Research in Papua New Guinea detected Leptospira interrogans in 12.5% of rats sampled at a university farm in Morobe province. Cattle (212 samples from nine farms and slaughterhouses in two provinces) tested negative.
The study, conducted from January to March 2024, is the first molecular survey of Leptospira in the country, highlighting the role of rodents as reservoirs and the risk to agricultural and veterinary workers.
It emphasizes the importance of integrated pest management for public health.
