Serological survey of leptospira spp. in livestock and rodents from different settlements in the kilombero wetland, Tanzania
Loading...
Date
2024-11-25
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Pathogens
Abstract
Background: The circulation of Leptospira has been linked to various occupational activities
globally. This study investigated the seroprevalence of Leptospira spp. in rodents and livestock
(cattle and goats) in three settlements/villages involved in agriculture, livestock keeping, and mixed
agriculture and livestock in the Kilombero district, Tanzania. Methods: Data were collected dur-
ing the wet and dry seasons. A total of 179 rodents were live-captured from selected habitats.
Livestock samples were collected from 80 cattle in a livestock settlement and 120 goats from both
livestock and mixed agricultural–livestock settlements. The microscopic agglutination test was
utilized to identify Leptospira serovars. Results: The seroprevalence of Leptospira spp. was 17.3%
in rodents (21.7% in Mastomys natalensis and 3.9% in Rattus rattus) and 8.3% in livestock (13.5% in
cattle and 12.6% in goats). The prevalence among rodents and livestock differed between settlements
(p = 0.01). A higher prevalence was observed among rodents in the agricultural settlement relative
to the other settlements. A higher prevalence of antibodies in livestock was observed in the live-
stock settlement compared with the mixed agricultural–livestock settlement. The Leptospira serovars
Sokoine (serogroup Icterohaemorrhagiae) and Hebdomadis (serogroup Hebdomadis) were detected
in both rodents and livestock. The serovars Hardjo (serogroup Sejroe) and Gripothyphosa (serogroup
Gripothyphosa) were found exclusively in cattle, whereas the serovars Pomona (serogroup Pomona)
and Lora (serogroup Australis) were identified in rodents. Leptospira antibodies were found to be
elevated during the rainy season compared with the dry season (p = 0.05) in all settlements, with the
exception of rodents in the mixed agricultural–livestock settlement. Conclusions: This study demon-
strates the presence of anti-Leptospira antibodies in rodents and livestock related to occupational
activities in human settlements. It further demonstrates that wild animals (rodents) and livestock are
reservoirs of Leptospira and are important in the epidemiology of leptospirosis. Management and
control strategies should target both rodents and livestock.
Description
Journal Article
Keywords
Leptospirosis, serovars, livestock, rodents, wetland, Tanzania