Role of the coypu (Myocastor coypus) in the epidemiology of leptospirosis in domestic animals and humans in France

The coypu (Myocastor coypus), a rodent whose natural habitat is stagnant fr eshwater, has become a widespread pest in France within the last decade. Th is study investigated the prevalence of seropositivity and the renal carria ge of leptospires in coypus in order to evaluate their role in terms of the risk of infection by Leptospira interrogans in domestic animals and humans . The study involved the application of serological and bacteriological met hods to identify leptospires infection and/or carriage in 738 coypus trappe d from 1996 to 1999 in six areas of France. Seroprevalence in samples range d from 16.5 to 66%, and three field strains were isolated (two L. interroga ns Icterohaemorrhagiae and one L. interrogans Sejroe). This first report on the isolation of leptospires from coypus in France emphasises the role of this animal in the epidemiology of leptospirosis.