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Rubel F. Range of Ixodes laguri, a nidicolous tick that parasitizes critically endangered rodents, with details on its western distribution limit in Austria. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2024; 15:102341. [PMID: 38593668 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2024.102341] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2024] [Revised: 03/14/2024] [Accepted: 03/20/2024] [Indexed: 04/11/2024]
Abstract
The nidicolous tick Ixodes laguri is a nest-dwelling parasite of small mammals that mainly infest rodents of the families Cricetidae, Gliridae, Muridae and Sciuridae. There is no proven vectorial role for I. laguri, although it is suggested that it is a vector of Francisella tularensis. In this study, a first map depicting the entire geographical distribution of I. laguri based on georeferenced locations is presented. For this purpose, a digital data set of 142 georeferenced locations from 16 countries was compiled. Particular attention is paid to the description of the westernmost record of I. laguri in the city of Vienna, Austria. There, I. laguri is specifically associated with its main hosts, the critically endangered European hamster (Cricetus cricetus) and the European ground squirrel (Spermophilus citellus). These two host species have also been mapped in the present paper to estimate the potential distribution of I. laguri in the Vienna metropolitan region. The range of I. laguri extends between 16-108∘ E and 38-54∘ N, i.e. from Vienna in the east of Austria to Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia. In contrast to tick species that are expanding their range and are also becoming more abundant as a result of global warming, I. laguri has become increasingly rare throughout its range. However, I. laguri is not threatened by climate change, but by anthropogenic influences on its hosts and their habitats, which are typically open grasslands and steppes. Rural habitats are threatened by the intensification of agriculture and semi-urban habitats are increasingly being destroyed by urban development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Franz Rubel
- Climate Change & Infectious Diseases Group, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinaerplatz 1, Vienna, 1210, Austria
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Robinson SJ, Pearl DL, Himsworth CG, Weese JS, Lindsay LR, Dibernardo A, Huynh C, Hill JE, Fernando C, Jardine CM. Environmental and sociodemographic factors associated with zoonotic pathogen occurrence in Norway rats (Rattus norvegicus) from Windsor, Ontario. Zoonoses Public Health 2024; 71:416-428. [PMID: 38419369 DOI: 10.1111/zph.13120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2023] [Revised: 11/21/2023] [Accepted: 02/19/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
AIMS Rat-associated zoonotic pathogen transmission at the human-wildlife interface is a public health concern in urban environments where Norway rats (Rattus norvegicus) thrive on abundant anthropogenic resources and live in close contact with humans and other animal species. To identify potential factors influencing zoonotic pathogen occurrence in rats, we investigated associations between environmental and sociodemographic factors and Leptospira interrogans and Bartonella spp. infections in rats from Windsor, Ontario, Canada, while controlling for the potential confounding effects of animal characteristics (i.e., sexual maturity and body condition). METHODS AND RESULTS Between November 2018 and June 2021, 252 rats were submitted by collaborating pest control professionals. Kidney and spleen samples were collected for L. interrogans and Bartonella spp. PCR and sequencing, respectively. Of the rats tested by PCR, 12.7% (32/252) were positive for L. interrogans and 16.3% (37/227) were positive for Bartonella species. Associations between infection status and environmental and sociodemographic variables of interest were assessed via mixed multivariable logistic regression models with a random intercept for social group and fixed effects to control for sexual maturity and body condition in each model. The odds of L. interrogans infection were significantly higher in rats from areas with high building density (odds ratio [OR]: 3.76; 95% CI: 1.31-10.79; p = 0.014), high human population density (OR: 3.31; 95% CI: 1.20-9.11; p = 0.021), high proportion of buildings built in 1960 or before (OR: 11.21; 95% CI: 2.06-60.89; p = 0.005), and a moderate number of reports of uncollected garbage compared to a low number of reports (OR: 4.88; 95% CI: 1.01-23.63; p = 0.049). A negative association was observed between median household income and Bartonella spp. infection in rats (OR: 0.26; 95% CI: 0.08-0.89; p = 0.031). CONCLUSIONS Due to the complexity of the ecology of rat-associated zoonoses, consideration of environmental and sociodemographic factors is of critical importance to better understand the nuances of host-pathogen systems and inform how urban rat surveillance and intervention efforts should be distributed within cities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah J Robinson
- Department of Pathobiology, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - David L Pearl
- Department of Population Medicine, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - Chelsea G Himsworth
- School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - J Scott Weese
- Department of Pathobiology, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - L Robbin Lindsay
- National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Antonia Dibernardo
- National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Chris Huynh
- National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Janet E Hill
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | - Champika Fernando
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | - Claire M Jardine
- Department of Pathobiology, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
- Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
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Ulsenheimer BC, Dos Santos MY, Della Flora B, Matarrita DAR, de Avila Botton S, Von Laer AE, Pereira DIB, Fighera RA, Tonin AA. Detection of pathogenic Leptospira spp. in unconventional pets. Comp Immunol Microbiol Infect Dis 2024; 108:102158. [PMID: 38513385 DOI: 10.1016/j.cimid.2024.102158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2024] [Revised: 03/04/2024] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024]
Abstract
Leptospirosis is a disease caused by Leptospira spp. responsible for considerable impacts on the public and animal health. In the past two decades, non-domesticated species of pets (unconventional pets) have become popular. However, the role of these unconventional pets on maintaining diseases still unclear. Therefore, the objective of this study was to survey the presence of Leptospira spp. DNA in unconventional pets. Samples of kidney tissues from 29 animals belonging to the Mammalia class (including Orders Carnivora, Lagomorpha and Rodentia) were analyzed for the presence of the gene lipL32. As a result, DNA of pathogenic Leptospira spp. from specie L. interrogans was detected in four (13,80%) of the analyzed samples: three from Oryctolagus cuniculus and one from Mesocricetus auratus. This study highlights the importance of epidemiological surveillance of leptospirosis, as it identified in species of unconventional pets, that may possibly act as reservoirs of Leptospira spp.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruna Carolina Ulsenheimer
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Medicina Veterinária da Universidade Federal de Santa Maria (UFSM), Brazil; Laboratório de Pesquisa e Diagnóstico em Leptospirose (LABLEPTO), UFSM, Brazil.
| | - Matheus Yuri Dos Santos
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Medicina Veterinária da Universidade Federal de Santa Maria (UFSM), Brazil; Laboratório de Patologia Veterinária - Serviço de Consultoria Diagnóstica Veterinária (SEDIVET), UFSM, Brazil.
| | - Bruna Della Flora
- Laboratório de Pesquisa e Diagnóstico em Leptospirose (LABLEPTO), UFSM, Brazil.
| | | | - Sônia de Avila Botton
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Medicina Veterinária da Universidade Federal de Santa Maria (UFSM), Brazil; Laboratório de Pesquisa e Diagnóstico em Leptospirose (LABLEPTO), UFSM, Brazil.
| | | | - Daniela Isabel Brayer Pereira
- Departamento de Microbiologia e Parasitologia, Instituto de Biologia (IB), Universidade Federal de Pelotas (UFPel), Campus Universitário Capão do Leão, Brazil.
| | - Rafael Almeida Fighera
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Medicina Veterinária da Universidade Federal de Santa Maria (UFSM), Brazil; Laboratório de Patologia Veterinária - Serviço de Consultoria Diagnóstica Veterinária (SEDIVET), UFSM, Brazil.
| | - Alexandre Alberto Tonin
- Laboratório de Patologia Veterinária - Serviço de Consultoria Diagnóstica Veterinária (SEDIVET), UFSM, Brazil.
