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Objective: To examine the socio-environmental factors associated with the assemblage of small mammals and the prevalence of Leptospira pathogen in poor suburban communities of Terengganu, Malaysia. Methods: We trapped small mammals from 119 trapping points scattered around three suburban communities of Terengganu using sausage-baited live traps. On the average, we set up five traps for three nights at each sampling point during the trapping period. Kidneys of captured animals were harvested and processed for Leptospira investigation. Additionally, environmental survey was conducted at each trapping point to obtain information about possible variables supporting small mammal assemblage. We used a generalized linear model to evaluate the effect of different socio-environmental variables on small mammals’ assemblage. Results: A total of 89 small mammals, specifically, Rattus norvegicus (n=39), Rattus rattus (n=27), Rattus exulans (n=10), Suncus murinus (n=11), and Tupaia glis (n=2) were captured from 1 385 trap nights. Fourteen individuals (15.7%) of the captured animals tested positive for Leptospira bacteria using PCR detection. Results of our generalized linear model showed only residences bordering vacant lots as the variable positively associated with small mammal occurrence in the three study sites. Conclusions: Small mammal community, especially the often neglected species, could harbour and potentially contribute towards pathogenic Leptospira maintenance in the study sites. To adequately control small mammals’ population and subsequent human zoonoses transmission, it is critical to advocate and promote appropriate infrastructure and suburban services, together with good hygiene practices that can reduce the animals’ access to food and harborage.

This data article presents the composition of selected physico-chemical water parameters, phytoplankton, flora and fauna in Sungai Kertih, Terengganu, Malaysia. Sungai Kertih is surrounded by mangrove forest and located nearby to a coastal hill namely Bukit Labohan that supports vast biological resources to its adjacent inhabitants. Therefore, a biodiversity and environmental assessment was conducted in Sungai Kertih from 19–21 August 2019 to document the biodiversity and physico-chemical water parameters of the river. The dataset show that Sungai Kertih is occupied by 14 tree mangrove species, 43 phytoplankton species, 21 bivalve species, 10 crustacean species, five amphibian species and eight reptilian species. The obtained physico-chemicals water parameters data were the value of pH, total dissolved solids, dissolved oxygen, temperature, salinity and electrical conductivity. Understanding the influence of physical and chemical properties on biological resources in coastal ecosystem is one of important in river conservation and management practices. Thus, this baseline dataset can be utilized for further reference and monitoring the health of the environment in the mangrove ecosystem.