Serological and molecular detection of pathogenic Leptospira in domestic and stray cats on Reunion Island, French Indies.

Indian Ocean islands are endemic areas for human and animal leptospirosis. Maintenance host species for Leptospira spp. have still not been completely elucidated, and recently the role of cats (Felis catus) has been questioned. This cross-sectional study aims to determine whether cats are part of the maintenance community of different strains of Leptospira spp. in Reunion Island. The prevalence of Leptospira infection in an opportunistic sample of stray and domestic cats (n = 92) from Reunion Island has been studied using serological (microagglutination test) and molecular detection (polymerase chain reaction (PCR)). The results revealed a seroprevalence of 37.0% (34/92) (cut-off 1:40) without a significant difference in the living conditions of animals. The predominant serogroup was Icterohaemorrhagiae, but Ballum, Cynopteri and Australis were also detected. Using PCR, 28.6% (12/42) of stray cats were tested positive. Leptospiral DNA was detected in renal tissue, urine and blood of respectively 14.3% (6/42), 10.3% (4/39) and 11.9% (5/42) of stray cats, but 0% (0/3), 0% (0/50) and 0% (0/36) of domestic cats (P = non-applicable, P = 0,038, P = 0,058 respectively). Partial rrs gene (16S rRNA) sequencing identified Leptospira interrogans in all PCR-positive samples. Our study confirms that renal carriage and urinary shedding are possible, positioning cats, and especially stray cats as potential actors within the maintenance community of L. interrogans in Reunion Island.

Fatal leptospirosis in free-ranging Eurasian beavers (Castor fiber L.), Switzerland.

Leptospirosis was first diagnosed in free-ranging Eurasian beavers (Castor fiber L.) in Switzerland in 2010. Pathologic, serologic, molecular and epidemiologic analyses were carried out on 13 animals submitted for necropsy from 2010 through 2014. Typical lesions included alveolar haemorrhages in the lungs, tubular degeneration and interstitial nephritis in the kidneys. Microscopic agglutination test results were positive for serogroups Icterohaemorrhagiae, Australis, Autumnalis and Sejroe. Molecular analysis identified four distinct profiles belonging to serovar Icterohaemorrhagiae or Copenhageni. The severity and features of the lesions were consistent with a fatal disease associated with leptospires similarly to what has been reported in other animals and humans. The spatiotemporal occurrence of leptospirosis in beavers suggested an upstream spread of the bacteria and coincided with an increased incidence of leptospirosis in dogs and a case cluster in humans. However, an epidemiologic link among beaver cases and among species was not supported neither by the serologic nor molecular data.