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Introduction and Objectives:Based on clinical experience in recent years, the number of dogs presenting with suspected leptospirosis as well as confirmed cases has increased. However, limited data have been available regarding the infection rate of native reservoir species playing a key role in the transmission of the pathogen. The aim of our study was to assess pathogenic Leptospira carriage in wild brown rats (Rattus norvegicus) in Hungary and, for the first time, to investigate the pathogen in native northern white-breasted hedgehogs (Erinaceus roumanicus) using real-time PCR.

Materials and Methods:Kidney samples collected from a total of 154 rat carcasses across 18 different locations in Hungary, as well as 24 native northern white-breasted hedgehog carcasses, were examined. To detect the pathogen, a real-time PCR method was used targeting two genes: the 16S rRNA gene and the lipL32 gene specific to pathogenic Leptospira species.

Results:Rats positive for both target genes were detected at 7 of the 18 sampling locations (11.6%, 18/154). In northern white-breasted hedgehogs, despite the smaller sample size, a remarkably high positivity rate was observed (54.2%, 13/24).

Conclusion:Our results confirm that pathogenic Leptospira species are present in brown rats in Hungary, with their 11.6% prevalence approaching the European average (14.3%). Furthermore, our study highlights that alongside brown rats, northern white-breasted hedgehogs may serve as a significant -if not even more important-reservoir in the transmission of leptospirosis in Hungary. Based on our findings, further studies with larger sample sizes are recommended to evaluate the infection rate of native northern white-breasted hedgehogs more accurately.