Artificial Irrigation Impacts the Seasonal Occurrence of Pathogenic "Leptospira" in Its Wild Reservoirs in a Mediterranean Environment
Ruiz, Cristina ; Rodríguez-Pastor, Ruth ; Escolar, Cristina ; Alonso, Henar ; Millán, Javier
Resumen: Background
Human activities play a significant role in the emergence of infectious diseases. We aimed to test whether artificial irrigation affects the occurrence of a zoonotic bacteria sensitive to desiccation, pathogenic Leptospira species (pathoLep), in micromammals inhabiting Mediterranean ecosystems.
Methods
A total of 361 individuals, including 217 Algerian mice (Mus spretus), 79 wood mice (Apodemus sylvaticus), and 65 greater white-toothed shrews (Crocidura russula), were captured during the four seasons of 2022 in six sites along a riparian forest close to a large city in north-eastern Spain and the surrounding agricultural fields, which are irrigated by flooding. A piece of kidney from each individual was analysed by means of two real-time PCR protocols targeting the lipL32 gene, which is exclusively found in pathoLep. Generalised Linear Models were used to study the factors that may be related to the presence of pathoLep.
Results
DNA of pathoLep was detected in 28% of the individuals, a relatively high occurrence compared to similar studies. The best model for the general micromammal population included four significant factors: season, age, species, and habitat. Prevalence was significantly lower during the dry seasons; in juveniles than in adult individuals; in the wood mouse than in the Algerian mouse and the shrew; and in natural than in agricultural habitats. Prevalence was consistently higher in agricultural habitats during all the seasons, reaching over 55% prevalence in these areas during spring. For the core species, the Algerian mouse, the best model included two factors (seasons and habitat), in the same sense as the general population model.
Conclusions
This study shows that pathoLep are widespread among micromammals in the Middle Ebro Valley and that their occurrence is shaped by intrinsic and extrinsic factors. We identified a human activity (artificial irrigation) as an important driver favouring leptospiral survival in rural environments.
Idioma: Inglés
DOI: 10.1111/zph.70043
Año: 2026
Publicado en: Zoonoses and Public Health (2026), [8 pp.]
ISSN: 1863-1959
Financiación: info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/DGA/LMP90_21
Tipo y forma: Article (Published version)
You must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use. You may not use the material for commercial purposes. If you remix, transform, or build upon the material, you must distribute your contributions under the same license as the original.
Exportado de SIDERAL (2026-03-06-14:50:38)
Visitas y descargas
Human activities play a significant role in the emergence of infectious diseases. We aimed to test whether artificial irrigation affects the occurrence of a zoonotic bacteria sensitive to desiccation, pathogenic Leptospira species (pathoLep), in micromammals inhabiting Mediterranean ecosystems.
Methods
A total of 361 individuals, including 217 Algerian mice (Mus spretus), 79 wood mice (Apodemus sylvaticus), and 65 greater white-toothed shrews (Crocidura russula), were captured during the four seasons of 2022 in six sites along a riparian forest close to a large city in north-eastern Spain and the surrounding agricultural fields, which are irrigated by flooding. A piece of kidney from each individual was analysed by means of two real-time PCR protocols targeting the lipL32 gene, which is exclusively found in pathoLep. Generalised Linear Models were used to study the factors that may be related to the presence of pathoLep.
Results
DNA of pathoLep was detected in 28% of the individuals, a relatively high occurrence compared to similar studies. The best model for the general micromammal population included four significant factors: season, age, species, and habitat. Prevalence was significantly lower during the dry seasons; in juveniles than in adult individuals; in the wood mouse than in the Algerian mouse and the shrew; and in natural than in agricultural habitats. Prevalence was consistently higher in agricultural habitats during all the seasons, reaching over 55% prevalence in these areas during spring. For the core species, the Algerian mouse, the best model included two factors (seasons and habitat), in the same sense as the general population model.
Conclusions
This study shows that pathoLep are widespread among micromammals in the Middle Ebro Valley and that their occurrence is shaped by intrinsic and extrinsic factors. We identified a human activity (artificial irrigation) as an important driver favouring leptospiral survival in rural environments.
Idioma: Inglés
DOI: 10.1111/zph.70043
Año: 2026
Publicado en: Zoonoses and Public Health (2026), [8 pp.]
ISSN: 1863-1959
Financiación: info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/DGA/LMP90_21
Tipo y forma: Article (Published version)
You must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use. You may not use the material for commercial purposes. If you remix, transform, or build upon the material, you must distribute your contributions under the same license as the original. Exportado de SIDERAL (2026-03-06-14:50:38)
Permalink:
Visitas y descargas
Este artículo se encuentra en las siguientes colecciones:
Articles
Record created 2026-03-06, last modified 2026-03-06