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Grzybek M, Antolová D, Tołkacz K, Alsarraf M, Behnke-Borowczyk J, Nowicka J, Paleolog J, Biernat B, Behnke JM, Bajer A. Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii among Sylvatic Rodents in Poland. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:1048. [PMID: 33917803 PMCID: PMC8068096 DOI: 10.3390/ani11041048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2021] [Revised: 03/24/2021] [Accepted: 04/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is an intracellular Apicomplexan parasite with a broad range of intermediate hosts, including humans and rodents. Rodents are considered to be reservoirs of infection for their predators, including cats, felids, pigs, and wild boars. We conducted a multi-site, long-term study on T. gondii in northeastern Poland. The study aimed to monitor the seroprevalence of T. gondii in the four abundant vole species found in the region (Myodes glareolus, Microtus arvalis, Microtus agrestis, and Alexandromys oeconomus) and to assess the influence of both extrinsic (year of study and study site) and intrinsic (host sex and host age) factors on seroprevalence. A bespoke enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect antibodies against T. gondii. We examined 577 rodent individuals and detected T. gondii antibodies in the sera of all four rodent species with an overall seroprevalence of 5.5% [4.2-7.3] (3.6% [2.6-4.9] for M. glareolus and 20% [12-30.9] for M. arvalis, M. agrestis, and A. oeconomus). Seroprevalence in bank voles varied significantly between host age and sex. Seroprevalence increased with host age and was higher in females than males. These results contribute to our understanding of the distribution and abundance of T. gondii in voles in Poland and confirm that T. gondii also circulates in M. glareolus and M. arvalis, M. agrestis and A. oeconomus. Therefore, they may potentially play a role as reservoirs of this parasite in the sylvatic environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maciej Grzybek
- Department of Tropical Parasitology, Institute of Maritime and Tropical Medicine, Medical University of Gdansk, Powstania Styczniowego 9B, 81-519 Gdynia, Poland; (J.N.); (B.B.)
| | - Daniela Antolová
- Institute of Parasitology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, 040 01 Košice, Slovakia;
| | - Katarzyna Tołkacz
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, 02-106 Warsaw, Poland;
- Department of Eco-Epidemiology of Parasitic Diseases, Institute of Developmental Biology and Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Miecznikowa, 02-096 Warsaw, Poland; (M.A.); (A.B.)
| | - Mohammed Alsarraf
- Department of Eco-Epidemiology of Parasitic Diseases, Institute of Developmental Biology and Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Miecznikowa, 02-096 Warsaw, Poland; (M.A.); (A.B.)
| | - Jolanta Behnke-Borowczyk
- Department of Forest Phytopathology, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, Poznan University of Life Sciences, 60-637 Poznan, Poland;
| | - Joanna Nowicka
- Department of Tropical Parasitology, Institute of Maritime and Tropical Medicine, Medical University of Gdansk, Powstania Styczniowego 9B, 81-519 Gdynia, Poland; (J.N.); (B.B.)
| | - Jerzy Paleolog
- Department of Zoology and Animal Ecology, Faculty of Environmental Biology, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, 20-950 Lublin, Poland;
| | - Beata Biernat
- Department of Tropical Parasitology, Institute of Maritime and Tropical Medicine, Medical University of Gdansk, Powstania Styczniowego 9B, 81-519 Gdynia, Poland; (J.N.); (B.B.)
| | - Jerzy M. Behnke
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK;
| | - Anna Bajer
- Department of Eco-Epidemiology of Parasitic Diseases, Institute of Developmental Biology and Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Miecznikowa, 02-096 Warsaw, Poland; (M.A.); (A.B.)
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Grzybek M, Sironen T, Mäki S, Tołkacz K, Alsarraf M, Strachecka A, Paleolog J, Biernat B, Szczepaniak K, Behnke-Borowczyk J, Vaheri A, Henttonen H, Behnke JM, Bajer A. Zoonotic Virus Seroprevalence among Bank Voles, Poland, 2002-2010. Emerg Infect Dis 2019; 25:1607-1609. [PMID: 31310209 PMCID: PMC6649315 DOI: 10.3201/eid2508.190217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Bank voles in Poland are reservoirs of zoonotic viruses. To determine seroprevalence of hantavirus, arenavirus, and cowpox virus and factors affecting seroprevalence, we screened for antibodies against these viruses over 9 years. Cowpox virus was most prevalent and affected by extrinsic and intrinsic factors. Long-term and multisite surveillance is crucial.
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