Pathogenic Leptospira species are widely disseminated among small mammals in Atlantic Forest biome

Leptospirosis is a common worldwide bacterial zoonosis and has been studied in One Health approaches. Small mammals are described as the most important maintenance reservoirs of several pathogens in nature, including leptospires. The aim of this study was to identify infection by leptospires among small mammals on the Atlantic forest biome and evaluate their potential as carriers of these spirochetes. A total of 153 small mammals belonging to orders Rodentia and Didelphimorphia (distributed on 17 genera and 22 species) were captured. Blood and kidney samples were collected from animals and a conventional PCR targeted on lipL32 gene was conducted on renal tissues. Species identification was performed in eight samples by sequencing of rrs gene. A total of 28% of the animals presented lipL32 PCR-positive, and four pathogenic Leptospira species (L. interrogans, L. borgpetersenii, L. santarosai and L. noguchii) were identified. This study highlights the role of small mammals as carriers of leptospires on the Atlantic Forest representing a potential source of pathogenic Leptospira spp infection for both humans and domestic animals.