Detection of pathogenic Leptospira bacteria in the airport environment using polymerase Chain reaction

Leptospirosis, caused by Leptospira, is a disease infecting human through direct contact with the contaminated urine from the animal, including rats. This disease is mainly transmitted to humans from rats living in poor hygiene environment. This study aimed to investigate the presence of pathogenic Leptospira in rats’ kidney. This was a cross-sectional study conducted in February 2019. A total of 11 rats were caught from Sultan Hasanuddin International Airport, Indonesia. Leptospira bacteria was observed using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The environmental indicator measured was the amount of water presented in the mousetraps. We installed 100 mousetraps and trapped 11 rats. 54.5% of them were infected by leptospirosis bacteria. Among those six rats, 33% of cages presented water inside. In conclusion, more than half of rats living at the Hasanuddin airport were contaminated by Leptospira and indicated that the means of transmission are through the sewage of the airport.