Molecular Detection of Pathogenic Leptospira in Grasscutters (Thryonomys swinderianus) from Côte d'Ivoire

The geographical and climatic conditions, hot and humid in Côte d'Ivoire, are favorable to the prolonged survival of leptospira in the environment. In this country, cases of human leptospirosis are underestimated and the wild reservoirs unknown. In this study, 16S rDNA PCR-sequencing and variable number of tandem repeats typing investigations were performed in kidneys collected from 60 grasscutters (Thryonomys swinderianus) around the city of Yamoussoukro, including 10 bred grasscutters and 50 bush meat grasscutters. One sample was positive for Leptospira borgptersenii and another one for Leptospira interrogans; both collected from wild animals. Our study suggests that grasscutters, which are abundant wild rodents hunted and bred for culinary preparations in this region, can be healthy carriers of leptospira. Thus, hygiene measures should be taken, particularly by hunters and cooks.