Unraveling Leptospira transmission in Hawaiʻi: Integrating feral swine, freshwater, and genomic surveillance

Abstract

Leptospirosis is a severe zoonotic threat in Hawaiʻi, with incidence rates 40 times the U.S. national average. Using a comprehensive One Health framework, this study investigated pathogenic Leptospira transmission dynamics across Maui, Hawaii, and Oʻahu. Freshwater analysis revealed widespread contamination, successfully recovering viable Leptospira belonging to L. interrogans group from over half of all samples. Furthermore, about 10% of feral swine tested positive, highlighting their critical role as environmental reservoirs shedding pathogens into streams.