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Štrkolcová G, Ciho A, Kaduková M, Janošková N, Schreiberová A. Intestinal parasites of the endangered European ground squirrel (Spermophilus citellus) populations in Slovakia. Vet Parasitol Reg Stud Reports 2024; 50:101014. [PMID: 38644045 DOI: 10.1016/j.vprsr.2024.101014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2023] [Revised: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/23/2024]
Abstract
The present pilot research was focused on the detection of intestinal parasites in the ground squirrel populations in various regions of Slovakia. Only a very little information is currently available on the parasitic species composition of the European ground squirrel in Slovakia and across Europe. In the Slovak Republic, there are 70 locations where the ground squirrel populations are present. A total of 600 faecal samples of the European ground squirrels, collected from 36 locations all over Slovakia, were examined by applying the coprological method. The presence of the protozoan coccidian parasite of the Eimeria genus was confirmed in all of the analysed locations. The presence of eggs of four helminths were confirmed: Capillaria spp. (66.6% of locations); the Trichostrongylidae family (42.8% of locations); Hymenolepis spp. (11.9% of locations); and Citellina spp. (7.14% of locations). Dead individuals that were found in the analysed localities were subjected to necropsy and the tissues scraped off their small intestines were stained in order to confirm the presence of parasites. The post-mortem examination of the intestines and the sedimentation of the intestinal contents in a saline solution did not result in the confirmation of the presence of the eggs, adults or the larval stages of parasites. Spermophilus citellus is one of the strictly protected animal species in Slovakia. In recent years, numerous projects aimed at supporting and protecting ground squirrels have been implemented. The present pilot study on intestinal parasites and the subsequent cooperation with environmental activists will contribute to the support and stabilisation of the presence of these animals in our country.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriela Štrkolcová
- Department of Epizootiology and Parasitology and Protection of One Health, University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy in Košice, Slovak Republic.
| | - Andrej Ciho
- Abov - Veterinary Animal Clinic, Jesenského 17, Košice, Slovak Republic
| | - Michaela Kaduková
- Department of Epizootiology and Parasitology and Protection of One Health, University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy in Košice, Slovak Republic
| | - Nikola Janošková
- Department of Epizootiology and Parasitology and Protection of One Health, University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy in Košice, Slovak Republic
| | - Andrea Schreiberová
- Department of Epizootiology and Parasitology and Protection of One Health, University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy in Košice, Slovak Republic
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5
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Eskew EA, Bird BH, Ghersi BM, Bangura J, Basinski AJ, Amara E, Bah MA, Kanu MC, Kanu OT, Lavalie EG, Lungay V, Robert W, Vandi MA, Fichet-Calvet E, Nuismer SL. Reservoir displacement by an invasive rodent reduces Lassa virus zoonotic spillover risk. Nat Commun 2024; 15:3589. [PMID: 38678025 PMCID: PMC11055883 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-47991-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2024] [Indexed: 04/29/2024] Open
Abstract
The black rat (Rattus rattus) is a globally invasive species that has been widely introduced across Africa. Within its invasive range in West Africa, R. rattus may compete with the native rodent Mastomys natalensis, the primary reservoir host of Lassa virus, a zoonotic pathogen that kills thousands annually. Here, we use rodent trapping data from Sierra Leone and Guinea to show that R. rattus presence reduces M. natalensis density within the human dwellings where Lassa virus exposure is most likely to occur. Further, we integrate infection data from M. natalensis to demonstrate that Lassa virus zoonotic spillover risk is lower at sites with R. rattus. While non-native species can have numerous negative effects on ecosystems, our results suggest that R. rattus invasion has the indirect benefit of decreasing zoonotic spillover of an endemic pathogen, with important implications for invasive species control across West Africa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evan A Eskew
- Institute for Interdisciplinary Data Sciences, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, USA.
| | - Brian H Bird
- One Health Institute, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California - Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Bruno M Ghersi
- One Health Institute, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California - Davis, Davis, CA, USA
- Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, Tufts University, North Grafton, MA, USA
| | | | - Andrew J Basinski
- Institute for Interdisciplinary Data Sciences, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, USA
| | | | - Mohamed A Bah
- Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Freetown, Sierra Leone
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Scott L Nuismer
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, USA.
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Krückemeier S, Ramon M, Vidal E, Martino L, Burgaya J, Ribas MP, Dias-Alves A, Lobato-Bailón L, Pérez de Val B, Cabezón O, Espunyes J. Adiaspiromycoses in Wild Rodents from the Pyrenees, Northeastern Spain. J Wildl Dis 2024; 60:526-530. [PMID: 38264856 DOI: 10.7589/jwd-d-23-00100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/25/2024]
Abstract
Adiaspiromycosis is a nontransmissible infectious pulmonary disease caused by the inhalation of propagules from fungal species belonging to the family Ajellomicetaceae, especially Emergomyces crescens. Adiaspiromycosis caused by E. crescens has been recorded in a broad number of species worldwide, with small burrowing mammals being considered the main hosts for this environmental pathogen. Only a handful of studies on adiaspiromycosis in European wildlife has been published to date. We assessed the occurrence of adiaspiromycosis in wild rodents (Murinae and Arvicolinae) from the central Spanish Pyrenees (NE Spain). The lungs of 302 mice and 46 voles were screened for the presence of adiaspores through histopathologic examination. Pulmonary adiaspiromycosis was recorded in 21.6% of all individuals (75/348), corresponding to 63/299 wood mice (Apodemus sylvaticus) and 12/40 bank voles (Myodes glareolus). Adiaspore burden varied highly between animals, with a mean of 0.19 spores/mm2 and a percentage of affected lung tissue ranging from <0.01% to >8%. These results show that the infection is present in wild rodents from the central Spanish Pyrenees. Although the impact of this infection on nonendangered species is potentially mild, it might contribute to genetic diversity loss in endangered species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon Krückemeier
- Wildlife Conservation Medicine Research Group (WildCoM), Departament de Medicina i Cirurgia Animals, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Edifici V, Travessera dels turons s/n, Bellaterra 08193, Spain
| | - Marc Ramon
- Wildlife Conservation Medicine Research Group (WildCoM), Departament de Medicina i Cirurgia Animals, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Edifici V, Travessera dels turons s/n, Bellaterra 08193, Spain
| | - Enric Vidal
- Institut de Recerca i Tecnologia Agroalimentàries (IRTA), Centre de Recerca en Sanitat Animal (CReSA, IRTA-UAB), Campus de la Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Edifici CReSA, Bellaterra 08193, Barcelona, Spain
- Unitat mixta d'Investigació IRTA-UAB en Sanitat Animal, Centre de Recerca en Sanitat Animal (CReSA), Campus de la Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Laura Martino
- Institut de Recerca i Tecnologia Agroalimentàries (IRTA), Centre de Recerca en Sanitat Animal (CReSA, IRTA-UAB), Campus de la Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Edifici CReSA, Bellaterra 08193, Barcelona, Spain
- Unitat mixta d'Investigació IRTA-UAB en Sanitat Animal, Centre de Recerca en Sanitat Animal (CReSA), Campus de la Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Judit Burgaya
- Institut de Recerca i Tecnologia Agroalimentàries (IRTA), Centre de Recerca en Sanitat Animal (CReSA, IRTA-UAB), Campus de la Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Edifici CReSA, Bellaterra 08193, Barcelona, Spain
- Unitat mixta d'Investigació IRTA-UAB en Sanitat Animal, Centre de Recerca en Sanitat Animal (CReSA), Campus de la Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Maria Puig Ribas
- Wildlife Conservation Medicine Research Group (WildCoM), Departament de Medicina i Cirurgia Animals, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Edifici V, Travessera dels turons s/n, Bellaterra 08193, Spain
| | - Andrea Dias-Alves
- Wildlife Conservation Medicine Research Group (WildCoM), Departament de Medicina i Cirurgia Animals, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Edifici V, Travessera dels turons s/n, Bellaterra 08193, Spain
| | - Lourdes Lobato-Bailón
- Wildlife Conservation Medicine Research Group (WildCoM), Departament de Medicina i Cirurgia Animals, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Edifici V, Travessera dels turons s/n, Bellaterra 08193, Spain
| | - Bernat Pérez de Val
- Institut de Recerca i Tecnologia Agroalimentàries (IRTA), Centre de Recerca en Sanitat Animal (CReSA, IRTA-UAB), Campus de la Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Edifici CReSA, Bellaterra 08193, Barcelona, Spain
- Unitat mixta d'Investigació IRTA-UAB en Sanitat Animal, Centre de Recerca en Sanitat Animal (CReSA), Campus de la Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Oscar Cabezón
- Wildlife Conservation Medicine Research Group (WildCoM), Departament de Medicina i Cirurgia Animals, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Edifici V, Travessera dels turons s/n, Bellaterra 08193, Spain
- Unitat mixta d'Investigació IRTA-UAB en Sanitat Animal, Centre de Recerca en Sanitat Animal (CReSA), Campus de la Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Johan Espunyes
- Wildlife Conservation Medicine Research Group (WildCoM), Departament de Medicina i Cirurgia Animals, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Edifici V, Travessera dels turons s/n, Bellaterra 08193, Spain
