Phylogenetic relationships and diversity of bat-associated Leptospira and the histopathological evaluation of these infections in bats from Grenada, West Indies

Molecular detection and characterization of pathogenic Leptospira species in bats (Chiroptera) roosting in human habitats in Nigeria, West Africa

“…The prevalence, 11.7%, of Leptospira PCR-positive bats in this study was similar to a previous report in bats in the Union of Comoros, slightly higher than the prevalence, 11.0%, reported in Australia (Cox et al, 2005), but lower than the 13.0% reported in bats in Georgia, 14.9% in Zambia, 21.4% and 34.6% in Madagascar, 26. 9% in Colombia, 27.0% in Grenada and 50.0% in China (Bai et al, 2017;Bevans et al, 2020;Gomard et al, 2016;Han et al, 2018;Lagadec et al, 2012;Mateus et al, 2019;Ogawa et al, 2015). At least one Leptospira gene fragment was amplified in all the four species of bats screened in this study.…”

“…Taken together, the global abundance of bats, their spatial association with humans and both domestic and wild animals, and evidence that they can shed Leptospira spp. in their urine corroborate their role in the epidemiologically of leptospirosis (Bevans et al, 2020;Levett, 2001;Tulsiani et al, 2011). Given this scenario, conservatively, at least 60% of the more than 300 million of the world's poorest people whose livelihood depend in part on agronomy and livestock production are at risk of this infection (Allan et al, 2015).…”

“…Classically, rodents and, to a lesser extent, some livestock species have been incriminated as the reservoirs of pathogenic leptospires in nature (Bharti et al, 2003;Hartskeerl et al, 2011;Levett, 2001). Likewise, bats have been incriminated as reservoirs for these bacteria, thus, pointing out their potential role in the epidemiology of the most widespread zoonotic disease in the world (Dietrich et al, 2014;Lagadec et al, 2012;Ogawa et al, 2015;Bevans et al, 2020). Pathogenic leptospires colonize the renal tubules of infected animals and are spread through the excretion of urine into the environment (Allocati et al, 2016;Bevans et al, 2020;Fennestad & Borg-Petersen, 1972).…”

“…Likewise, bats have been incriminated as reservoirs for these bacteria, thus, pointing out their potential role in the epidemiology of the most widespread zoonotic disease in the world (Dietrich et al, 2014;Lagadec et al, 2012;Ogawa et al, 2015;Bevans et al, 2020). Pathogenic leptospires colonize the renal tubules of infected animals and are spread through the excretion of urine into the environment (Allocati et al, 2016;Bevans et al, 2020;Fennestad & Borg-Petersen, 1972). Therefore, contaminated soil or water as well as direct contact with infected animals are the main sources of leptospirosis in humans.…”

Molecular detection of Trypanosoma (Trypanosomatidae) in bats from Thailand, with their phylogenetic relationships

“…These animals play critical roles in the ecosystem by benefiting the forest and agricultural sectors (Kunz et al ., 2011; Chen et al ., 2017). However, they are also known to be a reservoir for a variety of infectious agents, such as Hendra virus (Murray et al ., 1995), Nipah virus (Yob et al ., 2001), rabies virus and coronaviruses (Zhou et al ., 2020; Bergner et al ., 2021 b ), Bartonella (Poofery et al ., 2021), Candidatus Mycoplasma haemohominis (Descloux et al ., 2021), Rickettsia , Borrelia (Loftis et al ., 2005), Leptospira (Bevans et al ., 2020) and trypanosomes (Ramírez et al ., 2014). Furthermore, certain behaviours of bat species, such as roost switching, colony living and seasonal migration, have increased the possibility of infectious agent spill over to other mammals (Calisher et al ., 2006; Fan et al ., 2019).…”