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First Molecular Detection of Pathogens <i>Leptospira</i> in Common Rodent Captured in North Algeria Urban Areas
oleh: Lila Lekhal, Elena Harran, Anaïs Aragon, Karine Groud, Marine Le Guyader, Rachid Kaidi, Djamel Khelef, Zouheira Djelouadji
Format: | Article |
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Diterbitkan: | MDPI AG 2022-10-01 |
Deskripsi
Leptospirosis is an anthropozoonosis disease of worldwide distribution caused by mobile spirochetes of the genus <i>Leptospira</i> and rodents, mainly rats, are described as its primary reservoir. In Algeria, there is limited data about the prevalence of <i>Leptospira</i> spp. in humans and animals, as well as <i>Leptospira</i> carriage in wild rodents. The study aimed to highlight the importance of rodents as a reservoir of <i>Leptospira</i> bacterium in Blida city in Algeria by detecting and identifying circulating <i>Leptospira</i> species in the rodent population. A total of 101 rodents, 95 <i>Rattus Norvegicus</i>, 5 <i>Rattus Rattus</i>, and 1 <i>Mus Musculus</i> were captured and tested for pathogenic <i>Leptospira</i> spp. byreal-time PCR targeting the <i>Leptospira</i> 16S rRNA (rrs) gene, revealing a total prevalence of 40.6%, 95% IC [30.9–50.8%]. Positive samples were subjected to species-specific real-time PCR assays targeting <i>L. interrogans</i>, <i>L. noguchii</i>, <i>L. borgpetersenii</i>, and <i>L. kirschneri</i> for species identification. However, positive samples for which <i>Leptospira</i>-species could not be determined were subjected to conventional PCR targeting the partial 16S rRNA (rrs) gene, and amplified DNA was subjected to sequencing. <i>Leptospira</i> spp. was detected in 36 kidney, 16 urine, and three lung specimens. <i>L. interrogans</i> was identified in 39 rodents and <i>L. borpetersenii</i> in one rodent; however, one rodent with renal carriage could not be typed due to poor DNA quality. This study provides the first description of pathogenic <i>Leptospira</i> spp. in wild rodents in Algeria. These findings suggest a high potential risk of leptospirosis transmission from rodents to humans and animals in Algeria and therefore imply the adoption of prophylactic measures. In addition, further studies, including different animals and rodent species, should be conducted to clarify the epidemiology of this disease in Algeria.