Leptospirosis is a bacterial zoonosis caused by pathogenic Leptospira strains, primarily affecting tropical and subtropical regions. In Côte d'Ivoire, previous studies on rodents and cattle have failed to establish a link between human cases and animal reservoirs, suggesting an unidentified source of infection. Given that bats are known to host various human pathogens, this study aimed to detect pathogenic Leptospira in bats from Abidjan. A cross-sectional study (04/01/2021 to 04/30/2021) involved capturing bats at their roosting sites, identifying them phenotypically, and collecting kidney samples for analysis. Two PCR assays were used for Leptospira detection. Among the 69 bats analyzed, Micropteropus pusillus (39.1%) and Rousettus aegyptiacus (36.2%) were predominant. Leptospira DNA was detected in 12 bats (17.4%), including 3 pathogenic strains (4.3%). R. aegyptiacus had the highest infection rate, hosting all 3 pathogenic Leptospira strains. These findings suggest that R. aegyptiacus may serve as a reservoir for pathogenic Leptospira in Abidjan.

 

Key words: Chiroptera, Rousettus aegyptiacus, Leptospira, zoonotic diseases, molecular diagnostic, Cote d’Ivoire.