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Publisher: Peytchinski Publishing Ltd.
ISSN: 1312-773X (Online)
Issue: 2026, vol. 32, issue4
Subject Area: Medicine
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DOI: 10.5272/jimab.2026324.7154
Published online: 15 October 2026
Original article
J of IMAB. 2026 Oct-Dec;32(4):7154-7159
„ONE HEALTH“ PERSPECTIVE ON LEPTOSPIROSIS IN HUMANS AND ANIMALS
Galya Gancheva
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Department of Infectious Diseases, Epidemiology, Parasitology and Tropical Medicine, Faculty of Public Health, Medical University – Pleven, Bulgaria.
ABSTRACT:
Introduction: Leptospirosis is a globally important zoonosis caused by Leptospira spp. that incorporates all facets of a “One Health” problem. Effective prevention requires a trans-disciplinary approach in order to understand the way pathogenic spirochetes interact with the environment and vertebrate reservoir hosts.
Purpose: to study the incidence of leptospirosis in Europe, Bulgaria and the Pleven region with the context of the “One Health” perspective.
Material and methods: A retrospective study of the incidence of leptospirosis in Europe, Bulgaria and the Pleven region was conducted for a 17-year period (2007-2023). We used official statistics from the ECDC, NCIPD, and annual reports of the Regional Health Inspectorate – Pleven.
Results: Significant and divergent changes in the incidence of leptospirosis were observed, associated with transformations in the socio-economic profiles of European countries, including Bulgaria. An increased incidence of leptospirosis has been registered in France and Germany, whereas a decrease was noted in Eastern European nations such as Romania and Bulgaria. The factors determining these divergent changes vary by region.
Conclusions: Leptospirosis represents a classic “One Health” issue requiring thorough knowledge of transmission mechanisms, involved animal reservoir hosts, environmental reservoirs of the pathogen, climatic drivers, and the impact of human occupational and recreational behavior patterns. These elements vary regionally and temporally, necessitating ongoing global surveillance. Improvements in treatment and prevention rely on advancements in diagnostic tests, the application of novel genomic approaches to better understand epidemiology, continuous education of at-risk populations and animal owners, and the development of broad-spectrum protective vaccines with minimal adverse effects.
Keywords: leptospirosis, One Health, Europe, Bulgaria, Pleven region,
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Please cite this article as: Gancheva G. „One Health“ Perspective on Leptospirosis in Humans and Animals. J of IMAB. 2026 Oct-Dec;32(4):7154-7159. [Crossref - 10.5272/jimab.2026324.7154]
Correspondence to: Galya Gancheva, Department of Infectious Diseases, Epidemiology, Parasitology and Tropical Medicine, Faculty of Public Health, Medical University-Pleven; 1, St. Kliment Ohridski Str., 5800, Pleven, Bulgaria. E-mail: galya_gancheva@abv.bg
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Received: 20 March 2026
Published online: 15 October 2026