The role of red squirrels in leprosy dynamics in the United Kingdom: a critical review
In the United Kingdom, the declining population of the red squirrel, the acknowledged historical reservoir for zoonotic Mycobacterium leprae leprosy, is thought to have been behind the decline in leprosy. However, remaining red squirrels are mainly plagued by Mycobacterium leprae, questioning their...
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| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2025-12-01
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| Series: | One Health |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352771425001508 |
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| author | S. Souguel T. Oueslati G. Grine M. Drancourt |
| author_facet | S. Souguel T. Oueslati G. Grine M. Drancourt |
| author_sort | S. Souguel |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In the United Kingdom, the declining population of the red squirrel, the acknowledged historical reservoir for zoonotic Mycobacterium leprae leprosy, is thought to have been behind the decline in leprosy. However, remaining red squirrels are mainly plagued by Mycobacterium leprae, questioning their historical role in zoonotic M. leprae leprosy dynamics. To resolve this issue, forthcoming paleomicrobiology studies will address the M. leprae complex as a whole; investigating the remains of squirrels buried for eight centuries, and burrowing animals imported in the United Kingdom from the British Empire countries between the 16th and 19th centuries; also looking at the situation in continental Europe, to gain a more comprehensive view of the historical zoonotic dynamics of leprosy in the United Kingdom and Europe. The results may indicate that the declining red squirrel population is no more than a red herring, obscuring a broader decline in leprosy. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-f4e7de5e11404346a9fc2b7b0a39cdb5 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2352-7714 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-12-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | One Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-f4e7de5e11404346a9fc2b7b0a39cdb52025-08-20T03:24:00ZengElsevierOne Health2352-77142025-12-012110111410.1016/j.onehlt.2025.101114The role of red squirrels in leprosy dynamics in the United Kingdom: a critical reviewS. Souguel0T. Oueslati1G. Grine2M. Drancourt3IHU Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France; MEPHI, Aix-Marseille Université, IHU Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, FranceHALMA UMR8164 Université de Lille - CNRS - Ministère de la Culture, Lille, FranceIHU Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France; MEPHI, Aix-Marseille Université, IHU Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France; MI2, IHU Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, FranceIHU Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France; MEPHI, Aix-Marseille Université, IHU Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France; Corresponding author at: Méditerranée Infection, 19–21 Boulevard Jean Moulin, 13005 Marseille, France.In the United Kingdom, the declining population of the red squirrel, the acknowledged historical reservoir for zoonotic Mycobacterium leprae leprosy, is thought to have been behind the decline in leprosy. However, remaining red squirrels are mainly plagued by Mycobacterium leprae, questioning their historical role in zoonotic M. leprae leprosy dynamics. To resolve this issue, forthcoming paleomicrobiology studies will address the M. leprae complex as a whole; investigating the remains of squirrels buried for eight centuries, and burrowing animals imported in the United Kingdom from the British Empire countries between the 16th and 19th centuries; also looking at the situation in continental Europe, to gain a more comprehensive view of the historical zoonotic dynamics of leprosy in the United Kingdom and Europe. The results may indicate that the declining red squirrel population is no more than a red herring, obscuring a broader decline in leprosy.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352771425001508LepromatosisSquirrel |
| spellingShingle | S. Souguel T. Oueslati G. Grine M. Drancourt The role of red squirrels in leprosy dynamics in the United Kingdom: a critical review One Health Lepromatosis Squirrel |
| title | The role of red squirrels in leprosy dynamics in the United Kingdom: a critical review |
| title_full | The role of red squirrels in leprosy dynamics in the United Kingdom: a critical review |
| title_fullStr | The role of red squirrels in leprosy dynamics in the United Kingdom: a critical review |
| title_full_unstemmed | The role of red squirrels in leprosy dynamics in the United Kingdom: a critical review |
| title_short | The role of red squirrels in leprosy dynamics in the United Kingdom: a critical review |
| title_sort | role of red squirrels in leprosy dynamics in the united kingdom a critical review |
| topic | Lepromatosis Squirrel |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352771425001508 |
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