Open AccessMuskrats are greater carriers of pathogenic Leptospira than coypus in ecosystems with temperate climates
Author(s) -
Florence Ayral,
Angéli Kodjo,
Gérald Guedon,
Franck Boué,
Céline Richomme
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
plos one
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.99
H-Index - 332
ISSN - 1932-6203
DOI - 10.1371/journal.pone.0228577
Subject(s) - seroprevalence , leptospira , leptospirosis , temperate climate , veterinary medicine , biology , disease reservoir , direct agglutination test , serology , ecology , medicine , immunology , antibody
Knowledge on the possible sources of human leptospirosis, other than rats, is currently lacking. To assess the distribution pattern of exposure and infection by Leptospira serogroups in the two main semi-aquatic rodents of Western France, coypus ( Myocastor coypus ) and muskrats ( Ondatra zibethicus) , results of micro-agglutination testing and renal tissue PCR were used. In coypus, the apparent prevalence was 11% (n = 524, CI 95% = [9% - 14%]), seroprevalence was 42% (n = 590, CI 95% = [38% - 46%]), and the predominant serogroup was Australis (84%). In muskrats, the apparent prevalence was 33% (n = 274, CI 95% = [27% - 39%]), seroprevalence was 57% (n = 305, CI 95% = [52% - 63%]), and the predominant serogroup was Grippotyphosa (47%). Muskrats should therefore be considered an important source of Grippotyphosa infection in humans and domestic animals exposed in this part of France.