Seroprevalence and carrier status of Leptospira spp. in rats captured in the central northern region of Algeria.

Background: Leptospirosis is a zoonosis with a large distribution in the globe, and Leptospira spp. is responsible for the disease. Mammalians can serve as reservoir hosts of the bacteria; however, rodents, particularly rats, are known to be the most important reservoir, principally, for Leptospira interrogans serovar Icterohaemorrhagiae. In Algeria, few data are available concerning the circulation of the Leptospira bacterium in human and in animals including rodents. Aims: Our study aimed to bring to light the importance of rats as reservoir host of Leptospira spp. in the city of Blida, Algeria. Methods: A total of 100 rats including 88 Rattus norvegicus and 12 Rattus rattus were captured, their serums were tested for antibodies by Microscopique Agglutination Test (MAT), and their kidneys and livers were subjected to culture in Ellinghausen, McCullough, Johnson and Harris (EMJH) medium. Results: Our study revealed a sero-prevalence of 43% (95% CI: 33.3-52.7%), the most common infecting serogroup was Icterohaemorrhagiae 11% (11/100), and the highest titer was register for the serogroup Canicola 1:2560. No statistical difference was recorded between the two sexes, the classes of age, and the rat's species; However, rats captured in urban area seemed to be more infected than those captured in rural area. Organs culture confirmed the carrying status of the bacteria with prevalence of 8%. Conclusion: Our survey confirms the role of rat as reservoir host of Leptospira, and provides valuable data on the epidemiology of leptospirosis in this animal. Therefore, rat population control in the city of Blida is important to prevent outbreaks of leptospirosis in human and in other animals.