Tracking animal reservoirs of pathogenic <i>Leptospira:</i> the right test for the right claim

Gomard, Yann; Dellagi, Koussay; Goodman, Steve; Mavingui, Patrick; Tortosa, Pablo

doi:10.1101/2021.09.21.461181

Cited by 4 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 49 publications

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“…Investigations carried out in different areas of the world through a One Health approach have shown distinct transmission chains composed of species or lineages and reservoirs that vary from one environmental setting to another [9][10][11][12][13]. Investigations carried out in the ecosystems of Madagascar and surrounding islands, hereafter referred to as the Malagasy Region, have provided new information on transmission chains on the different islands [14]. Indeed, on La Réunion and in Seychelles, human leptospirosis is mostly caused by Leptospira that are broadly distributed and hence likely of introduced origin [11,12].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Co-radiation of Leptospira and Tenrecidae (Afrotheria) on Madagascar

Gomard

Soarimalala

Turpin

et al. 2021

Preprint

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Leptospirosis is one of the most prevalent bacterial zoonoses in the world. The disease is caused by pathogenic Leptospira that are maintained in the kidney lumen of infected animals, mostly mammals, acting as reservoirs and contaminating the environment via infected urine. The investigation of leptospirosis through a One Health framework has been stimulated by notable genetic diversity of pathogenic Leptospira together with a high infection prevalence in certain animal reservoirs. Extensive sampling and associated microbiological and molecular studies of Madagascar's native mammal fauna have revealed a diversity of pathogenic Leptospira with high levels of host-specificity. Native rodents, tenrecids, and bats shelter a number of distinct lineages and species of Leptospira, some of which have also been detected in acute human cases. Specifically, L. mayottensis, first discovered in humans on Mayotte, an island neighboring Madagascar, was subsequently identified in a few species of Malagasy tenrecids, an endemic family. Distinct L. mayottensis lineages were identified in shrew tenrecs (Microgale cowani and Nesogale dobsoni) on Madagascar, and later in spiny tenrecs (Tenrec ecaudatus) on Mayotte. These findings suggest that L. mayottensis (i) has experienced co-evolutionary processes during the radiation of tenrecids on Madagascar, and (ii) has recently emerged in human populations on Mayotte following the introduction of T. ecaudatus from Madagascar. Hitherto, L. mayottensis has not been detected in spiny tenrecs on Madagascar. In the present study, we broaden the investigation of Malagasy tenrecids and describe the presence of L. mayottensis in Malagasy populations of T. ecaudatus, as well as in M. thomasi. These results confirm the hypothesis that L. mayottensis was introduced to Mayotte, presumably via T. ecaudatus, and provide additional data on the co-evolution of Leptospira and Tenrecidae.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Co-radiation of Leptospira and Tenrecidae (Afrotheria) on Madagascar

Gomard

Soarimalala

Turpin

et al. 2021

Preprint

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Modelling the Unidentified Abortion Burden from Four Infectious Pathogenic Microorganisms (Leptospira interrogans, Brucella abortus, Brucella ovis, and Chlamydia abortus) in Ewes Based on Artificial Neural Networks Approach: The Epidemiological Basis for a Control Policy

Arteaga-Troncoso,

Luna-Alvarez,

Hernández-Andrade

et al. 2023

Animals

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Unidentified abortion, of which leptospirosis, brucellosis, and ovine enzootic abortion are important factors, is the main cause of disease spread between animals and humans in all agricultural systems in most developing countries. Although there are well-defined risk factors for these diseases, these characteristics do not represent the prevalence of the disease in different regions. This study predicts the unidentified abortion burden from multi-microorganisms in ewes based on an artificial neural networks approach and the GLM. Methods: A two-stage cluster survey design was conducted to estimate the seroprevalence of abortifacient microorganisms and to identify putative factors of infectious abortion. Results: The overall seroprevalence of Brucella was 70.7%, while Leptospira spp. was 55.2%, C. abortus was 21.9%, and B. ovis was 7.4%. Serological detection with four abortion-causing microorganisms was determined only in 0.87% of sheep sampled. The best GLM is integrated via serological detection of serovar Hardjo and Brucella ovis in animals of the slopes with elevation between 2600 and 2800 meters above sea level from the municipality of Xalatlaco. Other covariates included in the GLM, such as the sheep pen built with materials of metal grids and untreated wood, dirt and concrete floors, bed of straw, and the well water supply were also remained independently associated with infectious abortion. Approximately 80% of those respondents did not wear gloves or masks to prevent the transmission of the abortifacient zoonotic microorganisms. Conclusions: Sensitizing stakeholders on good agricultural practices could improve public health surveillance. Further studies on the effect of animal–human transmission in such a setting is worthwhile to further support the One Health initiative.

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Leptospirosis in the Platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) in Australia: Who Is Infecting Whom?

Whittington,

Grant,

McKercher

et al. 2024

Animals

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The platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) is an amphibious, egg-laying mammal of high conservation value that is found only in Australia. The zoonotic bacterium Leptospira interrogans serovar Hardjo was discovered in platypuses in prior studies, but little is known about its epidemiology. Samples in the Platypus Serum Bank were tested in 2023 and the results were combined with historical records. Antibodies against L. interrogans serovar Hardjo were found in 50% of 464 serum samples from 411 platypuses collected from 14 river basins in southeastern Australia between 1981 and 2012; prevalence remained high over three decades in the Shoalhaven River population. Seroprevalence increased with age, suggesting environmental exposure. Individual platypuses had persistent titres, some for six years. Seropositive females lactated, juveniles were recruited into the population, and there were no reports of clinical leptospirosis. Three necropsied platypuses were seropositive and had mild nephritis with leptospires in the renal tubules. The high seroprevalence, persistent titres, lack of disease, mild renal lesions, and renal colonisation suggest the platypus may be a maintenance host. Sympatric cattle had L. interrogans serovar Hardjo titres, but the spatial association was statistically weak. Other mammalian wildlife species and sheep also have L. interrogans serovar Hardjo titres; therefore, a complex ecological network must be considered. A landscape-wide study is recommended to properly assess transmission pathways and confirm who is infecting whom.

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Tracking animal reservoirs of pathogenic Leptospira: the right test for the right claim

Cited by 4 publications

References 49 publications

Co-radiation of Leptospira and Tenrecidae (Afrotheria) on Madagascar

Co-radiation of Leptospira and Tenrecidae (Afrotheria) on Madagascar

Modelling the Unidentified Abortion Burden from Four Infectious Pathogenic Microorganisms (Leptospira interrogans, Brucella abortus, Brucella ovis, and Chlamydia abortus) in Ewes Based on Artificial Neural Networks Approach: The Epidemiological Basis for a Control Policy

Leptospirosis in the Platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) in Australia: Who Is Infecting Whom?

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