Pathogenic Leptospira spp. in Bats, Madagascar and Union of the Comoros

Abstract : TO THE EDITOR: Leptospirosis is a zoonosis of global distribution; incidence rates are particularly high in tropical areas (1). Leptospirosis is a major public health problem on islands in the southwestern Indian Ocean, particularly La Réunion, Mayotte, and the Seychelles (where incidence rates are among the highest in the world) (1). In contrast, no human case has been reported on the nearby islands of Madagascar and Union of the Comoros. However, the recent demonstration of pathogenic Leptospira spp. in small mammals introduced to Madagascar suggests possible transmission from free-living animals to humans (2).