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Dos Santos IR, Raiter J, Brunner CB, Molossi FA, Henker LC, Pont TPD, de Camargo LJ, Alves RS, Canal CW, da Silva Martins A, Silva TA, Borsanelli AC, Driemeier D. An outbreak of type C botulism in free-ranging Southern lapwing (Vanellus chilensis). Vet Res Commun 2024; 48:1239-1243. [PMID: 38008781 DOI: 10.1007/s11259-023-10264-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 11/28/2023]
Abstract
In the fall of 2021, a significant mortality event in free-ranging Southern Lapwing (Vanellus chilensis) occurred on a soccer field in southern Brazil. Approximately 130 adult southern lapwings died after showing weakness and flaccid paralysis, characterized by the inability to move or fly and drooped wings. Due to the large number of animals affected, there was concern that they had been criminally poisoned. The affected birds were found to have ingested maggots in fresh poultry litter incorporated into the grass surface. Postmortem examinations of four southern lapwings revealed no significant gross and histological findings. Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) for influenza A virus, flavivirus, and paramyxovirus was negative. Based on the epidemiological and clinical findings and the negative viral results, a presumptive diagnosis of botulism was made. This diagnosis was confirmed through mouse bioassay and seroneutralization, which detected botulinum toxin type C. Maggots loaded with botulinum neurotoxins were the probable vehicle for intoxication in the outbreak. Considering the impact of avian botulism on wild bird populations, our results may help prevent similar outbreaks in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Igor Ribeiro Dos Santos
- Setor de Patologia Veterinária, Faculdade de Veterinária, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
| | - Jacqueline Raiter
- Setor de Patologia Veterinária, Faculdade de Veterinária, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Carolina Buss Brunner
- Setor de Patologia Veterinária, Faculdade de Veterinária, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Franciéli Adriane Molossi
- Setor de Patologia Veterinária, Faculdade de Veterinária, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Luan Cleber Henker
- Setor de Patologia Veterinária, Faculdade de Veterinária, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
- Department of Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USA
| | - Tainah Pereira Dal Pont
- Setor de Patologia Veterinária, Faculdade de Veterinária, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Laura Junqueira de Camargo
- Laboratório de Virologia Veterinária, Faculdade de Veterinária, UFRGS, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Raquel Silva Alves
- Laboratório de Virologia Veterinária, Faculdade de Veterinária, UFRGS, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Cláudio Wageck Canal
- Laboratório de Virologia Veterinária, Faculdade de Veterinária, UFRGS, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Andressa da Silva Martins
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária, Escola de Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade Federal de Goiás (UFG), Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil
| | - Tamires Ataides Silva
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária, Escola de Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade Federal de Goiás (UFG), Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil
| | - Ana Carolina Borsanelli
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária, Escola de Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade Federal de Goiás (UFG), Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil
| | - David Driemeier
- Setor de Patologia Veterinária, Faculdade de Veterinária, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
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8
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Echchakery M, Boumezzough A, Hafidi M, Boussaa S. Histopathological and morphological characterization of Cysticercus fasciolaris isolated from domestic and wild rodents in Morocco. Exp Parasitol 2024; 259:108726. [PMID: 38428664 DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2024.108726] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2023] [Revised: 02/21/2024] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 03/03/2024]
Abstract
Cysticercus fasciolaris is a parasitic helminth that usually infects feline and canine mammal hosts. The intermediate hosts (rodents, occasionally lagomorphs, and humans) get infected by the consumption of feed or water contaminated with eggs. Rodents are vectors of disease and reservoirs of various zoonotic parasites. The current survey was aimed at determining endoparasitic helminth infections in rodents in central Morocco. Sampled rodents after specific identification were sacrificed and examined to identify parasitic helminths following ethical guidelines. Parasites were identified using morphological characteristics. A total of 197 specimens of rodents were collected and examined in this study. Ten rodent species were identified morphologically as Rattus rattus, R. norvegicus, Apodemus sylvaticus, Mus musculus, M. spretus, Mastomys erythroleucus, Meriones shawi, M. libycus, Gerbillus campestris, and Lemniscomys barbarus. The parasitological results showed that metacestode of tapeworms was found encysted in the liver, the larval stage of Taenia taeniaeformis develops large multinodular fibrosarcomas which envelope the tapeworm cysts in the liver of the R. rattus and R. norvegicus. Based on morphological data, the metacestode was identified as C. fasciolaris in 23 (23/80) R. rattus 2 (2/8) and R. norvegicus with a prevalence of 11.7 % and 1.0 %, respectively. Rodents are major vectors of human and domestic animal diseases worldwide, and therefore, important parasitic zoonotic agents (C. fasciolaris), which are transmitted by black rats (R. rattus) and brown rats (R. norvegicus), must be considered to prevent the infectivity of humans, domestic animals, and livestock such as cattle, sheep, and rabbits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamed Echchakery
- Hassan First University of Settat, Higher Institute of Health Sciences, Laboratory of Sciences and Health Technologies, Epidemiology and Biomedical Unit, 26000, Settat, Morocco; Microbial Biotechnologies, Agrosciences and Environment Laboratory (BioMAgE), Faculty of Sciences Semlalia, Cadi Ayyad University, 40000, Marrakech, Morocco
| | - Ali Boumezzough
- Microbial Biotechnologies, Agrosciences and Environment Laboratory (BioMAgE), Faculty of Sciences Semlalia, Cadi Ayyad University, 40000, Marrakech, Morocco
| | - Mohamed Hafidi
- Microbial Biotechnologies, Agrosciences and Environment Laboratory (BioMAgE), Faculty of Sciences Semlalia, Cadi Ayyad University, 40000, Marrakech, Morocco
| | - Samia Boussaa
- Microbial Biotechnologies, Agrosciences and Environment Laboratory (BioMAgE), Faculty of Sciences Semlalia, Cadi Ayyad University, 40000, Marrakech, Morocco; ISPITS- Higher Institute of Nursing and Health Techniques, Ministry of Health and Social Protection, 10000, Rabat, Morocco.
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Elshafie NO, Kmetiuk LB, Pellizzaro M, Haisi A, de O Conrado F, Weckerlin P, Ullmann LS, Junior JPA, Messick JB, Biondo AW, Dos Santos AP. Hemotropic Mycoplasmas (Hemoplasmas) in Free-Ranging Azara's Agoutis (Dasyprocta azarae) from an Urban Area of Southern Brazil. J Wildl Dis 2024; 60:513-518. [PMID: 38294758 DOI: 10.7589/jwd-d-23-00079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2023] [Accepted: 11/24/2023] [Indexed: 02/01/2024]
Abstract
Hemotropic mycoplasmas (hemoplasmas) are opportunistic bacteria that attach to the erythrocyte surface, causing infectious anemia in several mammalian species, including rodents. Studies surveying native Azara's agoutis (Dasyprocta azarae) in Brazil are lacking. Accordingly, the present study aimed to assess hemoplasmas infection in free-ranging agoutis from an urban environmental conservation area in Curitiba, southern Brazil. Overall, 11/35 (31.43%) agoutis were positive to hemoplasmas by quantitative PCR (cycle threshold≤34.4). Sequencing of the 16S ribosomal RNA gene indicated Mycoplasma haemomuris infection, closely related to M. haemomuris subsp. ratti, suggesting hemoplasma transmission from urban rats to agoutis. Because the main route of M. haemomuris transmission has been direct rodent-to-rodent infection, the relatively lower positivity that we detected may be the result of low intraspecies contact due to the smaller social units of agoutis, generally consisting of two to four individuals, and low interspecies contact due to only sporadic agouti-rat interactions in urban settings, compared with other rodent species interactions. Further studies should be conducted to determine whether the hemoplasma infection that we found can cause clinical onset and life-threatening anemia in agoutis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nelly O Elshafie
- Department of Comparative Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Purdue University, 625 Harrison Street, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, USA
| | - Louise B Kmetiuk
- Department of Comparative Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Purdue University, 625 Harrison Street, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, USA
| | - Maysa Pellizzaro
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Parana, 1540 Funcionarios Street, Curitiba, Paraná 80035-050, Brazil
- Institute of Collective Health (ICH), Federal University of Bahia (UFBA), Basílio da Gama Street, Salvador, Bahia 40110-040, Brazil
| | - Amanda Haisi
- Biotechnology Institute, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Rubiao Junior, Botucatu, São Paulo 18607-440, Brazil
| | - Francisco de O Conrado
- Department of Comparative Pathobiology, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, Tufts University, 200 Westboro Road, North Grafton, Massachusetts 01536, USA
| | - Patricia Weckerlin
- Natural History Museum of Capão da Imbuia, City Secretary of Environment, 407 Professor Benedito Conceição Street, Curitiba, Paraná 82810-080, Brazil
| | - Leila S Ullmann
- Biotechnology Institute, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Rubiao Junior, Botucatu, São Paulo 18607-440, Brazil
| | - João P Araújo Junior
- Biotechnology Institute, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Rubiao Junior, Botucatu, São Paulo 18607-440, Brazil
| | - Joanne B Messick
