Detection of pathogenic Leptospira spp. infections among mammals captured in the Peruvian Amazon basin region.

Bunnell, Joseph E.; Hice, Christine L.; Watts, Douglas M.; Montrueil, Victor; Tesh, Robert B.; Vinetz, Joseph M.

doi:10.4269/ajtmh.2000.63.255

Cited by 88 publications

(88 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…infection evidence being 20% (13/64) rodents, 39% (20/51) marsupials and 35% (7/20) bats. Marsupials and bats appeared to be the more important reservoirs than previously recognized (48). Sera samples of 109 wild mammals living near residences were evaluated regarding the presence of Leptospira spp.…”

Section: Wild Animal Aspectmentioning

confidence: 99%

Interactions between environment, wild animals and human leptospirosis

Ullmann¹,

Langoni²

2011

J. Venom. Anim. Toxins incl. Trop. Dis

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Leptospirosis, a worldwide distributed zoononis caused by bacteria of the genus Leptospira (antigenically classified into serovars), may be direct or indirectly transmitted through infected urine or environment. Several domestic and wild animals are leptospirosis reservoirs. The disease presents occupational character since it is widely reported in professionals that work in humid environments -such as sewage workers and fishermen -and in places where rodents or susceptible animals are found, like slaughterhouses and veterinary clinics. In developing countries, outbreaks are related to lack of sanitation, overcrowding in inadequate housing and climatic conditions. In developed countries, sporadic cases occur in aquatic recreational activities including swimming and triathlon. The diagnosis of leptospirosis is complex due to the variety of symptoms, disease severity and the lack of techniques that are able to early detect the infection. Thus, leptospirosis causes numerous public health problems and educational activities are very important to its control.

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Section: Wild Animal Aspectmentioning

confidence: 99%

Interactions between environment, wild animals and human leptospirosis

Ullmann¹,

Langoni²

2011

J. Venom. Anim. Toxins incl. Trop. Dis

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“…11 Recent interest has emerged for investigating the potential role of bats as a source of infection of humans by pathogenic leptospires in forested areas such as the Amazon region. 6,7 About 1200 species of bats have been described in the world, of which 167 are found in Brazil. 12 Bats present in São Paulo City are primarily insectivorous species 13 that commonly feed on insects that concentrate around public lighting.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…[3][4][5] One potential source of leptospiral infection is bats. Bats are known to carry some human pathogens, including Leptospira , [6][7][8][9] as well as rabies 10 and histoplasmosis. 11 Recent interest has emerged for investigating the potential role of bats as a source of infection of humans by pathogenic leptospires in forested areas such as the Amazon region.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Contribution of Bats to Leptospirosis Transmission in São Paulo City, Brazil

Bessa¹,

Spichler²,

Chapola³

et al. 2010

The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene

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Abstract. The biodiversity of potential leptospiral reservoir hosts is lower in urban than in rural environments. Previous data indicate the potential for bats to act as carriers of Leptospira in regions such as the Amazon of South America and in Australia. Yet, little is known about the contribution of bats to leptospirosis in urban environments in South America. This study aimed to test the hypothesis that bats infected with Leptospira are sources of leptospirosis transmission to humans in São Paulo City, Brazil. Six of 343 bats caught in different districts within the city of Sao Paulo (182 insectivorous, 161 frugivorous or nectarivorous) were polymerase chain reaction (PCR) positive for pathogenic Leptospira; no seropositive bats were found. That few renal carriers of Leptospira were found in the city of Sao Paulo suggests that bats are not important in the transmission of leptospirosis to humans in this, and possibly other urban settings .

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“…Bats (Chiroptera) are prevalent in urban areas, often roosting in accessible parts of houses, and guano and bat urine contaminate the area below the roosting site. There is abundant evidence that bats can be naturally infected with and excrete pathogenic leptospires, yet no study has conclusively demonstrated that the bats are reservoir hosts for infection in humans or dogs (Bunnell et al 2000;Cox et al 2005). In 2009, a reported case of human leptospirosis in Chicago, Illinois, USA, was attributed to contact with a bat in a swimming pool, but the species of bat was not identified, nor was the bat tested for Leptospira (Vashi et al 2009).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In another study from Australia investigating the same four species of flying foxes using a PCR assay, Cox et al (2005) found 11% (19 of 173) positive when testing kidneys from flying foxes on the mainland, but 39% (18 of 46) positive when testing urine from flying foxes on Indooroopilly Island. In the Peruvian Amazon basin, Bunnell et al (2000) found that kidneys from seven of 20 bats (35%) were PCR positive for pathogenic leptospires. Matthias et al (2005), tested 589 bats from the same area and found only 20 positive using PCR on kidneys and three positive by culturing urine samples (overall 3.4%).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%