Epidemiology and molecular study of Leptospira spp. in bats and rodents in the Republic of Guinea
Authors: Aissatou BOIRO  , Taliby Dos CAMARA  , Sanaba BOUMBALY  , Ekaterina NAYDENOVA  , Mamadou Yéro BOIRO  
Published: September 2023

Introduction: Leptospirosis is a zooanthroponosis caused by spirochete bacteria called leptospire of the genus Leptospira. Objective: To contribute to the knowledge and circulation of the Leptospira germ in humans in the Republic of Guinea. Methods: This prospective and descriptive cross-sectional study lasted 18 months, from June 2019 to December 2020. Results: 687 samples, including 388 bat kidney tissues and 299 kidney tissues from captured rodents, were analysed at IRBAG's Guineo-Russian laboratory. The molecular diagnostic technique (RT-qPCR) and sequencing were carried out. Among rodents, 15 species were captured in the various administrative regions of Guinea: Mastomys natalensis, Mastomys erythroleucus. Mastomys sp, Praomys daltoni, Praomys rostratus, Praomys sp, Rattus rattus, Mus musculus, Mus musculoides, Mus sp, Lemmiscomys striatus, Gerbilliscus guineae, Cricetomys gambianus, Crocidura olivieri, Crocidura sp. The N’zérékoré region recorded the highest number of captures 226 (87 Mastomys natalensis ,61 Mus musculus, 46 Crocidura sp. 26 Rattus rattus, 5 Crocidura olivieri, 1 Mus sp. ), followed by the Kindia region with 66 cases (25 Rattus rattus ,18 Mastomys sp, 10 Mastomys erythroleucus, 6 Mus musculus, 2 Praomys daltoni, 2 Praomys sp, 2 Mus musculoides, 1 Praomys rostratus, 1 Lemmiscomys striatus, 1 Gerbilliscus guineae, 1 Cricetomys gambianus), the Faranah region with 4 cases (3 Mus musculoides,1 Mastomys sp.). The Mamou, Boké and Labé regions recorded no cases. Sixteen species of bats were captured and tested: Rousettus aegyptiacus, Lissonycteris angolensis, Epomophorus gambianus, Hipposideros jonesi, Hipposideros ruber, Hipposideros abae, Hipposideros sp., Rhinolophus sp., Chaerephon sp.., Chaerephon major, Chaerephon pumilus, Mops condylurus, Mops sp., Nycteris sp., Scotophilus leucogaster, Miniopterus sp. The Kindia region recorded the highest number of positive carriers 184 (102 Hipposideros ruber, 14 Lissonycteris angolensis, 13 Hipposideros jonesi,13 Mops condylurus,12 Hipposideros sp., 8 Rousettus aegyptiacus,8 Chaerephon pumilus, 5 Hipposideros abae,3 Scotophilus leucogaster,3 Miniopterus sp.,2 Rhinolophus sp.,1 Mops sp.), the N'Zérékoré region 134 cases (1 Lissonycteris angolensis, 1 Chaerephon sp.,41 Chaerephon major, 6 Chaerephon pumilus, 94 Mops condylurus,1 Mops sp,1 Nycteris sp.),the Boké region 52 cases (50 Hipposideros ruber, 2 Rhinolophus sp.),the Faranah region 7 cases (7 Epomophorus gambianus), the Mamou and Labé regions recorded 0 cases each. Mastomys sp. 3/17, Praomys daltoni 0/2, Praomys rostratus 1/1, Rattus rattus 1/13, Mus musculus 0/5, Mus musculoides 0/0, Crocidura olivieri), the Nzérékoré region with 4 positive cases out of 129. (Mastomys natalensis 1/37, Rattus rattus 1/14, Crocidura sp.2/30), the Faranah region recorded 0 positive cases out of a total of 4 (Mastomyssp. 0/1, Mus musculoides 0/3) and the Boké region 0 cases out of a total of 0. Mastomus natalensis, number of specimens 56 including 14 positive cases, i.e. 6.9%; P.daltoni, number of specimens 3 including 2 positive cases, i.e. 1.43%; Praomus sp, number of specimens 7 including 0 positive cases; Rattus rattus, number of specimens 75 including 1 positive case, i.e. 0.48%; Mus musculus, number of specimens 3 including 0 positive cases; P.fallax, number of specimens 1 including 0 positive cases; L.sikapusi, number of specimens 1 including 0 positive cases; Crocidura sp, number of specimens 2 of which 0 positive; S.leucogaster, number of specimens 32 of which 0 positive; T. thersites, number of specimens 23 of which 0 positive; N.hispida, number of specimens 4 of which 0 positive; E.helvum, number of specimens 2 of which 0 positive. Sequencing yielded fragments of the LiP32 gene were isolated from all positive samples. Analysis established the identity of the samples with the L. interrogans genome. Conclusion: The results obtained prove that the leptospirosis pathogen does circulate in the Republic of Guinea in both rodents and bats.