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Updated: May 17, 2026

Polymerase Chain Reaction and Dot-Blot Hybridization for Leptospira Detection in Water Samples
Published on: June 14, 2024
Changing landscapes, shifting reservoirs: land-use change andLeptospira ecology in Madagascar
1Department of Bacteriology I, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Japan Institute for Health Security, Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan.
Abstract:
Land-use change is widely recognized as a driver of zoonotic disease emergence, yet its effects are often context-dependent. In an article published in Applied and Environmental Microbiology, J. A. Rajaonarivelo, K. M. Kauffman, T. M. Randriamoria, J. P. Herrera, et al. (92:e02061-25, 2026, https://doi.org/10.1128/aem.02061-25) show that shifts in small mammal communities across a disturbance gradient in Madagascar are associated with changes in Leptospira prevalence and lineage distribution. Introduced rodents contributed disproportionately to infections, whereas bats exhibited distinct patterns across habitat types. These findings highlight the importance of host community composition in shaping pathogen dynamics in changing landscapes.
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