PONE-D-19-28972

A systematic review of Leptospira in water and soil environments

PLOS ONE

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PLOS ONE

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Reviewer #1: Yes

Reviewer #2: Yes

Reviewer #3: Yes

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Reviewer #3: Yes

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Reviewer #1: This is a timely review of a little understood part of Leptospira spp. transmission and the role contaminated environments may play for the infection of animals and humans. I believe this will be of interest to the field and that it could stimulate much needed research in the area.

Reviewer #2: The manuscript entitled “A systematic review of Leptospira in water and soil environments” bring interesting information from evidence of survival of Leptospira ssp. the environment. The systematic review data are consistent and well presented in the manuscript. However some minor revisions are needed before the manuscript be considered for publication:

Material and Methods:

Line 85: Is it possible updates the articles until 2019?

Discussion:

- The authors report generally that all pathogenic Leptospira species can survive in the environment. I suggest that some Leptospira spp. that has been found to be in soil or water should be better specifically discussed, considering the species;

Figure 2 - I suggest deleting Figure 2, it's uninformative;

Table 1 - Table 1 shows different Leptospira spp. under various experimental conditions. The table is large and detailed; however, few conclusions were drawn from it.

Reviewer #3: The manuscript A systematic review of Leptospira in water and soil environments by Bierque et al. is a comprehensive review on a subject that has increasingly been studied in the recent years. Due to the One Health approach, leptospires of human and animal origin have been studied in comparison to environment. Nevertheless, several points remain to be better understood, mainly regarding pathogenic strains.

The manuscript is well written and methodology is adequate. Nevertheless, my main criticism is that very few associations with the disease on humans and animals were discussed. The context of One Health should be better considered, including animal reservoirs and hosts. Due to its substantial importance nowadays, I strongly suggest that authors explore the One Health framework, including a friendlier look at reservoirs and hosts.

Besides that, the article presents many speculations and hypotheses, and few certainties.

Regarding figure 2, I suggest to analyze some issues that are being illustrated and verify if they in fact occur:

1. When there is no rain, Leptospiras are mostly found in undersoil, not in soil.

2. When there is no rain, no Leptospiras are found in the water.

3. When there is rain, no Leptospiras are found in the soil.

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Reviewer #1: No

Reviewer #2: Yes: Sérgio Jorge

Reviewer #3: No

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A systematic review of Leptospira in water and soil environments

PONE-D-19-28972R1

Dear Dr. Goarant,

We are pleased to inform you that your manuscript has been judged scientifically suitable for publication and will be formally accepted for publication once it complies with all outstanding technical requirements.

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With kind regards,

Odir A. Dellagostin

Academic Editor

PLOS ONE

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