- Department of Comparative Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Purdue University, 625 Harrison Street, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, USA
| | - Alexander W Biondo
- Department of Comparative Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Purdue University, 625 Harrison Street, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, USA
- Institute of Collective Health (ICH), Federal University of Bahia (UFBA), Basílio da Gama Street, Salvador, Bahia 40110-040, Brazil
| | - Andrea P Dos Santos
- Department of Comparative Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Purdue University, 625 Harrison Street, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, USA
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Bastaminejad S, Eskandari P, Mohammadi MR, Shamsi L, Asghari A, Shahabi S, Omidian M, Pouryousef A, Shahriari B. Identification of Blastocystis spp. in Urban Rodents of Different Districts in Southwestern Iran: Subtype Distribution and Possible Zoonotic Potential. Acta Parasitol 2024; 69:922-928. [PMID: 38489010 DOI: 10.1007/s11686-024-00815-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2023] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 03/17/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE Rodents are one of the most abundant and diverse species of mammals and have recently been identified as carriers of numerous human pathogens. The current study was conducted to assess the prevalence, subtype (STs) distribution, and zoonotic potential of Blastocystis spp. in various species of rodents in Shiraz, southwestern Iran. METHODS For this aim, a total of 120 fresh fecal samples were collected from Mus musculus (n = 40), Rattus norvegicus (n = 40), and Rattus rattus (n = 40) in various municipality districts of Shiraz (6 out of 10 districts) between February and November 2020. Upon detecting parasites using light microscopy, a DNA fragment of the Blastocystis SSU rDNA gene was amplified using conventional PCR. RESULTS By employing direct wet mount examination, 8 out of 120 fecal samples (6.7%; 2 from house mice, 3 from black rats, and 3 from brown rats) tested positive. Similarly, 5% (2/40) of house mice, 7.5% (3/40) of black rats, and 7.5% (3/40) of brown rats tested positive using the molecular method. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the Blastocystis infecting different rodent species in Shiraz belonged to two potentially zoonotic STs (ST1 and ST4). Accordingly, rodents should not be overlooked as potential reservoirs of zoonotic Blastocystis infections. Different sampled urban districts and their statistical association with reported prevalence rates were analyzed separately. CONCLUSION Overall, the issue of the frequency and ST distribution of Blastocystis in urban rodents of Iran is still open to question and for a proper understanding, wider and more comprehensive studies are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saiyad Bastaminejad
- Department of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, School of ParaMedicine, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, Iran
| | - Parand Eskandari
- Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Mohammad Reza Mohammadi
- Department of Bacteriology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Laya Shamsi
- Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran
| | - Ali Asghari
- Zoonoses Research Center, Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, Ardabil, Iran
| | - Saeed Shahabi
- Department of Biology and Control of Disease Vectors, School of Health, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Mostafa Omidian
- Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Ali Pouryousef
- Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Bahador Shahriari
- Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
- Basic Sciences in Infectious Diseases Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
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Gómez Villafañe IE, Bellomo CM, Rospide M, Blanco P, Coelho R, Alonso DO, Arnica D, Sanchez Loria J, Figini I, Campos J, Martínez VP, Orozco MM. Filling the gaps in the Argentinian distribution of orthohantavirus: First finding of Lechiguanas virus in rodents from Corrientes, Argentina. Zoonoses Public Health 2024; 71:210-216. [PMID: 37772451 DOI: 10.1111/zph.13079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2023] [Revised: 09/13/2023] [Accepted: 09/17/2023] [Indexed: 09/30/2023]
Abstract
Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS) is an emerging infectious disease caused by orthohantaviruses in the Americas. In Argentina, since 1995, several reservoirs and virus variants have been described, but the northeastern and central endemic zones in the country include an area without human or rodent infections, despite sharing rodent species with areas with that disease. The aim of this study was to search for orthohantavirus in rodent communities that inhabit this area, which borders two endemic areas of HPS. Small rodents were captured in June of 2022 through a total effort of 644 trap nights distributed in five grids located in the Iberá National Park, Corrientes, Northeastern Argentina. All rodents were sexed, weighed, and the species was recorded. Blood samples were extracted to detect ANDV-specific immunoglobulin G (IgG), and to extract the RNA virus. Trimmed sequences were mapped against reference sequences from GenBank. We captured a total of 36 Oligoryzomys flavescens and 15 Oxymycterus rufus. We detected the O. flavescens species infected with Lechiguanas orthohantavirus in the camping area of the National Park. A nucleotide comparison with previously published sequences shows a 98.34% similarity to the virus obtained from a human case of HPS reported in the adjacent Misiones province. This study demonstrated, for the first time, that O. flavescens is a host of the Lechiguanas orthohantavirus in this zone and contributes to closing information gaps on the distribution of orthohantavirus in Argentina. Additionally, the high similarity with the hantavirus found in the human case of Misiones suggests that the reservoir in that province would also be O. flavescens (not previously confirmed). This information permits us to focus on the preventive measurements to protect the human population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabel E Gómez Villafañe
- Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Instituto de Ecología, Genética y Evolución (Conicet-UBA), Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Carla M Bellomo
- Laboratorio de Hantavirus, Servicio de Biología Molecular, Departamento de Virología, Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Infecciosas, ANLIS Dr. Carlos G. Malbrán, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Malena Rospide
- Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Instituto de Ecología, Genética y Evolución (Conicet-UBA), Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Paula Blanco
- Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Instituto de Ecología, Genética y Evolución (Conicet-UBA), Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Rocío Coelho
- Laboratorio de Hantavirus, Servicio de Biología Molecular, Departamento de Virología, Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Infecciosas, ANLIS Dr. Carlos G. Malbrán, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Daniel O Alonso
- Laboratorio de Hantavirus, Servicio de Biología Molecular, Departamento de Virología, Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Infecciosas, ANLIS Dr. Carlos G. Malbrán, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Diana Arnica
- Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Instituto de Ecología, Genética y Evolución (Conicet-UBA), Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Julián Sanchez Loria
- Unidad Centro de Genómica y Bioinformática, ANLIS Dr. Carlos G. Malbrán, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Iara Figini
- Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Instituto de Ecología, Genética y Evolución (Conicet-UBA), Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Josefina Campos
- Unidad Centro de Genómica y Bioinformática, ANLIS Dr. Carlos G. Malbrán, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Valeria P Martínez
- Laboratorio de Hantavirus, Servicio de Biología Molecular, Departamento de Virología, Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Infecciosas, ANLIS Dr. Carlos G. Malbrán, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - María Marcela Orozco
- Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Instituto de Ecología, Genética y Evolución (Conicet-UBA), Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Jeeves SP, Kotwa JD, Stevens B, Shirose L, Cai HY, Peregrine AS, Mubareka S, Jardine CM. Additional diagnoses of Echinococcus multilocularis in eastern chipmunks (Tamias striatus) from southern Ontario - results from ongoing surveillance for E. multilocularis in intermediate hosts in Ontario, Canada. Vet Parasitol Reg Stud Reports 2024; 48:100982. [PMID: 38316509 DOI: 10.1016/j.vprsr.2024.100982] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2023] [Revised: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 01/01/2024] [Indexed: 02/07/2024]
Abstract
Echinococcus multilocularis, a cestode with zoonotic potential, is now known to have a high prevalence in wild canid definitive hosts of southern Ontario. The distribution of E. multilocularis across this region in red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) and coyotes (Canis latrans) is widespread yet heterogenous. In contrast, confirmed diagnoses of E. multilocularis in wild free-ranging intermediate hosts within Ontario are currently limited to a single eastern chipmunk (Tamias striatus). These findings prompted ongoing surveillance efforts in intermediate host species, primarily rodents. Our report describes the results of passive surveillance through wildlife carcass submissions to the Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative (CWHC) and targeted active sampling of small mammal species from 2018 to 2023; a second and third eastern chipmunk were found to be infected with E. multilocularis. However, these were the only occurrences from surveillance efforts which collectively totaled 510 rodents and other small mammals. Continued surveillance for E. multilocularis in intermediate hosts is of high importance in light of the recent emergence of this parasite in Ontario.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon P Jeeves
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Rd E, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Canada.
