Open AccessGenetic Evidence for a Potential Environmental Pathway to Spillover Infection of Rat-Borne Leptospirosis
Author(s) -
Arnau CasanovasMassana,
Daiana de Oliveira,
Andrew J. Schneider,
Mike Begon,
James E. Childs,
Federico Costa,
Mitermayer Galvão dos Reis,
Albert I. Ko,
Elsio A. Wunder
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
the journal of infectious diseases (online. university of chicago press)/the journal of infectious diseases
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.69
H-Index - 252
eISSN - 1537-6613
pISSN - 0022-1899
DOI - 10.1093/infdis/jiab323
Subject(s) - leptospirosis , leptospira , serotype , leptospira interrogans , epidemiology , population , biology , environmental health , veterinary medicine , medicine , virology , pathology
In this study, we genotyped samples from environmental reservoirs (surface water and soil), colonized rat specimens, and cases of human severe leptospirosis from an endemic urban slum in Brazil, to determine the molecular epidemiology of pathogenic Leptospira and identify pathways of leptospirosis infection. We identified a well-established population of Leptospira interrogans serovar Copenhageni common to human leptospirosis cases, and animal and environmental reservoirs. This finding provides genetic evidence for a potential environmental spillover pathway for rat-borne leptospirosis through the environment in this urban community and highlights the importance of environmental and social interventions to reduce spillover infections.