Circulation Of Zoonotic And Pathogenic Leptospira In Urban Rodents

Leptospirosis is a globally prevalent zoonotic disease caused by pathogenic Leptospira, with wild rodents serving as primary reservoirs. This pilot study investigated the presence of Leptospira spp. in small mammals from Porto, Portugal. Kidney samples from 23 individuals were analyzed using real-time PCR, secY sequencing, and multilocus sequence typing (MLST). Leptospira DNA was detected in 13% of the animals, identifying L. kirschneri ST117 in Mus musculus and Mus spretus, and L. borgpetersenii ST149 in Apodemus sylvaticus. These findings highlight the role of synanthropic rodents as reservoirs of zoonotic Leptospira, emphasizing the need for enhanced public health surveillance and risk assessment.