Rat Model of Chronic Leptospirosis

Reservoir hosts of pathogenic Leptospira species, including wild and domestic animal species, persistently excrete leptospires from infected renal tubules via urine into the environment. Reservoir hosts are typically asymptomatic. In contrast to the hamster model of leptospirosis (described in UNIT 12E.2), which emulates the severe form of human leptospirosis, the rat model of chronic leptospirosis emulates the asymptomatic infection observed in reservoir hosts. Rats are the primary reservoir host for pathogenic Leptospira species associated with the severe forms of human leptospirosis.