| | | | - Brian Stevens
- Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative, Ontario-Nunavut, Department of Pathobiology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Leonard Shirose
- Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative, Ontario-Nunavut, Department of Pathobiology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Hugh Y Cai
- Animal Health Laboratory, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Andrew S Peregrine
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Rd E, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Samira Mubareka
- Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario M4N 3M5, Canada
| | - Claire M Jardine
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Rd E, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Canada; Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative, Ontario-Nunavut, Department of Pathobiology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Canada
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Scherrer P, Ryser-Degiorgis MP, Frey CF, Basso W. Toxoplasma gondii Infection in the Eurasian Beaver (Castor fiber) in Switzerland: Seroprevalence, Genetic Characterization, and Clinicopathologic Relevance. J Wildl Dis 2024; 60:126-138. [PMID: 37909405 DOI: 10.7589/jwd-d-23-00077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2023] [Accepted: 08/18/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023]
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is a coccidian parasite able to infect all warm-blooded animals and humans. Rodents are one of the most important intermediate hosts for T. gondii, but little is known about infection in beavers and its clinical relevance. Toxoplasmosis was not considered an important waterborne disease until recently, but with increased outbreaks in humans and animals this perspective has changed. Serum samples from 247 Eurasian beavers (Castor fiber) collected from 2002 to 2022 were tested for antibodies to T. gondii by a commercial ELISA. Antibodies to T. gondii were found in 113 (45.8%) beavers. Higher weight and proximity to urban areas were found to be significant predictors for seropositivity. Additionally, T. gondii DNA was detected in 23/41 brain tissue samples by real-time PCR. Histopathologic examination of brain sections revealed inflammatory changes in 26/40 beavers, mainly characterized by encephalitis, meningitis, choroid plexitis, or a combination of them. In six of these cases the lesions were in direct association with parasitic stages. With an adapted nested PCR multilocus sequence typing and in silico restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis approach, three different T. gondii genotypes were detected in brain samples: the clonal Type II strain (ToxoDB 1), a Type II variant (ToxoDB 3), and a novel genotype exhibiting both Type II and I alleles in a further animal. Toxoplasma gondii infections in beavers have epidemiologic and clinical significance. The high seroprevalence indicates frequent contact with the parasite, and as competent intermediate hosts they may play an important role, contributing to maintaining the life cycle of T. gondii in semiaquatic habitats. In addition, although most beavers appear to develop subclinical to chronic disease courses, acute and fatal outcomes, mainly characterized by encephalitis and generalized infection, do also occur.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick Scherrer
- Institute for Fish and Wildlife Health, Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology, Vetsuisse Faculty University of Bern, Laenggassstrasse 122, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
- Institute of Parasitology, Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology, Vetsuisse Faculty University of Bern, Laenggassstrasse 122, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Marie-Pierre Ryser-Degiorgis
- Institute for Fish and Wildlife Health, Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology, Vetsuisse Faculty University of Bern, Laenggassstrasse 122, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Caroline F Frey
- Institute of Parasitology, Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology, Vetsuisse Faculty University of Bern, Laenggassstrasse 122, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Walter Basso
- Institute of Parasitology, Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology, Vetsuisse Faculty University of Bern, Laenggassstrasse 122, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
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14
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Noh MA, Masri SN, Zulkapli A, Mohd Ali MR, Amran F. Leptospira infection and carrier survey on rats from wet market areas in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. J Vector Borne Dis 2024; 61:43-50. [PMID: 38648405 DOI: 10.4103/0972-9062.383644] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2023] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 04/25/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND OBJECTIVES Leptospirosis is an important zoonotic infection that has caused significant mortality and morbidity worldwide. This disease is endemic in Malaysia and as a developing tropical country, leptospirosis is concerning as it threatens Malaysian public health and the country's economic sectors. However, there is limited information on leptospirosis in Malaysia, especially regarding leptospiral seroepidemiology among carriers in Malaysia. Therefore, more epidemiological information on the source of the disease and reservoir are needed for better disease control and source intervention. The objectives of this study are to gather information on Leptospira infection and the carrier status of rats captured from selected wet markets of Kuala Lumpur metropolitan city in Malaysia. METHODS Live rat trappings were performed in four major wet markets in Kuala Lumpur, namely, Pudu, Chow Kit, Datuk Keramat, and Petaling Street. Animal samplings were performed for 12 months in 2017, where blood and kidney samples were collected and tested for anti-leptospiral antibodies via Microscopic Agglutination Test (MAT) and pathogenic Leptospira screening via Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) amplification offlaB gene. RESULTS MAT showed that 34.7% (n = 50/144) of the captured rats were positive for anti-leptospiral antibody of which the most prominent serovar was Malaya followed by a local strain, IMR LEP 175. In parallel, 50 rats were also positive for pathogenic Leptospira DNA. INTERPRETATION CONCLUSION This study showed that there are persistent Leptospira infections among rats in Kuala Lumpur wet markets and these rats are important reservoir hosts for the bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamed Asyraf Noh
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Malaysia
| | - Siti Norbaya Masri
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Malaysia
| | - Azlina Zulkapli
- Laboratory Animal Resource Unit, Special Resource Centre, Institute for Medical Research, National Institute of Health, Setia Alam, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Mohammad Ridhuan Mohd Ali
- Bacteriology Unit, Infectious Disease Research Center, Institute for Medical Research, National Institute of Health, Setia Alam, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Fairuz Amran
- Bacteriology Unit, Infectious Disease Research Center, Institute for Medical Research, National Institute of Health, Setia Alam, Selangor, Malaysia
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Maroli M, Bellomo CM, Coelho RM, Martinez VP, Piña CI, Gómez Villafañe IE. Orthohantavirus Infection in Two Rodent Species that Inhabit Wetlands in Argentina. Ecohealth 2023; 20:402-415. [PMID: 38091181 DOI: 10.1007/s10393-023-01661-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2022] [Accepted: 09/30/2023] [Indexed: 02/21/2024]
Abstract
Previous research conducted in central-east region of Argentina recorded potential orthohantavirus host rodents in diverse environments, but no research has focused particularly on islands, the environments that present the greatest risk to humans. For this reason, the aims of this research were to determine the orthohantavirus host in the rodent community focused on islands of Paraná River Delta, central-east region of Argentina, to identify temporal and spatial factors associated with orthohantavirus prevalence variations, to compare the functional traits of seropositive and seronegative rodents, and to explore the association between orthohantavirus prevalence and rodent community characteristics between August 2014 and May 2018. With a trapping effort of 14,600 trap-nights, a total of 348 sigmodontine rodent specimens belonging to seven species were captured 361 times. The overall antibody prevalence was 4.9%. Particularly, 14.9% of Oligoryzomys flavescens and 1.5% of Oxymycterus rufus, mainly reproductively active adult males, had antibodies against orthohantavirus. Even though O. flavescens inhabit all islands, our results suggest spatial heterogeneity in the viral distribution, with two months after periods of low temperature presenting increases in seroprevalence. This could be a response to the increased proportion of adults present in the rodent population. In addition, an association was found between the high seroprevalence and the diversity of the rodent assemblage. We also found 1.5% of O. rufus exposed to orthohantavirus, which shows us that further investigation of the ecology of the virus is needed to answer whether this species act as a spillover or a new competent host.
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Affiliation(s)
- Malena Maroli
- Facultad de Ciencia y Tecnología, Universidad Autónoma de Entre Ríos, 3105, Diamante, Entre Ríos, Argentina
| | - Carla M Bellomo
- Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Infecciosas Administración Nacional de Laboratorios e Institutos de Salud Dr. Carlos G. Malbrán, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Rocío M Coelho
- Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Infecciosas Administración Nacional de Laboratorios e Institutos de Salud Dr. Carlos G. Malbrán, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Valeria P Martinez
- Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Infecciosas Administración Nacional de Laboratorios e Institutos de Salud Dr. Carlos G. Malbrán, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Carlos I Piña
- Centro de Investigación Científica y de Transferencia Tecnológica a la Producción-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Facultad de Ciencia y Tecnología, Universidad Autónoma de Entre Ríos, 3105, Diamante, Entre Ríos, Argentina
| | - Isabel E Gómez Villafañe
- Instituto de Ecología, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Genética y Evolución de Buenos Aires (CONICET-UBA), Universidad de Buenos Aires, Intendente Güiraldes 2160, Ciudad Universitaria, C1428EGA, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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16
