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This research investigates how land-use change affects the ecology of Leptospira and small mammal communities in Madagascar.

May 17, 2026Open Access

Changing landscapes, shifting reservoirs: land-use change and Leptospira ecology in Madagascar

Key Points

This research investigates how land-use change affects the ecology of Leptospira and small mammal communities in Madagascar.
Examined small mammal community composition across a disturbance gradient in Madagascar.
Analyzed Leptospira prevalence and lineage distribution in relation to land-use changes.
Compared infections in introduced rodents and bats across different habitat types.
Introduced rodents showed a higher prevalence of Leptospira infections compared to bats.
Distinct patterns of Leptospira were observed in bats across varying habitat types.
Host community composition significantly influences pathogen dynamics in changing environments.

Abstract

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.

Changing landscapes, shifting reservoirs: land-use change and Leptospira ecology in Madagascar

Key Points

Abstract

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