New wildlife hosts of Leptospira interrogans in Campeche, Mexico.
Leptospira interrogans has been identified to cause leptospirosis, a widespread zoonotic disease that has been identified in domestic and wild animals. This work analyzed kidneys from two species of wild rodents from the state of Campeche, Mexico. Analyses were made by PCR using specific primers for detection of Leptospira interrogans DNA. The rodent species that tested positive were Heteromys gaumeri and Ototylomys phyllotis, both of which are new hosts for the bacteria in Southeastern Mexico. These records provide new insights into the disease's transmission that should be studied carefully in order to identify other potential host species, including humans, which are at risk of becoming infected if they are in contact with infected wildlife.
Departamento de Biología Evolutiva, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Distrito Federal, México.
Deborah V
DV
Espinosa-Martínez
Unidad de Investigación en Medicina Experimental, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Distrito Federal, México.
Daniel Sokani
DS
Sánchez-Montes
Departamento de Biología Evolutiva, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Distrito Federal, México.
Livia
L
León-Paniagua
Departamento de Biología Evolutiva, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Distrito Federal, México.
César A
CA
Ríos-Muñoz
Unidad de Investigación en Medicina Experimental, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Distrito Federal, México.
Miriam
M
Berzunza-Cruz
Unidad de Investigación en Medicina Experimental, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Distrito Federal, México.
Ingeborg
I
Becker
D000818:Animals; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D004197:Disease Reservoirs / Q000145:classification* / Q000382:microbiology; D058507:Host Specificity; D007668:Kidney / Q000382:microbiology*; D007921:Leptospira interrogans / Q000235:genetics*; D008800:Mexico; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction
D004269:DNA, Bacterial