Disentangling the influence of reservoir abundance and pathogen shedding on zoonotic spillover of the Leptospira agent in urban informal settlements.

ABSTRACT: Rats are major reservoirs for pathogenic Leptospira, the bacteria causing leptospirosis, particularly in urban informal settlements. However, the impact of variation in rat abundance and pathogen shedding rates on spillover transmission to humans remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate how spatial variation in reservoir abundance and pathogen pressure affect Leptospira spillover transmission to humans in a Brazilian urban informal settlement. A longitudinal eco-epidemiological study was conducted from 2013 to 2014 to characterize the spatial distribution of rat abundance and Leptospira shedding rates in rats and determine the association with human infection risk in a cohort of 2,206 community residents. Tracking plates and live-trapping were used to measure r

SUBMITTER: Soni N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11445007 | biostudies-literature | 2024

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature