Authors

A Goll¹; M Grzybek¹; M Krupińska¹; J Nowicka¹;  ¹ Medical University of Gdansk, Poland

Discussion

This study aimed to analyse the prevalence of Leptospira in sylvatic rodents in northeastern Poland. Animals were trapped in Masurian Lakes District between 2020 and 2022 using wooden live traps with seeds, peanut butter, and fruits as a lure. Trapped rodents belonging to Apodemus, Myodes, Microtus and Mus species, were culled with overexposure to anaesthetics and a parasitological section was performed. Genomic DNA from rodent spleens was isolated and PCR was applied. We confirmed the presence of Leptospira DNA in 4 out of 305 rodents with 1,31% prevalence.

Our results confirm that rodents may take part in the circulation of Leptospira. Further biomonitoring is necessary to assess different intrinsic and extrinsic factors that might influence Leptospira prevalence in rodents. This will help to indicate and predict possible places of outbreaks that can lead to severe infections in humans, livestock and companion animals.