Dietrich Muriel auteur aut IRD Gomard Y. auteur aut IRD Lagadec E. auteur aut IRD Ramazindrazana B. auteur aut IRD Le Minter G. auteur aut IRD Guernier Vanina auteur aut IRD Benlali A. auteur aut IRD Rocamora G. auteur aut IRD Markotter W. auteur aut IRD Goodman S.M. auteur aut IRD Dellagi K. auteur aut IRD Tortosa P. auteur aut IRD text journalArticle eng text/pdf reformatted digital access Understanding the processes driving parasite assemblages is particularly important in the context of zoonotic infectious diseases. Leptospirosis is a widespread zoonotic bacterial infection caused by pathogenic species of the genus Leptospira. Despite a wide range of animal hosts, information is still lacking on the factors shaping Leptospira diversity in wild animal communities, especially in regions, such as tropical insular ecosystems, with high host species richness and complex biogeographical patterns. Using a large dataset (34 mammal species) and a multilocus approach at a regional scale, we analyzed the role of both host species diversity and geography in Leptospira genetic diversity in terrestrial small mammals (rodents, tenrecs, and shrews) and bats from 10 different islands/countries in the western Indian Ocean (WIO) and neighboring Africa. At least four Leptospira spp. (L. interrogans, L. borgpetersenii, L. kirschneri, and L. mayottensis) and several yet-unidentified genetic clades contributed to a remarkable regional Leptospira diversity, which was generally related to the local occurrence of the host species rather than the geography. In addition, the genetic structure patterns varied between Leptospira spp., suggesting different evolutionary histories in the region, which might reflect both in situ diversification of native mammals (for L. borgpetersenii) and the more recent introduction of non-native host species (for L. interrogans). Our data also suggested that host shifts occurred between bats and rodents, but further investigations are needed to determine how host ecology may influence these events. specialized MADAGASCAR MAYOTTE COMORES OCEAN INDIEN ILES TANZANIE 052 080 7 1 art. no 57 [12 ] 2018 2222-1751 https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010076446 10.1038/s41426-018-0059-4 2222-1751 [F B010076446] https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010076446 https://horizon.documentation.ird.fr/exl-doc/pleins_textes/divers19-08/010076446.pdf IRD - Base Horizon / Pleins textes 2019-09-04 2023-07-11 fdi:010076446 fre