Household characteristics associated with rodent presence and Leptospira infection in rural and urban communities from Southern Chile.
Rodents are well-recognized reservoirs of Leptospira, contributing to its maintenance in endemic areas and playing a role in the public health risk associated with the infection. This study sought to provide some insights into rodent populations from Chile and their Leptospira carriage. In total, 393 rodents were trapped in 177 households. Higher rodent counts were associated with year 2 of the study, rainfall, and number of rodent signs. There was an inverse correlation with the number of cats. The number of rodents was higher in villages compared with slums (rate ratio = 3.23) but modified by average household age. Eighty rodents (20.4%) tested positive for Leptospira: 19.7% on the farms, 25.9% in villages, and 12.3% in the slums. Prevalence was 22.5% in Mus musculus, 20.7% in Rattus rattus, 21.1% in wild rodents, and 10.3% in R. norvegicus. Seasonal and temporal effects were the major determinants of Leptospira infection in rodent populations.
Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota; Instituto de Patología Animal, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile; Conservation Biology Graduate Program, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota.
Claudia
C
Muñoz-Zanzi
Meghan
M
Mason
Carolina
C
Encina
Marcelo
M
Gonzalez
Sergey
S
Berg
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D002415:Cats; D002677:Chile / Q000453:epidemiology; D003252:Construction Materials / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis*; D004197:Disease Reservoirs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007919:Leptospira; D007922:Leptospirosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000662:veterinary; D051379:Mice / Q000382:microbiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D051381:Rats / Q000382:microbiology*; D012111:Residence Characteristics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012375:Rodent Control; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D018505:Waste Management / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014881:Water Supply / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult
D004269:DNA, Bacterial