Slovakian Lowland (45.7%), south part of Kosice basin (26.5%) and Slovak carst (10.1%). Serological examinations were used by Kmety and Bakoss (1978), the sexual condition of rodents were ascertained after Pelikán (1965). Altogether, 2,113 individuals of rodent species were examined during five years (1991-1995), antibodies to leptospires were demonstrated in 5.02% of examined hosts. In examined hosts antibodies to six serovars of leptospira (Leptospira grippothyphosa, L. sejroe, L. bataviae, L. bratislava, L. pomona and L. sorex-jalna) were found. The most frequently observed antibodies were those of the serovar L. grippothyphosa (65.1%) and L. sejroe (25.5%). Slightly higher percentage of positive hosts in mature group rodents (5.4%) comparing with immature rodents (4.6%) were statistically insignificant. Similarly, no differences were found between percentage of positive rodent females (5.3%) and group of males (4.7%). No statistical differences were found in positivities to leptospira antibodies among sexual and age groups of individual rodent species, too. Proportion of serological positivities to L. grippothyphosa and L. sejroe in compared sex and age rodent groups were very similar. In evaluated rodent species trend of increases of serological positive values from spring to autumn was observed, but it was statistically confirmed only in A. agrarius.