Impact of leptospirosis on animal reproduction and its legal and forensic aspects in “One Health”

Abstract

Requirements covering animal, public and environmental health challenge veterinary medicine and the law. In this context, legal and forensic veterinary medicine in Brazil has grown in recent years with significant scientific knowledge. Several animals are reservoirs and carriers of zoonoses which transmit pathogens to humans. Leptospirosis is an infectious disease that impacts animal reproduction and production with negative consequences on animal, public and environmental health (One Health). It is an important zoonosis caused by pathogenic species of the genus Leptospira spp. It is distributed worldwide and transmission to susceptible species occurs through direct or indirect contact with infected individuals. Poor sanitation and garbage collection favor the presence of substrates that attract rodents to properties, increasing the risk of the disease occurring. The World Health Organization (WHO) founded Veterinary Public Health, an area that includes the Veterinary Doctor with responsibilities in public health actions, with an important role in One Health. This literature review was designed based on current knowledge on the platforms Pubmed and Google Scholar, articles and textbooks. We aim to identify, understand and discuss the impacts of leptospirosis on reproduction, animal health, public health, and its legal and forensic aspects in One Health. The disease is an animal, public, and environmental health problem that has seasonal characteristics and occurs in urban and rural areas. It is a neglected disease and is directly related to precarious urban and health infrastructure. The veterinarian plays a fundamental role in assisting legal and forensic legal actions in the field of One Health.