Original scientific paper

Small rodents as reservoirs of leptospirosis

Roberta Čordaš ; Veterinarska ambulanta Ogulin d.o.o.
Vesna Mojčec Perko ; Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Zrinka Štritof ; Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Suzana Hađina ; Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Iva Zečević ; Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Matko Perharić ; Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Nenad Turk ; Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Zoran Milas ; Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Josipa Habuš ; Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Josip Margaletić ; Faculty of Forestry of the University of Zagreb
Marko Vucelja ; Faculty of Forestry of the University of Zagreb
Marko Boljfetić ; Faculty of Forestry of the University of Zagreb

Abstract

Leptospirosis is a (re) emerging zoonosis of many domestic and wild animals and humans, caused by pathogenic bacteria from the genus Leptospira. It is a natural foci disease with epizootiology and epidemiology closely linked to reservoir species that excrete certain serovars of Leptospira into the environment. Rats and small rodents are the main reservoirs and lifelong carriers of pathogenic Leptospira. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of infection of small rodents in areas where leptospirosis appears endemic. Real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) was used to test kidney specimens of 186 animals, that were trapped in seven endemic regions of Croatia. Using this method, we obtained 20 positive samples, giving a Leptospira shedding rate of 10.75%. During this investigation Leptospira spp. were detected in five out of seven small rodent species, with the highest degree of shedding (30%) detected in the Velika Gorica municipality. These findings may be explained by the fact that this area belongs to the River Sava basin. High flooding potential and humid areas allow the longer survival of Leptospira in the environment. Further longitudinal studies are needed in order to identify all the abiotic and biotic factors that can affect the density of rodent population and shedding rates.

Keywords

Leptospira; small rodents; polymerase chain reaction

Hrčak ID:

238109

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/238109

Publication date:

30.3.2020.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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