China review spotlights One Health burden of leptospirosis

A new systematic review and meta-analysis in Preventive Veterinary Medicine pulls together the available evidence on human and canine leptospirosis in China, aiming to map prevalence patterns and associated factors across both species. The paper frames leptospirosis as an ongoing One Health problem in China, where the disease is a notifiable Category B infection in people and has been reported across most provincial-level regions. The review also lands as newer canine data from the Yangtze River region point to substantial exposure in dogs, with a 46.41% seropositivity rate in one 2021–2023 survey and Canicola and Icterohaemorrhagiae among the dominant serogroups detected. (sciencedirect.com)

Why it matters: For veterinary professionals, the study adds weight to the idea that dogs are both patients and sentinels in leptospirosis surveillance. China’s human leptospirosis incidence has fallen over time, but national analyses suggest the disease remains stable rather than eliminated, and broader zoonotic trend data argue for region-specific, cross-sector prevention. That matters for clinicians counseling pet parents on vaccination, diagnostics, environmental exposure, and zoonotic risk, especially in wetter, flood-prone, or rodent-exposed settings. Recent guidance from WSAVA and AAHA has also moved toward stronger support for leptospirosis vaccination in dogs where risk is endemic or widespread. (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

What to watch: Watch for whether this review drives more standardized canine surveillance, serogroup-specific vaccine discussion, and tighter One Health coordination between veterinary and public health systems in China. (sciencedirect.com)