The prevalence of leptospiral antibodies in a health Tobago community - abstract

ABSTRACT

Between 1976 and 1982, blood was collected from all consenting adults in a known censused area of Plymouth, Bethesda in Tobago. Serum was tested using the ELISA test. One hundred and seventeen of 532 persons showed evidence of exposure to leptospires at titres of > 150. The serogroup most commonly detected was Bataviae. Agricultural workers tended to have high exposure rates particularly to Pyrogenes, Syroe, Bataviae and Canicola. The presence of animals associated with the homes studied appeared to increase exposure to leptospires (AU)