Higher Occurrence of Leptospirosis in Humans and Animals Influenced by Hydro-Climatic Factors – a Review

Leptospirosis is a neglected zoonosis of global significance, associated with flooding and increased precipitation. This study aimed to identify hydro-climatic factors linked to leptospirosis in humans and animals through an integrative literature review. Searches were conducted in August 2024 in the SciELO, Scopus, and PubMed databases using the descriptors “Leptospirosis OR Leptospira” and “flooding” in Portuguese and English. Articles published in the last 10 years (2014-2024), describing the influence of climatic changes, such as heavy rains, floods, and temperature variations, on leptospirosis occurrence, were included. Review articles, conference abstracts, books, and irrelevant studies were excluded. Out of 240 studies, 55 were selected after screening. Findings show urban flooding, driven by high population density and poor drainage infrastructure, facilitates disease spread, while rural flooding increases bacterial dispersion via domestic and livestock animals, inadequate rodent control, and agricultural land contamination. The diversity of serovars highlights the disease's epidemiological complexity, with animals serving as reservoirs and links between environments and humans. Recommendations include strengthening basic sanitation to reduce exposure, rodent population control, implementing early warning systems to monitor climatic conditions, and adopting the One Health approach to integrate human, animal, plant and environmental health for effective leptospirosis control amid climatic changes.