Topic: Characterisation of the diversity and circulation dynamics of leptospires in coypu populations using a combination of epidemiological and landscape genetics approaches.
Dates: 1 December 2025 – 30 November 2028
CBGP supervision: N. Charbonnel
University : Université de Montpellier

This PhD project proposes an eco-epidemiological study of the role of coypu in the transmission of leptospires. It will identify risk factors for exposure and provide robust evidence for the prevention of zoonoses associated with this invasive alien species.

The study will focus on the Lez and Or river basins, urban and peri-urban areas where interactions between humans, dogs and coypu are frequent yet poorly studied. The specific objectives are: i) to describe the prevalence and spatial and temporal distribution of leptospires in coypu populations and in the environment (water and soil), ii) to characterise the genetic diversity of leptospires circulating among coypu and compare it with that known in other animals and human populations, iii) to analyse the interactions between the spatial genetic structure of coypu populations and the environmental characteristics of the Lez and Or river basins.

This thesis forms part of the Nexus project, which brings together two other PhD students from different disciplines (social sciences and humanities, mathematics) to address the general theme of the leptospira-associated exposome.