Ayral Florence, Botman Julie, Le Guyader Marine, Ramery Eve, Gourlay Philippe
UR 1233, VetAgro Sup, Université de Lyon, Marcy L'Etoile, France.
VetAgro Sup Analysis Center, VetAgro Sup, Université de Lyon, Marcy L'Etoile, France.
Zoonoses Public Health. 2025 May;72(3):324-329. doi: 10.1111/zph.13206. Epub 2025 Jan 10.
Leptospirosis is a widespread zoonosis caused by bacteria in the genus Leptospira. Basic epidemiological information is crucial to mitigating disease risk but is lacking for leptospirosis; notably, the hosts responsible for maintaining Leptospira remain largely unknown. Frequently observed near human habitations, hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus) are taken to wildlife rescue centres when found sick or injured. Thus, they may pose a risk to human and animal health if they carry pathogenic Leptospira.
This study aimed to describe Leptospira carriage in a hedgehog population and the potential clinical impacts of the infection.
We investigated Leptospira carriage frequency and diversity in urine samples from 69 hedgehogs at a wildlife rescue centre, between April and June 2022. We used quantitative PCR, typing of the 16S rRNA and lfb1 genes, variable number tandem repeat and multispacer sequence typing to characterise Leptospira DNA. An analysis of urinary biochemical parameters was conducted to assess renal function.
We detected Leptospira DNA in 25 (35%) of the urine samples, of which 21 were successfully typed. The latter analysis revealed a limited degree of genetic diversity. L. interrogans (n = 19) predominated, and the only genotype detected was related to the Australis serogroup (n = 17). We also noted the presence of L. borgpetersenii (n = 1) and L. kirschneri (n = 1). There was no relationship between infection status and urinalysis parameters.
These results suggest hedgehogs may act as long-term shedders of Leptospira in natural ecosystems.
钩端螺旋体病是一种由钩端螺旋体属细菌引起的广泛传播的人畜共患病。基本的流行病学信息对于降低疾病风险至关重要，但钩端螺旋体病却缺乏此类信息；值得注意的是，负责维持钩端螺旋体生存的宿主在很大程度上仍不为人知。刺猬（欧洲刺猬）经常出现在人类居住地附近，当它们生病或受伤时会被送往野生动物救助中心。因此，如果它们携带致病性钩端螺旋体，可能会对人类和动物健康构成风险。
本研究旨在描述刺猬种群中钩端螺旋体的携带情况以及感染的潜在临床影响。
我们于2022年4月至6月期间，对一家野生动物救助中心的69只刺猬尿液样本中的钩端螺旋体携带频率和多样性进行了调查。我们使用定量PCR、16S rRNA和lfb1基因分型、可变数目串联重复序列和多间隔序列分型来鉴定钩端螺旋体DNA。对尿液生化参数进行分析以评估肾功能。
我们在25份（35%）尿液样本中检测到钩端螺旋体DNA，其中21份成功分型。后一项分析显示遗传多样性程度有限。问号钩端螺旋体（n = 19）占主导，检测到的唯一基因型与澳洲菌群（n = 17）相关。我们还注意到存在波氏钩端螺旋体（n = 1）和克氏钩端螺旋体（n = 1）。感染状况与尿液分析参数之间没有关联。
这些结果表明刺猬可能在自然生态系统中作为钩端螺旋体的长期携带者。