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Low SY, Lau SF, Ahmad NI, Sharma RSK, Rosli MZ, Mohd-Taib FS, Ajat MMM, Kamaludeen J, Syed Hussain SS, Wan KL, Salleh A, Aziz NAA. A cross-sectional study of Angiostrongylus malaysiensis in rats and gastropod hosts from recreational parks in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: Detection, risk factors and pathology. Zoonoses Public Health 2023; 70:636-646. [PMID: 37403513 DOI: 10.1111/zph.13072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2023] [Revised: 06/15/2023] [Accepted: 06/25/2023] [Indexed: 07/06/2023]
Abstract
Angiostrongylus malaysiensis is a potential zoonotic parasite, which reported to co-occur with A. cantonensis in human cerebrospinal fluid. It is a heteroxenous nematode that primarily develops through the early larval stages in gastropods and attains sexual maturity within rats. This study was conducted to determine the host species responsible for the reservoir of A. malaysiensis and investigate the risk factor for transmission among the hosts in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Sampling was conducted in six recreational parks. The rats were trapped alive using steel wire traps with bait, while the gastropods were collected by active searching. The rats were euthanized and dissected to collect any adult worms observed. The molecular detection of A. malaysiensis was performed by PCR on gastropod tissue samples. Biotic and landscape factors were recorded for risk factor analysis. In total, 82 rats and 330 gastropods were collected throughout the study. Overall, 3.64% of gastropods and 32.9% of rats were infected with A. malaysiensis. Rattus tiomanicus (Malayan wood rat) and Parmarion martensi (Yellow-shelled semi-slug) were found as important hosts for A. malaysiensis. Host species, sampling site and macrohabitat type are risk factors associated with the prevalence of A. malaysiensis infection in rats. For gastropods, host species and sampling site are risk factors that correlate with the parasite detection. In total, 128 adult A. malaysiensis were recovered from the infected rats. The mean intensity of infection with adult A. malaysiensis was 4.65 for Rattus rattus complex and 4.90 for R. tiomanicus. Adult worms were found in the pulmonary artery or right ventricle, while eggs and first-stage larvae were found in capillaries of the caudal lung lobe. Infected lungs showed extravasated red blood cells in the alveolar spaces. The pulmonary arteries in the infected lung lobe were thickened. Kepong Metropolitan Park is the hotspot area for A. malaysiensis in Kuala Lumpur. These results provide essential information for public health officials to develop targeted interventions to reduce the transmission of A. malaysiensis in urban areas, particularly in recreational parks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suey Yee Low
- Department of Veterinary Pathology & Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Malaysia
| | - Seng Fong Lau
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Malaysia
| | - Nur Indah Ahmad
- Department of Veterinary Pathology & Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Malaysia
| | - Reuben Sunil Kumar Sharma
- Department of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosis, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Malaysia
| | - Muhammad Zahin Rosli
- Department of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi, Malaysia
| | - Farah Shafawati Mohd-Taib
- Department of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi, Malaysia
| | - Mohd Mokrish Md Ajat
- Department of Veterinary Pre-clinical Science, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Malaysia
| | - Juriah Kamaludeen
- Department of Animal Science and Fishery, Faculty of Agriculture Science and Forestry, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Bintulu, Malaysia
| | - Sharifah Salmah Syed Hussain
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Malaysia
| | - Kiew-Lian Wan
- Department of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi, Malaysia
| | - Annas Salleh
- Department of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosis, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Malaysia
| | - Nor Azlina Abdul Aziz
- Department of Veterinary Pathology & Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Malaysia
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Puspitasari H, Suwanti LT, Mufasirin M, Kusnoto K, Yudaniayanti IS, Setiawan B, Suprihati E, Aksono EB, Widodo DP, Indasari EN. Tissue cysts and serological detection toxoplasmosis among wild rats from Surabaya, East Java, Indonesia. Open Vet J 2023; 13:1443-1450. [PMID: 38107229 PMCID: PMC10725286 DOI: 10.5455/ovj.2023.v13.i11.7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2023] [Accepted: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The protozoan Toxoplasma gondii is the source of zoonosis toxoplasmosis and causes public health problems throughout the world. Environmental contamination by oocysts excreted by cats as definitive hosts affects the spread of this disease. Wild rats as rodents can be used as an indicator of environmental contamination by oocysts, considering that rats have a habit of living in dirty environments and can be infected by oocysts from the environment. Aim This study aims to detect toxoplasmosis from tissue cysts and serological tests in wild rats as an indicator of environmental contamination in Surabaya. Methods A total of 100 wild rats collected from Surabaya were collected in five areas (West, East, Central, North, and South of Surabaya) obtained from three trapping locations: housing, dense settlements, and markets. All samples were examined microscopically for parasitological tests through the brain tissue samples, and the serum was examined using the toxoplasma modified agglutination test to detect the presence of IgG and Immunoglobulin M (IgM). Results This research used 100 wild rat samples, 77 Rattus tanezumi and 33 Rattus norvegicus, with evidence of 31% in serology and active infection with 19% tissue cyst. The results showed that the seroprevalence of T. gondii in wild rats was 31% (30% for IgG and 1% for IgM). Tissue cysts in the rat brain samples tested were 19% (19/100). The IgG prevalence rate in female rats was 25% (8/32), while for males, it was 32.3% (22/68). The highest seropositive IgG from densely populated settlements was 50%, markets were 25.8%, and housing was 12.1%. The highest seropositive IgM from densely populated settlements was 2.8%. Population density and the presence of cats are factors supporting the high seropositive rate at the trapping location. Conclusion This study revealed that there has been toxoplasmosis contamination in Surabaya with evidence of 31% in serology and active infection with 19% tissue cyst. It is necessary for controlling with surveillance in cats to prevent transmission in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heni Puspitasari
- Doctoral Program of Veterinary Science, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya, Indonesia
- Toxoplasma Study Group, Institute of Tropical Disease, Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya, Indonesia
| | - Lucia Tri Suwanti
- Toxoplasma Study Group, Institute of Tropical Disease, Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya, Indonesia
- Division of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya, Indonesia
| | - Mufasirin Mufasirin
- Toxoplasma Study Group, Institute of Tropical Disease, Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya, Indonesia
- Division of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya, Indonesia
| | - Kusnoto Kusnoto
- Division of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya, Indonesia
| | - Ira Sari Yudaniayanti
- Division of Clinic Veteriner, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya, Indonesia
| | - Boedi Setiawan
- Division of Clinic Veteriner, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya, Indonesia
| | - Endang Suprihati
- Division of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya, Indonesia
| | - Eduardus Bimo Aksono
- Division of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya, Indonesia
| | - Dwi Priyo Widodo
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
| | - Elly Nur Indasari
- Toxoplasma Study Group, Institute of Tropical Disease, Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya, Indonesia
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Guo Y, Guo X, Peng P, Lv Y, Xiang R, Song W, Huang X. Infestation and distribution of chiggers on the Anderson's white-bellied rats in southwest China. Vet Med Sci 2023; 9:2920-2926. [PMID: 37725255 PMCID: PMC10650356 DOI: 10.1002/vms3.1275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2023] [Revised: 08/28/2023] [Accepted: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 09/21/2023] Open
Abstract
As a group of ectoparasites, chiggers (larvae of chigger mites) are the exclusive vector of scrub typhus (tsutsugamushi disease). Rodents are the most important hosts of chiggers. The Anderson's niviventer rat, Niviventer andersoni, is an endemic species of rodent in China. However, few studies have involved this endemic rodent species and its ectoparasites including chiggers. According to the field investigation in five provincial regions of southwest China between 2001 and 2019, this paper retrospectively analysed the infestation and distribution of chiggers on the body surface of N. andersoni in southwest China for the first time. From 77 Anderson's niviventer rats captured, a total of 527 chiggers were collected and they were identified as 39 species and nine genera in two subfamilies of family Trombiculidae. Of 39 chigger species identified, Leptotrombidium deliense and L. scutellare are the most important vectors of scrub typhus in China. The overall infestation indexes were PM = 29.87%, MA = 6.84 and MI = 22.91, and the indexes of chigger mite community were Mf = 39, H' = 2.60, E = 0.71 and D = 0.12. The dominant chigger species are L. wenense, L. xiaguanense and L. fujianense with a total Cr = 51.04%, among which L. wenense is one of the six main vectors of scrub typhus in China. The dominant chigger species are of aggregated distribution among different individuals of the rats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Guo
- Yunnan Provincial Key Laboratory for Zoonosis Control and PreventionInstitute of Pathogens and VectorsDali UniversityDaliYunnanChina
| | - Xian‐Guo Guo
- Yunnan Provincial Key Laboratory for Zoonosis Control and PreventionInstitute of Pathogens and VectorsDali UniversityDaliYunnanChina
| | - Pei‐Ying Peng
- Institute of MicrobiologyQujing Medical CollegeQujingYunnanChina
| | - Yan Lv
- Yunnan Provincial Key Laboratory for Zoonosis Control and PreventionInstitute of Pathogens and VectorsDali UniversityDaliYunnanChina
| | - Rong Xiang
