Background Although leptospirosis is a zoonosis of major concern on tropical islands, the molecular epidemiology disease aiming at linking human cases to specific animal reservoirs has been rarely explored within these peculiar ecosystems. Methodology/Principal Findings Five species wild small mammals (n = 995) as well domestic animals 101) were screened for Leptospira infection Reunion Island; positive samples subsequently genotyped and compared from clinical diagnosed in 2012–2013 66),...

Abstract Bats provide key ecosystem services such as crop pest regulation, pollination, seed dispersal, and soil fertilization. are also major hosts for biological agents responsible zoonoses, coronaviruses (CoVs). The islands of the Western Indian Ocean identified a biodiversity hotspot, with more than 50 bat species. In this study, we tested 1,013 bats belonging to 36 species from Mozambique, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mayotte, Reunion Island Seychelles, based on molecular screening partial...

Anticipating cross-species transmission of zoonotic diseases requires an understanding pathogen infection dynamics within natural reservoir hosts. Although bats might be a source coronaviruses (CoVs) for humans, the drivers in bat populations have received limited attention. We conducted fine-scale 2-year longitudinal study CoV largest colony Reunion free-tailed (Mormopterus francoismoutoui), tropical insectivorous species. Real-time PCR screening 1080 fresh individual faeces samples...

Understanding viral community ecology in bats is essential for elucidating shedding patterns and the drivers of co-infections. In this study, we explore genetic diversity within-host dynamics herpesviruses (HSV) Mormopterus francoismoutoui, a tropical insectivorous bat endemic to Reunion Island. Over three consecutive years, collected saliva samples from seven roosts, including repeated recaptured individuals. Illumina sequencing HSV PCR-positive revealed high strains (n = 20), belonging...

The diversity and geographical distribution of fleas parasitizing small mammals have been poorly investigated on Indian Ocean islands with the exception Madagascar where endemic plague has stimulated extensive research these arthropod vectors. In context an emerging flea-borne murine typhus outbreak that occurred recently in Reunion Island, we explored fleas' diversity, host specificity Island. Small mammal hosts belonging to five introduced species were trapped from November 2012 2013 along...

The Paramyxoviridae form an increasingly diverse viral family, infecting a wide variety of different hosts. In recent years, they have been linked to disease emergence in many animal populations and humans. Bats rodents identified as major capable harboring paramyxoviruses, host shifting between these animals is likely be important driving factor the underlying evolutionary processes that eventually lead emergence. Here, we studied paramyxovirus circulation within endemic introduced wild...

Understanding the processes driving parasite assemblages is particularly important in context of zoonotic infectious diseases. Leptospirosis a widespread bacterial infection caused by pathogenic species genus Leptospira. Despite wide range animal hosts, information still lacking on factors shaping Leptospira diversity wild communities, especially regions, such as tropical insular ecosystems, with high host richness and complex biogeographical patterns. Using large dataset (34 mammal species)...

Leptospirosis is a bacterial zoonosis caused by pathogenic Leptospira for which rats are considered as the main reservoir. Disease incidence higher in tropical countries, especially insular ecosystems. Our objectives were to determine current burden of leptospirosis Seychelles, country ranking first worldwide according historical data, establish epidemiological links between animal reservoirs and human disease, identify drivers transmission.A total 223 patients with acute febrile symptoms...

Leptospirosis is a bacterial zoonosis of major concern on tropical islands. Human populations western Indian Ocean islands are strongly affected by the disease although each archipelago shows contrasting epidemiology. For instance, Mayotte, part Comoros Archipelago, differs from other neighbouring high diversity Leptospira species infecting humans that includes mayottensis, thought to be unique this island. Using culture, molecular detection and typing, present study explored wild domestic...

Although island endemic bats are a source of considerable conservation concerns, their biology remains poorly known. Here, we studied the phenology and roosting behavior tropical species: Reunion free-tailed bat (Mormopterus francoismoutoui). This widespread abundant species occupies various natural anthropogenic environments such as caves buildings. We set up fine-scale monitoring 19 roosts over 27 months in Island analyzed roost size composition, sexual age-associated segregation...

SUMMARY We report herein the investigation of a leptospirosis outbreak occurring in triathlon competitors on Réunion Island, Indian Ocean. All participants were contacted by phone or email and answered questionnaire. Detection molecular characterization pathogenic Leptospira was conducted inpatients rodents trapped at vicinity event. Of 160 athletes competing, 101 (63·1%) agreed to participate study. Leptospirosis biologically confirmed for 9/10 suspected cases either real-time PCR...

