Effects of Culling on Leptospira interrogans Carriage by Rats

Abstract

We found that lethal, urban rat control is associated with a significant increase in the odds that surviving rats carry Leptospira interrogans. Our results suggest that human interventions have the potential to affect and even increase the prevalence of zoonotic pathogens within rat populations.

Keywords

• Leptospira interrogans
• leptospirosis
• rodent control
• zoonoses
• Norway rat
• bacteria