- Yunnan Provincial Key Laboratory for Zoonosis Control and PreventionInstitute of Pathogens and VectorsDali UniversityDaliYunnanChina
| | - Wen‐Yu Song
- Yunnan Provincial Key Laboratory for Zoonosis Control and PreventionInstitute of Pathogens and VectorsDali UniversityDaliYunnanChina
| | - Xiao‐Bin Huang
- Yunnan Provincial Key Laboratory for Zoonosis Control and PreventionInstitute of Pathogens and VectorsDali UniversityDaliYunnanChina
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Trudeau MJ, Goldsmith D, Letain C, Stamler S, Rothenburger JL. MUSKRATS (ONDATRA ZIBETHICUS) ARE COMPETENT INTERMEDIATE HOSTS OF ECHINOCOCCUS MULTILOCULARIS IN NORTH AMERICA. J Wildl Dis 2023; 59:684-693. [PMID: 37768814 DOI: 10.7589/jwd-d-23-00017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2023] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 09/30/2023]
Abstract
The tapeworm Echinococcus multilocularis is an emerging pathogen of significance to human and animal health in Canada, yet little is known about key rodent intermediate hosts in local urban ecosystems. In Europe, invasive muskrats (Ondatra zibethicus) are an important indicator intermediate host species; however, the role of this semiaquatic rodent in the ecology of E. multilocularis is undetermined in the North American context. We examined 93 muskrats that were livetrapped in the spring of 2017 within Calgary, Alberta, Canada, for the presence of E. multilocularis infection. The objectives of this study were to 1) diagnose alveolar echinococcosis using macroscopic assessment, histopathology, and molecular analyses; 2) quantify infection severity; and 3) assess host demographic risk factors for infection. Macroscopic cysts consistent with alveolar echinococcosis were present in 24% of muskrats (22/93). Most individuals had hepatic cysts; however, cysts were also occasionally detected in the mesentery, reproductive organs, omentum, peritoneum, spleen, diaphragm, lung, or kidney. The mean number of cysts per liver was 2.1 (range, 1-4). We examined hepatic cysts from 18 individuals using histology; all had lesions compatible with alveolar echinococcosis. Protoscoleces, indicative of patent infections, were present in 14/18 (78%). No demographic risk factors (sex, body condition, body mass) were significantly associated with infection. Muskrats in the North American context are competent intermediate hosts with high infection prevalence and may play an important role in the ecology of this emerging parasite.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marian J Trudeau
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, 3280 Hospital Dr. NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N 4Z6, Canada
| | - Dayna Goldsmith
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, 3280 Hospital Dr. NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N 4Z6, Canada
- Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative-Alberta Region, 3280 Hospital Dr. NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N 4Z6, Canada
| | - Collin Letain
- Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative-Alberta Region, 3280 Hospital Dr. NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N 4Z6, Canada
| | - Samantha Stamler
- Wildlife Management Branch, Government of Alberta, 6909 116 St. NW, Edmonton, Alberta T6H 4P2, Canada
| | - Jamie L Rothenburger
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, 3280 Hospital Dr. NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N 4Z6, Canada
- Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative-Alberta Region, 3280 Hospital Dr. NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N 4Z6, Canada
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Hareza DA, Langley R, Ma X, Wallace R, Rupprecht CE. RABIES IN RODENTS AND LAGOMORPHS IN THE USA, 2011-20. J Wildl Dis 2023; 59:734-742. [PMID: 37846914 PMCID: PMC11018264 DOI: 10.7589/jwd-d-23-00036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2023] [Accepted: 05/19/2023] [Indexed: 10/18/2023]
Abstract
Rabies is an acute progressive encephalitis caused by infection with rabies viruses, with reservoirs among bats and mesocarnivores, but all mammals are susceptible. Despite its distribution and abundance, cases of rabies are much less common in rodents and lagomorphs. Familiarity with current rabies prevalence data is important for informed decisions on human postexposure prophylaxis after rodent and lagomorph bites. This study is an update of rabies cases reported in rodents and lagomorphs in the US from 2011 to 2020. Rabies reports were collected passively from laboratory testing agencies in the US and Puerto Rico from 2011 to 2020. Descriptive analysis was conducted to determine the percent positivity of rabies cases by species. A total of 401 cases of rabies in rodents and lagomorphs were reported from 2011 to 2020. Most reported cases were in groundhogs (Marmota monax), representing >90% of cases, and the trend closely aligned with rabies in raccoons (Procyon lotor). In any given year, the percent positivity of rabies in rodents and lagomorphs was <2.5%, and the trend of percent positivity from 2011 to 2020 was stable. Groundhog and North American beaver (Castor canadensis) percent positivity was significantly higher than the rest of the rodents and lagomorphs. Most rabies cases occurred during the months of May-September. Documented cases of rabies in rodents and lagomorphs are generally rare, but with variation between species. Groundhogs and North American beavers had rabies percent positivity similar to high-risk species, such as bats and raccoons, and constituted 97% of all rodent and lagomorph positive cases. Since 1993, the trend in rabies cases in groundhogs has significantly declined. These results can be used to help inform public health officials on rodent and lagomorph prevention and control efforts, as well as rabies postexposure prophylaxis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dariusz A. Hareza
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Johns Hopkins University, 1830 E Monument Street, 4th Floor, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, USA
| | - Ricky Langley
- Department of Public Health, East Carolina University, 115 Heart Drive, Greenville, North Carolina 27834, USA
| | - Xiaoyue Ma
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road NE, Atlanta, Georgia 30333, USA
| | - Ryan Wallace
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road NE, Atlanta, Georgia 30333, USA
| | - Charles E. Rupprecht
- College of Forestry, Wildlife and Environment, Auburn University, 3301 FWS Building, 602 Duncan Drive, Auburn, Alabama 36849, USA
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Kalmár Z, Sándor AD, Balea A, Borşan SD, Matei IA, Ionică AM, Gherman CM, Mihalca AD, Cozma-Petruț A, Mircean V, Györke A. Toxoplasma gondii in small mammals in Romania: the influence of host, season and sampling location. BMC Vet Res 2023; 19:177. [PMID: 37773155 PMCID: PMC10540334 DOI: 10.1186/s12917-023-03729-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 10/01/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Toxoplasma gondii is a protozoan parasite that infects a large spectrum of warm-blooded animals, including humans. Small rodents and insectivores play an important role in the epidemiology of T. gondii and may serve as a source of infection for both, domestic and wild definitive felid hosts. Factors influencing the occurrence of T. gondii in wild small mammals are unknown, despite the fact that many intermediate host species are identified. We have used small mammals (Rodentia and Lipotyphla) captured over two years in various habitats, both in urbanised and in natural landscapes. We assessed the importance of land-use, season and host ecology on T. gondii infection. RESULTS We examined 471 individuals belonging to 20 small mammal species, collected at 63 locations spread over wide altitude, habitat and land-use ranges from Romania. Heart tissue samples were individually analysed by PCR targeting the 529 bp repetitive DNA fragment of T. gondii. The overall prevalence of infection was 7.3%, with nine species of rodents and two species of shrews being found to carry T. gondii DNA. Five species showed high frequency of infection, with the highest prevalence found in Myodes glareolus (35.5%), followed by Spermophilus citellus (33.3%), Sorex minutus (23.1%), S. araneus (21.7%) and Micromys minutus (11.1%). Adults seemed more often infected than young, however when controlling for season, the difference was not significant, as in spring both adults and young showed higher infection rates, but more adults were sampled. Contrary to our expectations, urban/rural areas (with their implicit high density of domestic feline presence) had no effect on infection prevalence. In addition, neither habitat, nor land-use at sampling sites was important as only geographical location and host species were contributing factors to the infection risk. CONCLUSIONS High prevalence of T. gondii infection showed a highly localised, patchy occurrence, with long living and higher mobility host species being the most common carriers, especially during autumn.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zsuzsa Kalmár
- University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, Cluj- Napoca, RO-400372 Romania
- “Iuliu Hațieganu“ University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
- HUN-REN-UVMB Climate Change: New Blood-sucking Parasites and Vector-borne Pathogens Research Group, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Attila D. Sándor
- University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, Cluj- Napoca, RO-400372 Romania
- HUN-REN-UVMB Climate Change: New Blood-sucking Parasites and Vector-borne Pathogens Research Group, Budapest, Hungary
- Department of Parasitology and Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Anamaria Balea
- University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, Cluj- Napoca, RO-400372 Romania
- Sanitary Veterinary and Food Safety Directorate Cluj, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Silvia-Diana Borşan
- University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, Cluj- Napoca, RO-400372 Romania
| | - Ioana Adriana Matei
- University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, Cluj- Napoca, RO-400372 Romania
| | - Angela Monica Ionică
- University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, Cluj- Napoca, RO-400372 Romania
- Clinical Hospital of Infectious Diseases of Cluj-Napoca, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Călin Mircea Gherman
- University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, Cluj- Napoca, RO-400372 Romania
| | - Andrei Daniel Mihalca
- University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, Cluj- Napoca, RO-400372 Romania
| | | | - Viorica Mircean
- University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, Cluj- Napoca, RO-400372 Romania
| | - Adriana Györke
- University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, Cluj- Napoca, RO-400372 Romania
