A systematic review of Leptospira in water and soil environments

Bierque, E. and Thibeaux, R. and Girault, D. and Soupe-Gilbert, M. E. and Goarant, C.

PLoS ONE (2020) 15:

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0227055

Abstract

Background: Leptospirosis, caused by pathogenic Leptospira, is a zoonosis of global distribution. This infectious disease is mainly transmitted by indirect exposure to urine of asymptomatic animals via the environment. As human cases generally occur after heavy rain, an emerging hypothesis suggests that rainfall re-suspend leptospires together with soil particles. Bacteria are then carried to surface water, where humans get exposed. It is currently assumed that pathogenic leptospires can survive in the environment but do not multiply. However, little is known on their capacity to survive in a soil and freshwater environment.

Citation

Bierque, E., Thibeaux, R., Girault, D., Soupe-Gilbert, M. E., & Goarant, C. (2020). A systematic review of Leptospira in water and soil environments. PLoS ONE, 15(1). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0227055 Non-communicable Diseases and Injuries of Animals [LL860], Water Resources [PP200], Bacteria, bacterium, human diseases, bacterial diseases, pathogens, leptospirosis, polluted soils, soil pollution, soil types, Leptospira, bacterial infections, bacterioses, Pollution and Degradation [PP600], urine, polluted water, water pollution, water quality, rain, rainfall, soil, environment, water composition and quality, aquatic environment, fresh water, freshwater biology, freshwater ecology, particles, Soil Fertility [JJ600], surface water

Keywords

• Non-communicable Diseases and Injuries of Animals [LL860]
• Water Resources [PP200]
• Bacteria
• bacterium
• human diseases
• bacterial diseases
• pathogens
• leptospirosis
• polluted soils
• soil pollution
• soil types
• Leptospira
• bacterial infections
• bacterioses
• Pollution and Degradation [PP600]
• urine
• polluted water
• water pollution
• water quality
• rain
• rainfall
• soil
• environment
• water composition and quality
• aquatic environment
• fresh water
• freshwater biology
• freshwater ecology
• particles
• Soil Fertility [JJ600]
• surface water