In search of pathogenic Leptospira species in Myotis and other vesper bats, Russia.

Various bat species worldwide have been identified as Leptospira carriers, especially in tropical regions. In this study, we investigated the infection of Vespertilionidae bats by pathogenic Leptospira in north-west Russia. Out of 264 bats from 13 species, the urine of 24 specimens tested positive according to a polymerase chain reaction test. The infected species were exclusively Myotis bats: M. brandtii (1/56; 1.8 %); M. dasycneme (9/40; 22.5 %); and M. daubentonii (14/47; 29.8 %). The detected Leptospira strains were similar to L. kirschneri and L. borgpetersenii.