Abstract Co-infections have a key role in virus transmission wild reservoir hosts. We investigated the simultaneous presence of astroviruses, coronaviruses, and paramyxoviruses bats from Madagascar, Mayotte, Mozambique, Reunion Island. A total 871 samples 28 bat species representing 8 families were tested by polymerase chain reactions (PCRs) targeting RNA-dependent RNA-polymerase genes. Overall, 2.4% positive for at least two viruses, only on Madagascar Mozambique. Significant variation...

Abstract Infection dynamics in vertebrates are driven by biological and ecological processes. For bats, population structure reproductive cycles have major effects on RNA virus transmission. On Reunion Island, previous studies shown that parturition of pregnant females aggregation juvenile free-tailed bats ( Mormopterus francoismoutoui ) associated with increase the prevalence shedding viruses. The synchronicity such pulses, however, is yet to be assessed between viruses but also maternity...

We detected Bombali ebolavirus RNA in 3 free-tailed bats (Mops condylurus, Molossidae) Mozambique. Sequencing of the large protein gene revealed 98% identity with viruses previously Sierra Leone, Kenya, and Guinea. Our findings further support suspected role Mops condylurus maintaining ebolavirus.

Astroviruses (AstVs) are responsible for infection of a large diversity mammalian and avian species, including bats, aquatic birds, livestock humans. We investigated AstVs circulation in bats Mozambique Mayotte, small island the Comoros Archipelago located between east Africa Madagascar. Biological material was collected from 338 tested presence AstV RNA-dependent RNA-polymerase gene with pan-AstV semi-nested polymerase chain reaction assay. None 79 samples obtained Mayotte (Pteropus...

Leptospirosis, an environmental infectious disease of bacterial origin, is the with highest associated mortality in Seychelles. In small island territories, occurrence spatially heterogeneous and a better understanding factors that contribute to presence bacteria would help implement targeted control. The present study aimed at identifying main parameters correlated animal reservoirs distribution Leptospira infection order delineate habitats prevalence. We used previously published dataset...

Rickettsia felis , typhi and Bartonella DNA was detected by molecular tools in 12% of Rattus rattus fleas ( Xenopsylla species) collected from Reunion Island. One-third the infested commensal rodents captured during 1 year carried at least one infected flea. As clinical signs these zoonoses are non-specific, they often misdiagnosed.

Murine typhus is a flea-borne zoonotic disease that has been recently reported on Reunion Island, an oceanic volcanic island located in the Indian Ocean. Five years of survey implemented by regional public health services have highlighted strong temporal and spatial structure humans, with cases mainly during humid season restricted to dry southern western portions island. We explored environmental component this zoonosis attempt decipher drivers transmission. To do so, we used data from...

Abstract Bats provide key ecosystem services such as crop pest regulation, pollination, seed dispersal, and soil fertilization. are also major hosts for biological agents responsible zoonoses, coronaviruses (CoVs). The islands of the Western Indian Ocean identified a biodiversity hotspot, with more than 50 bat species. In this study, we tested 1,013 bats belonging to 36 species from Mozambique, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mayotte, Reunion Island Seychelles, based on molecular screening partial...

Island endemic bats are a considerable cause of conservation concerns, as islands vulnerable ecosystems facing natural and anthropogenic threats such growing urbanization. Here, we studied the Reunion free-tailed bat (Mormopterus francoismoutoui), an species to that has adapted urban settings. We investigated evolutionary history Mormopterus at regional scale, well on sex-specific seasonal patterns genetic structure. used extensive spatio-temporal sampling including 1,136 individuals from 18...

Abstract Understanding processes driving pathogen transmission in bats is critical to prevent spillovers and emergence events. However, it requires fine-scale ecological investigations, which are rare because of the complexity heterogeneity bat populations. Here, based on monitoring 5,949 Reunion free-tailed ( Mormopterus francoismoutoui ) 17 roosts over 24 months, we studied simultaneous excretion paramyxovirus Leptospira bacteria urine, herpesvirus saliva. We analysed influence individual...

The ecology and conservation status of many island-restricted bats remain largely unexplored. free-tailed bat Mormopterus francoismoutoui is a small insectivorous tropical bat, endemic to Reunion Island (Indian Ocean). Despite being widely distributed on the island, fine-scale genetic structure evolutionary M. under-investigated, therefore its poorly known. Here, we used Illumina paired-end sequencing develop microsatellite markers for , based genotyping 31 individuals from distinct...