[The significance of small mammals in the epizootiology of leptospirosis in livestock].

1. Favourite species of rodents in sheds and their surroundings are rats (Rattus norvegicus, R. rattus) and house mouse (Mus musculus). From the epizootiological point of view only R. norvegicus is important as the maintenance host of L. copenhageni. 2. In surrounding of sheds vole (Microtus arvalis) and back-striped field mouse (Apodemus agrarius) are sources of infection for livestock. 3. Transmission of leptospira occurs via infected environment. The tenacity of Leptospira mozdok and L. grippotyphosa under field conditions suffices to maintain the chain of infections.