Role of the Coypu (Myocastor coypus) in the Epidemiology of Leptospirosis in Domestic Animals and Humans in France

The coypu (Myocastor coypus), a rodent whose natural habitat is stagnant freshwater, has become a widespread pest in France within the last decade. This study investigated the prevalence of seropositivity and the renal carriage of leptospires in coypus in order to evaluate their role in terms of the...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:European journal of epidemiology 2001-01, Vol.17 (2), p.111-121
Main Authors: Michel, V., Ruvoen-Clouet, N., Menard, A., Sonrier, C., Fillonneau, C., Rakotovao, F., Ganière, J. P., André-Fontaine, G.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Animals, Domestic - immunology
Antibodies
Bacterial diseases
Bacterial diseases of the urinary system
Biological and medical sciences
Cattle
Disease Reservoirs
Domestic animals
Domesticated animals
Epidemiology
Female
France - epidemiology
Fresh Water - microbiology
Geography
Health risks
Horses
Human bacterial diseases
Humans
Infections
Infectious diseases
Leptospira
Leptospira interrogans
Leptospira interrogans - immunology
Leptospirosis
Male
Medical sciences
Myocastor coypus
Pests
Prevalence
Risk Factors
Rodentia - immunology
Rodentia - microbiology
Rodents
Seasons
Seroepidemiologic Studies
Serologic Tests
Time Factors
Water Pollutants - adverse effects
Water Pollutants - immunology
Weil Disease - epidemiology
Weil Disease - immunology
Weil Disease - transmission
Citations: Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:The coypu (Myocastor coypus), a rodent whose natural habitat is stagnant freshwater, has become a widespread pest in France within the last decade. This study investigated the prevalence of seropositivity and the renal carriage of leptospires in coypus in order to evaluate their role in terms of the risk of infection by Leptospira interrogans in domestic animals and humans. The study involved the application of serological and bacteriological methods to identify leptospires infection and/or carriage in 738 coypus trapped from 1996 to 1999 in six areas of France. Seroprevalence in samples ranged from 16.5 to 66%, and three field strains were isolated (two L. interrogans Icterohaemorrhagiae and one L. interrogans Sejroe). This first report on the isolation of leptospires from coypus in France emphasises the role of this animal in the epidemiology of leptospirosis.
ISSN:0393-2990
1573-7284
DOI:10.1023/A:1017931607318