High prevalence of Leptospira spp. in sewer rats (Rattus norvegicus)

Earlier studies on the ecology of leptospirosis in temperate regions focused mainly on free-ranging rats in rural areas. Here we report on the occurrence of Leptospira spp. in Rattus norvegicus living in sewers in a suburban area in Copenhagen, Denmark. In 2006–2007, about 30 rats were captured in s...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Epidemiology and infection 2009-11, Vol.137 (11), p.1586-1592
Main Authors: KRØJGAARD, L. H., VILLUMSEN, S., MARKUSSEN, M. D. K., JENSEN, J. S., LEIRS, H., HEIBERG, A.-C.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animal and Human Health
Animals
Anticoagulants
Bacteriology
Biological and medical sciences
Body weight
Denmark - epidemiology
Disease reservoirs
Disease Reservoirs - microbiology
Disease Reservoirs - veterinary
DNA
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Humans
Infections
Kidneys
Laboratories
Leptospira
Leptospira spp
Leptospirosis
Leptospirosis - epidemiology
Leptospirosis - veterinary
Male
Microbiology
Miscellaneous
Pests
Polymerase chain reaction
polymerase chain reaction (PCR)
Population Surveillance
Prevalence
Rats
Rats - microbiology
Rattus norvegicus
sewers
Urban Population
Urine
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Summary:Earlier studies on the ecology of leptospirosis in temperate regions focused mainly on free-ranging rats in rural areas. Here we report on the occurrence of Leptospira spp. in Rattus norvegicus living in sewers in a suburban area in Copenhagen, Denmark. In 2006–2007, about 30 rats were captured in sewers at each of six different locations. Rat kidneys were screened by PCR for pathogenic Leptospira spp. In one location no infected rats were found, whereas the prevalence in the remaining five locations ranged between 48% and 89%. Micro-agglutination tests showed that serogroup Pomona, Sejroe, and Icterohaemorrhagiae were the most common. Infection was related to age with the highest prevalence observed for adult rats but there was no difference in infection rate between sexes, suggesting primarily environmental transmission. Since most reported rat problems in urban areas are related to sewer rats, the surprisingly high level of infection calls for an increased public health concern.
ISSN:0950-2688
1469-4409
DOI:10.1017/S0950268809002647