A systematic review and meta-analysis of Leptospira spp. infection in wildlife: Contributions to a One Health perspective

Leptospirosis is a globally distributed zoonosis maintained by a wide range of mammalian hosts, yet the contribution of wildlife to pathogen circulation from a quantitative perspective remains poorly estimated. This PROSPERO-registered systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to estimate infection rates across wildlife taxa and document which Leptospira species, serogroups, or serovars have been detected in these hosts through direct detection of the bacterium. A systematic search of PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science and other four databases identified studies published between 2002 and 2022 reporting direct detection of Leptospira spp. in wild animals. Eligible studies included observational investigations using molecular, culture-based, or immunohistochemical methods to detect the pathogen in biological samples. Data were extracted and synthesized using meta-analytical models to estimate infection prevalence and urinary shedding across taxa while descriptive analyses summarized the diversity of infecting species and serogroups. To avoid bias from synanthropic rodents, studies involving Rattus rattus , Rattus norvegicus , and Mus musculus were excluded from all analyses. A total of 263 studies met the inclusion criteria, comprising 54,389 individuals from 648 wildlife species. The pooled prevalence of infection was 14.5%, and renal shedding reached 16.6%, with substantial variation among taxa. Rodents and bats were the most frequently sampled hosts and exhibited the broadest diversity of Leptospira species and serogroups. Isolation data identified L. interrogans , L. kirschneri , and L. borgpetersenii as the most frequently detected species, while serogroups Icterohaemorrhagiae, Australis, and Pomona predominated among isolates. Evidence from non-mammalian taxa, although limited, suggests that reptiles and amphibians may contribute to transmission in specific ecological contexts. These findings highlight the importance of integrated wildlife surveillance and improved pathogen characterization to better understand leptospirosis ecology within a One Health framework. We advocate for improved Leptospira isolation protocols and expanded application of molecular tools capable of serovar-level prediction, coupled with open data-sharing platforms to enhance global collaboration. • First PROSPERO-validated review on wildlife leptospirosis worldwide. • First study to integrate molecular and serological typing. • Meta-analysis reveals 14.5% infection and 16.6% renal shedding in wildlife. • Rodents and bats host the widest diversity of Leptospira species and serogroups.