Pathogenic Leptospira and water quality in African cities : a case study of Cotonou, Benin

2021

Article référencé dans le Web of Science WOS:000641160200003

Houemenou H., Gauthier Philippe, Houemenou G., Mama D., Alassane A., Socohou A., Dossou H. J., Badou S., Picardeau M., Tweed Sarah, Leblanc M., Dobigny Gauthier

Science of the Total Environment, 2021, 774, 145541 [10 p.] ISSN 0048-9697

Leptospirosis is a waterborne zoonosis (60,000 infections and 1 million deaths annually). Knowledge about the disease in the urban context is surprisingly rare, especially in Africa. Here, we provide the first study of leptospires in waterswithin an African city. A simple centrifugation-basedmethodwas developed to screenwaterborne leptospires fromremote or poorly areas. Major ions, trace elements, stable isotopes and pathogenic Leptospira were then seasonally investigated in 193 water samples from three neighborhoods of Cotonou (Benin) with different socio-environmental and hydrographic characteristics. Firstly, no leptospire was detected in tap waters. Secondly, although surface contamination cannot be excluded, one groundwaterwellwas found leptospire positive. Thirdly, pathogenic Leptospira mainly contaminated surface waters of temporary and permanent ponds (9.5% and 27.3% of total prevalence, respectively). Isotopic signatures suggest that leptospires occurred in pondwaters formed at the beginning of the rainy season following low to moderate rainfall events. Nevertheless, Leptospiracontaining waters possess physico-chemical characteristics that are similar to the spectrum of waters sampled throughout the three sites, thus suggesting that Cotonou waters are widely compatible with Leptospira survival. The frequent contact with water exposes Cotonou inhabitants to the risk of leptospirosis which deserves more attention from public health authorities.

Santé : généralités [050] ; Hydrologie [062] ; Biotechnologies [084] ; Urbanisation et sociétés urbaines [102]

BENIN ; COTONOU

Fonds IRD [F B010081408]

fdi:010081408