2026/05/15 by Nobuo Koizumi · 1 voice
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Immunology and Microbiology · Medicine · #Leptospirosis research and findings #Yersinia bacterium, plague, ectoparasites research #Zoonotic diseases and public health
paper · doi:10.1128/aem.00487-26
openalex publication_date 2026/05/15 · openalex created_date 2026/05/16 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/27
ABSTRACT Land-use change is widely recognized as a driver of zoonotic disease emergence, yet its effects are often context-dependent. In an article published in Applied and Environmental Microbiology , J. A. Rajaonarivelo, K. M. Kauffman, T. M. Randriamoria, J. P. Herrera, et al. (92:e02061-25, 2026, https://doi.org/10.1128/aem.02061-25 ) show that shifts in small mammal communities across a disturbance gradient in Madagascar are associated with changes in Leptospira prevalence and lineage distribution. Introduced rodents contributed disproportionately to infections, whereas bats exhibited distinct patterns across habitat types. These findings highlight the importance of host community composition in shaping pathogen dynamics in changing landscapes.