Leptospira and Rodents in Cambodia: Environmental Determinants of Infection

Abstract

Abstract. We investigated infection of rodents and shrews by Leptospira spp. in two localities of Cambodia (Veal Renh, Kaev Seima) and in four types of habitat (forests, non-flooded lands, lowland rain-fed paddy fields, houses) during the wet and the dry seasons. Habitat preference was common, and rodent and shrew species were found only in houses or in rain-fed paddy fields or in forests. Among 649 small mammals trapped belonging to 12 rodent species and 1 shrew species, 71 of 642 animals tested were carriers of Leptospira according to the 16S ribosomal RNA marker used. Rodent infection was higher in low-slope locations, corresponding to rain-fed paddy fields, especially in the rainy season and in Kaev Seima. Rodents (Rattus exulans) and shrews (Suncus murinus) inhabiting households showed significantly low levels of infections, whereas rodents living in and near to forests (shrubby wasteland, orchards) showed high levels of infection.

Genetic variation of Leptospira isolated from rats catched in Yogyakarta Indonesia

“…Certain Leptospira serovar has been associated with particular animals such as Leptospira icterohaemorrhagiae and Leptospira copenhageni were associated with rats, Leptospira canicola with dogs, Leptospira pomona with pigs, Leptospira hardjo with cows, and Leptospira gryppotyphosa with voles [8,24]. However, it is interesting that our result showed pathogenic Leptospira isolated from rats have close relationship with Leptospira isolated from other host and environment [25][26][27][28][29][30].…”

Helminth communities in murid rodents from southern and northern localities in Lao PDR: the role of habitat and season

“…(3) lowland paddy fields; and (4) human settlement (Jittapalapong et al, 2010;Chaisiri et al, 2012;Ivanova et al, 2012). Rodents were sampled twice in each: in the dry and wet seasons.…”

Progress on research on rodents and rodent-borne zoonoses in South-east Asia

“…All these viruses can be transmitted directly between rodent hosts, although transmission of hantaviruses and LCMV likely also occurs through exposure to aerosolised infectious excretions (Monath 1975;Armstrong et al 1995). Among the bacteria, three genera in particular have been a major focus: Leptospira spp., agents of leptospirosis (Thaipadungpanit et al 2007;Ivanova et al 2012;Cosson et al 2014); Bartonella spp., agents of bartonellosis (Castle et al 2004;Saisongkorh et al 2009;Jiyipong et al 2012Jiyipong et al , 2015; and Orientia tsutsugamushi (Coleman et al 2003), the agent of scrub typhus. Bartonella spp.…”