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Leptospira spp. in Rodents and Shrews from Afghanistan
Anne Mayer-Scholl1, Jens P Teifke2, Niclas Huber3
11 German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Department for Biological Safety, Max-Dohrn-Str. 8-10, 10589 Berlin, Germany.
Abstract:
Leptospirosis is an occupational risk for military personnel and many cases have been reported worldwide. Rodents are the most important maintenance hosts for Leptospira spp. and may infect both animals and humans. To determine the occurrence and identity of pathogenic Leptospira spp. in rodent and shrew populations in German military camps in Afghanistan, we examined 751 animals ( Mus musculus, Cricetulus migratorius, Meriones libycus, Rattus tanezumi, Crocidura cf. suaveolens, and Suncus etruscus) from four military camps in Northern Afghanistan from 2009-12. Leptospiral DNA was found in 1.1% of the animals and only in Mus musculus. Partial secY sequencing identified Leptospira borgpetersenii and Leptospira kirschneri as infecting genomospecies. Multilocus sequence typing was successful in the L. borgpetersenii samples, which were identified as sequence type 155. The low prevalence we observed suggested that the exposure risk of military personnel to infectious Leptospira spp. in the region is low.
Insights
Leptospirosis risk for military personnel in Afghanistan appears low, as pathogenic Leptospira bacteria were found in only 1.1% of rodents and shrews. The study identified Leptospira borgpetersenii and Leptospira kirschneri in Mus musculus.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Microbiology
- Zoonotic Diseases
- Environmental Health
Background:
- Leptospirosis is a significant occupational hazard for military personnel globally.
- Rodents are primary reservoirs for pathogenic Leptospira species, posing infection risks to animals and humans.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence and genetic identification of pathogenic Leptospira in rodent and shrew populations.
- To assess the potential exposure risk for German military personnel in Afghanistan.
Main Methods:
- Examination of 751 small mammals (rodents and shrews) from four military camps in Northern Afghanistan (2009-2012).
- Detection of Leptospiral DNA using molecular methods.
- Identification of species and strains via partial secY sequencing and multilocus sequence typing.
Main Results:
- Leptospiral DNA was detected in 1.1% of the examined animals, exclusively in Mus musculus.
- Sequencing identified Leptospira borgpetersenii (sequence type 155) and Leptospira kirschneri as the infecting species.
- The overall low prevalence suggests a limited risk of Leptospira exposure.
Conclusions:
- Pathogenic Leptospira species were identified in rodent populations within German military camps in Afghanistan.
- The low prevalence indicates a reduced risk of leptospirosis for military personnel in this specific operational area.
- Further surveillance may be warranted in similar environments.
