potentially pathogenic leptospira species isolated from a waterfall in thailand

We collected water and soil samples from a waterfall in thailand to investigate the presence of potentially pathogenic leptospira. isolation of leptospira from all the 17 environmental samples was successful. based on 16s rrna gene sequence analysis, a diverse group of leptospira species was recovered from waterfall samples including 2 pathogenic species (leptospira alstonii [5/17, 29%] and leptospira kmetyi [1/17, 6%]); 1 intermediate species (leptospira wolffii [9/17, 53%]); and 2 non-pathogenic species (leptospira meyeri [1/17, 6%] and leptospira idonii [1/17, 6%]). the high prevalence of pathogenic and intermediate leptospira indicates that a waterfall may serve as a natural reservoir of possible pathogens of leptospirosis.