1
|
Philip N, Ahmed K. Leptospirosis in Malaysia: current status, insights, and future prospects. J Physiol Anthropol 2023; 42:30. [PMID: 38087323 PMCID: PMC10714552 DOI: 10.1186/s40101-023-00347-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2023] [Accepted: 11/16/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Among zoonotic infections, leptospirosis has a worldwide distribution and high prevalence in tropical regions. It has a broad clinical presentation from mild to severe, life-threatening infection. Leptospires, the etiological agent of leptospirosis, are found in varied ecological niches and animal species, providing a significant source of human infection. This review aims to provide the current status of leptospirosis in Malaysia and the direction for future studies. The literature search for this review was performed using PubMed, Web of Sciences, and Google Scholar databases. The incidence of leptospirosis in Malaysia from 2004 to 2020 varied; however, a large number of cases occurred during floods. Leptospira has been isolated from wild and domestic animals as well as from the environment; among them, several novel species have been identified. In Malaysia, leptospirosis infection and death were mostly associated with recreational and non-recreational water activities. Despite the endemicity of leptospirosis, the public's knowledge, attitude, and practice level are relatively low in this country. More studies are needed in Malaysia to explore the extent of leptospirosis in different settings and locations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Noraini Philip
- School of Biological Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang, Malaysia
| | - Kamruddin Ahmed
- Department of Pathology and Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University Malaysia Sabah, Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia.
- Borneo Medical and Health Research Centre, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia.
- Research Center for Global and Local Infectious Diseases, Oita University, Oita, Japan.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Mohd-Azami SNI, Loong SK, Khoo JJ, Husin NA, Lim FS, Mahfodz NH, Ishak SN, Mohd-Taib FS, Makepeace BL, AbuBakar S. Molecular Surveillance for Vector-Borne Bacteria in Rodents and Tree Shrews of Peninsular Malaysia Oil Palm Plantations. Trop Med Infect Dis 2023; 8:tropicalmed8020074. [PMID: 36828490 PMCID: PMC9965954 DOI: 10.3390/tropicalmed8020074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2022] [Revised: 01/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2023] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Many human clinical cases attributed to vector-borne pathogens are underreported in Malaysia, especially in rural localities where healthcare infrastructures are lacking. Here, 217 small mammals, consisting of rodents and tree shrews, were trapped in oil palm plantations in the Peninsular Malaysia states of Johor and Perak. Species identification was performed using morphological and DNA barcoding analyses, and 203 small mammals were included in the detection of selected vector-borne bacteria. The DNA extracted from the spleens was examined for Orientia tsutsugamushi, Borrelia spp., Bartonella spp. and Rickettsia spp. using established PCR assays. The small mammals collected in this study included Rattus tanezumi R3 mitotype (n = 113), Rattus argentiventer (n = 24), Rattus tiomanicus (n = 22), Rattus exulans (n = 17), Rattus tanezumi sensu stricto (n = 1) and Tupaia glis (n = 40). Orientia tsutsugamushi, Borrelia spp. and Bartonella phoceensis were detected in the small mammals with the respective detection rates of 12.3%, 5.9% and 4.9%. Rickettsia spp., however, was not detected. This study encountered the presence of both Lyme disease and relapsing fever-related borreliae in small mammals collected from the oil palm plantation study sites. All three microorganisms (Orientia tsutsugamushi, Borrelia spp. and Bartonella phoceensis) were detected in the R. tanezumi R3 mitotype, suggesting that the species is a competent host for multiple microorganisms. Further investigations are warranted to elucidate the relationships between the ectoparasites, the small mammals and the respective pathogens.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Siti Nurul Izzah Mohd-Azami
- Tropical Infectious Diseases Research & Education Centre (TIDREC), Higher Institution Centre of Excellence, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia
- Institute for Advanced Studies (IAS), Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia
| | - Shih Keng Loong
- Tropical Infectious Diseases Research & Education Centre (TIDREC), Higher Institution Centre of Excellence, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia
- Correspondence:
| | - Jing Jing Khoo
- Institute of Infection, Veterinary & Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L3 5RF, UK
| | - Nurul Aini Husin
- Tropical Infectious Diseases Research & Education Centre (TIDREC), Higher Institution Centre of Excellence, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia
- Institute for Advanced Studies (IAS), Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia
| | - Fang Shiang Lim
- Tropical Infectious Diseases Research & Education Centre (TIDREC), Higher Institution Centre of Excellence, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia
| | - Nur Hidayana Mahfodz
- Tropical Infectious Diseases Research & Education Centre (TIDREC), Higher Institution Centre of Excellence, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia
| | - Siti Nabilah Ishak
- Department of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi 43600, Malaysia
- Kuantan Fisheries Biosecurity Centre, Department of Fisheries Malaysia, Kuantan 25100, Malaysia
| | - Farah Shafawati Mohd-Taib
- Department of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi 43600, Malaysia
| | - Benjamin L. Makepeace
- Institute of Infection, Veterinary & Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L3 5RF, UK
| | - Sazaly AbuBakar
- Tropical Infectious Diseases Research & Education Centre (TIDREC), Higher Institution Centre of Excellence, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia
| |
Collapse
|