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Review Article

Pathogenic Leptospira contamination in the environment: a systematic review

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Article: 2324820 | Received 21 Sep 2021, Accepted 26 Feb 2024, Published online: 19 Mar 2024
 

ABSTRACT

Background

The pathogenic Leptospira is maintained in renal tubules of certain animals, mostly rodents, and excreted in the urine which can contaminate the environment. It is necessary to detect pathogenic Leptospira in environmental samples. Knowing the survival of Leptospira in the environment (water and soil) can provide an overview of where and how they can be transmitted to humans.

Objective

Therefore, this study aimed to provide a systematic overview of pathogenic Leptospira presence in water and soil environment, the various species of pathogenic Leptospira that are harmful for human, and the ability to survive using a systematic review method.

Methods

The search process used four databases: PubMed, Science Direct, Scopus, and ProQuest. Furthermore, the articles sought were published from 2000 to July 2021, and 38 were analysed.

Results

The pathogenic Leptospira contamination in water was higher in urban areas, while soil samples were higher in rural areas. Various pathogenic Leptospira detected in the environment were L. alstonii, L. kmetyi, L. noguchii, and L. interrogans. Those pathogenic Leptospira can survive in water at 4–30°C and at pH < 7; in soil, it can survive at a humidity of < 20% and a pH < 6.

Conclusion

Urban and rural areas have the same risk for leptospirosis disease because pathogenic Leptospira (P1).

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Supplementary material

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed online at https://doi.org/10.1080/20008686.2024.2324820

Additional information

Funding

The work was supported by the Direktorat Riset and Pengembangan, Universitas Indonesia [NKB-4849/UN2.RST/HKP.05.00/2020].