Peridomestic small Indian mongoose: An invasive species posing as potential zoonotic risk for leptospirosis in the Caribbean

Shiokawa, Kanae; Llanes, Alejandro; Hindoyan, Antreas; Cruz-Martinez, Luis; Welcome, Shamara; Rajeev, Sreekumari

doi:10.1016/j.actatropica.2018.11.019

Cited by 14 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 18 publications

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“…Only one of these samples was evaluated by histopathology, but only mild multifocal interstitial nephritis was observed in this case and this animal was negative by microscopic agglutination test. This is not surprising as we have observed similar findings in other animal species where antibody response or lesions were minimal despite the presence of organisms [12,13,18]. It is roughly estimated that 50,000 AGMs inhabit Saint Kitts, a small island with a 168 km 2 area.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 88%

“…Out of two PCR-positive samples one was positive for six Leptospira serovars with MAT titers ranging from 50-200, suggestive of a potential early active infection. We have isolated L. interrogans serovar Copenhageni from rats, mongooses, and a dog from the island [12,13,15]. In rats from which we isolated L. interrogans serovar Copenhageni, the highest exposure was documented for serovar Icterohemorrhagiae but not for the infecting serovar Copenhageni.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 86%

“…Proximity to the Leptospira infected animals can be a potential risk factor for other animals and humans. Our studies have also documented Leptospira infection and exposure in other animal species on the island [12][13][14][15][16]. In this pilot study, we investigated whether the African green monkeys (AGMs) could potentially serve as an asymptomatic source of infection and whether there is any association between Leptospira infection or exposure and the presence of renal pathology in a set of AGMs.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Leptospira Infection in African Green Monkeys in an Endemic Area: An Opportunity for Comparative Studies in a Natural Environment

et al. 2020

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This study was performed to investigate the potential asymptomatic Leptospira reservoir status among African green monkeys (AGMs) in the Caribbean island of Saint Kitts, and whether there is any renal pathology associated with Leptospira exposure. Forty-eight percent of AGMs tested were positive for Leptospira antibodies by the microscopic agglutination test. Leptospira DNA was detected in 4% of kidney samples tested using a lipl32 gene based PCR. We observed minimal to severe microscopic renal lesions in 85% of the AGM kidneys evaluated. The majority of the AGMs (n = 26) had only minimal to mild interstitial nephritis and a few (n = 3) had moderate to severe lesions. The presence of interstitial nephritis was not significantly associated with Leptospira exposure. The presence of infected AGMs in a small surface limited geographic region may pose zoonotic threat to humans and animals. The impact of Leptospira infection in renal pathology in AGMs warrants further investigation. AGMs residing in a natural setting in an insular, surface limited Leptospira endemic geographic region may offer opportunities for comparative studies to advance the field of leptospirosis. Due to their similarity to humans, such studies in AGMs may also provide translational opportunities to advance Leptospira research.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 88%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 86%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Leptospira Infection in African Green Monkeys in an Endemic Area: An Opportunity for Comparative Studies in a Natural Environment

et al. 2020

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“…The serovars belonging to the serogroup Ballum (Ballum, Arborea, and Castellonis) were also reported in various parts of the world. Leptospira exposure and infection is common among animals on the island [7][8][9][10][11]. The highest seroprevalence was reported in cattle (80%) followed by dogs (73%), pigs (69%), African green monkeys (49%), sheep (35%), goats (24%), mongoose (8%), and cats (4%).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In Saint Kitts, a small island located in the Caribbean region, human mortality (5.87) and morbidity (107.87) rates per 100,000 population due to Leptospira infections are estimated [1]. Recently, we reported infection and exposure to a diverse set of Leptospira serovars in multiple animal species on the island [7][8][9][10][11]. Yet, there is no data on Leptospira infection in one of the major global reservoir hosts, rats.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Detection and Characterization of Leptospira Infection and Exposure in Rats on the Caribbean Island of Saint Kitts

Rajeev

Shiokawa

Llanes

et al. 2020

Animals

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In this study, we detected and characterized Leptospira infection and exposure in rats on the Caribbean island of Saint Kitts for the first time. We detected Leptospira infection in 17/29 (59%), 14/29 (48)%, and 11/29 (38)% of rats by RT-PCR, culture, and immunofluorescence assay, respectively. Whole genome sequencing (WGS) and analysis and serogrouping of 17 Leptospira strains isolated from rats revealed their close relationship with L. interrogans serogroup Icterohaemorrhagiae (n = 10) and L. borgpetersenii serogroup Ballum (n = 7). WGS, serogrouping, and additional PCR tests on rat kidneys confirmed mixed infections with L. interrogans and L. borgpetersenii in the kidneys of three rats. Microscopic agglutination test (MAT) was positive for 25/29 (87%) of the rats tested, and the response was restricted to serovars Icterohaemorrhagiae {24/29(83%)}, Mankarso {4/29(14%)}, Copenhageni {4/29(14%)}, Grippotyphosa {2/29(7%)}, and Wolffi {1/29(3%)}. Interestingly, there was no agglutinating antibody response to serovar Ballum. We observed a similar pattern in the serologic response using Leptospira isolates obtained from this study with each of the rat sera, with strong response to L. interrogans isolates but minimal reactivity to L. borgpetersenii isolates. Our findings suggest the use of multiple complementary diagnostic tests for Leptospira surveillance and diagnosis to improve the accuracy of the data.

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Pathogen Transmission and the Risk of Spillover for Wild Carnivores in the Neotropics

Acosta-Jamett,

Napolitano,

López-Pérez

et al. 2024

Ecology of Wildlife Diseases in the Neotropics

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Peridomestic small Indian mongoose: An invasive species posing as potential zoonotic risk for leptospirosis in the Caribbean

Cited by 14 publications

References 18 publications

Leptospira Infection in African Green Monkeys in an Endemic Area: An Opportunity for Comparative Studies in a Natural Environment

Leptospira Infection in African Green Monkeys in an Endemic Area: An Opportunity for Comparative Studies in a Natural Environment

Detection and Characterization of Leptospira Infection and Exposure in Rats on the Caribbean Island of Saint Kitts

Pathogen Transmission and the Risk of Spillover for Wild Carnivores in the Neotropics

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