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da Silva EC, Fornazari F, Antunes JMADP, Demoner LDC, de Oliveira LHO, Peres MG, Megid J, Langoni H. Molecular detection of Leptospira spp. in small wild rodents from rural areas of São Paulo State, Brazil. Rev Soc Bras Med Trop 2023; 56:e01602023. [PMID: 37792829 PMCID: PMC10550089 DOI: 10.1590/0037-8682-0160-2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2023] [Accepted: 08/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Leptospirosis represents a One Health issue, affecting humans and animals. This study investigated pathogenic leptospires in small wild rodents in São Paulo, Brazil. METHODS Kidney samples from 164 rodents underwent qPCR testing, targeting pathogenic Leptospira spp. RESULTS Thirty-five animals (21.34%) tested positive, including five rodent species: Akodon montensis (2/21; 9.5%), Necromys lasiurus (1/4; 25%), Oligoryzomys nigripes (24/92; 26.1%), Oligoryzomys flavescens (5/26; 19.2%), and Sooretamys angouya (3/14; 21.4%). Botucatu municipality exhibited the highest prevalence, with 42.5% (20/47) of the animals testing positive. CONCLUSIONS The presence of Leptospira spp. in wild rodents suggests they may be chronic carriers, contaminating the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Felipe Fornazari
- Universidade Estadual Paulista, Departamento de Produção animal e Medicina Veterinária Preventiva, Botucatu, SP, Brasil
| | | | | | | | | | - Jane Megid
- Universidade Estadual Paulista, Departamento de Produção animal e Medicina Veterinária Preventiva, Botucatu, SP, Brasil
| | - Helio Langoni
- Universidade Estadual Paulista, Departamento de Produção animal e Medicina Veterinária Preventiva, Botucatu, SP, Brasil
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Everest DJ, Green C, Dastjerdi A, Davies H, Cripps R, McKinney C, Podgornik G, Stinson M, O'Hare S, Sapsford B, Mill A, Van der Waal Z, Robinson N, Trotter S, Shuttleworth CM. Opportunistic viral surveillance confirms the ongoing disease threat grey squirrels pose to sympatric red squirrel populations in the UK. Vet Rec 2023; 192:e2834. [PMID: 37024300 DOI: 10.1002/vetr.2834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2022] [Revised: 12/29/2022] [Accepted: 03/01/2023] [Indexed: 04/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Red Squirrels United was a UK landscape-scale grey squirrel management programme undertaken between 2016 and 2020. METHODS A total of 11034 grey squirrels were removed by culling, with 1506 necropsied and 1405 suitable for adenovirus (AdV) or squirrelpox virus (SQPV) quantitative PCR (qPCR) analysis. Spleen, lip or hair were extracted, and DNA was isolated, with samples tested in duplicate by qPCR. RESULTS Of 1378 tissue samples, 43% were positive for AdV and 10% for SQPV. Of 1031 hair samples, 11% were positive for AdV and 10% for SQPV. Overall, 762 of 1405 (54%) animals were positive for one or both viruses. LIMITATIONS Ad hoc sampling was undertaken from limited geographical areas but provided the only dataset from that period, instead of extrapolating from historical data. CONCLUSIONS The grey squirrel is an asymptomatic reservoir host for AdV and SQPV. Interspecific infection transmission potential is demonstrated. Grey squirrel management by culling is essential for mainland red squirrel viability until other suitable management tools are available.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Chalin Green
- Animal and Plant Health Agency-Weybridge, Addlestone, UK
| | | | - Hannah Davies
- Animal and Plant Health Agency-Weybridge, Addlestone, UK
| | - Rachel Cripps
- Lancashire Wildlife Trust, Seaforth Nature Reserve, Liverpool, UK
| | | | | | | | - Simon O'Hare
- Northumberland Wildlife Trust, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK
| | | | - Aileen Mill
- Centre for Wildlife Management, School of Biology, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK
| | - Zelda Van der Waal
- Centre for Wildlife Management, School of Biology, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK
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Pelletier J, Rocheleau JP, Aenishaenslin C, Dimitri Masson G, Lindsay LR, Ogden NH, Bouchard C, Leighton PA. Fluralaner Baits Reduce the Infestation of Peromyscus spp. Mice (Rodentia: Cricetidae) by Ixodes scapularis (Acari: Ixodidae) Larvae and Nymphs in a Natural Environment. J Med Entomol 2022; 59:2080-2089. [PMID: 35980603 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjac106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The development of interventions that reduce Lyme disease incidence remains a challenge. Reservoir-targeted approaches aiming to reduce tick densities or tick infection prevalence with Borrelia burgdorferi have emerged as promising ways to reduce the density of infected ticks. Acaricides of the isoxazoline family offer high potential for reducing infestation of ticks on small mammals as they have high efficacy at killing feeding ticks for a long period. Fluralaner baits were recently demonstrated as effective, in the laboratory, at killing Ixodes scapularis larvae infesting Peromyscus mice, the main reservoir for B. burgdorferi in northeastern North America. Here, effectiveness of this approach for reducing the infestation of small mammals by immature stages of I. scapularis was tested in a natural environment. Two densities of fluralaner baits (2.1 baits/1,000 m2 and 4.4 baits/1,000 m2) were used during three years in forest plots. The number of I. scapularis larvae and nymphs per mouse from treated and control plots were compared. Fluralaner baiting reduced the number of larvae per mouse by 68% (CI95: 51-79%) at 2.1 baits/1,000 m2 and by 86% (CI95: 77-92%) at 4.4 baits/1,000 m2. The number of nymphs per mouse was reduced by 72% (CI95: 22-90%) at 4.4 baits/1,000 m2 but was not significantly reduced at 2.1 baits/1,000 m2. Reduction of Peromyscus mouse infestation by immature stages of I. scapularis supports the hypothesis that an approach targeting reservoirs of B. burgdorferi with isoxazolines has the potential to reduce tick-borne disease risk by decreasing the density of infected ticks in the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jérôme Pelletier
- Département de pathologie et microbiologie, Faculté de médecine vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada
- Groupe de recherche en épidémiologie des zoonoses et santé publique, Faculté de médecine vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada
- Centre de recherche en santé publique de l'Université de Montréal et du CIUSSS du Centre-Sud-de-l'Île-de-Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Jean-Philippe Rocheleau
- Groupe de recherche en épidémiologie des zoonoses et santé publique, Faculté de médecine vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada
- Département de santé animale, CÉGEP de Saint-Hyacinthe, Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada
| | - Cécile Aenishaenslin
- Département de pathologie et microbiologie, Faculté de médecine vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada
- Groupe de recherche en épidémiologie des zoonoses et santé publique, Faculté de médecine vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada
- Centre de recherche en santé publique de l'Université de Montréal et du CIUSSS du Centre-Sud-de-l'Île-de-Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Gabrielle Dimitri Masson
- Département de pathologie et microbiologie, Faculté de médecine vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada
- Groupe de recherche en épidémiologie des zoonoses et santé publique, Faculté de médecine vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada
| | - L Robbin Lindsay
- One Health Division, National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Nicholas H Ogden
- Groupe de recherche en épidémiologie des zoonoses et santé publique, Faculté de médecine vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada
- Public Health Risk Sciences Division, National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada
| | - Catherine Bouchard
- Groupe de recherche en épidémiologie des zoonoses et santé publique, Faculté de médecine vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada
- Public Health Risk Sciences Division, National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada
| | - Patrick A Leighton
- Département de pathologie et microbiologie, Faculté de médecine vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada
- Groupe de recherche en épidémiologie des zoonoses et santé publique, Faculté de médecine vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada
- Centre de recherche en santé publique de l'Université de Montréal et du CIUSSS du Centre-Sud-de-l'Île-de-Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
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Elliott I, Kumlert R, Thangnimitchok N, Blacksell SD, Tanganuchitcharnchai A, Paris DH, Newton PN, Morand S. Orientia tsutsugamushi in Chiggers and Small Mammals in Laos. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2022; 22:505-511. [PMID: 36255415 PMCID: PMC7613890 DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2022.0029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Scrub typhus is a leading cause of febrile illness in Laos and accounts for a high burden of disease. There have been no previous studies on the causative agent, Orientia tsutsugamushi, in vector mites ("chiggers") or their small mammal hosts in Laos. Materials and Methods: Small mammals and free-living chiggers were trapped in districts of Vientiane Province and Capital. Tissues were tested for O. tsutsugamushi by PCR and serum for IgG to O. tsutsugamushi by immunofluorescence assays (IFAs). Chiggers removed from small mammals and collected in their free-living stage using black plates were identified and tested for O. tsutsugamushi by PCR. Results: Over an 18-month period, 131 small mammals of 14 species were collected in 5 districts. Seventy-eight of 131 small mammals were infested with chiggers, but all tissues were O. tsutsugamushi PCR negative. Eighteen species of chigger were identified and 1,609 were tested by PCR. A single pool of chiggers tested O. tsutsugamushi positive. Sera from 52 small mammals were tested by IFA, with 16 testing positive. Conclusions: These are the first molecular and serological data on O. tsutsugamushi in chiggers and small mammals in Laos. Further studies are needed to better understand the key vector species and ecology of scrub typhus in areas with high disease incidence in Laos.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivo Elliott
- Lao-Oxford-Mahosot Hospital-Wellcome Trust Research Unit, Microbiology Laboratory, Mahosot Hospital, Vientiane, Lao PDR
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Rawadee Kumlert
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, Department of Disease Control, Ministry of Public Health, Nonthaburi, Thailand
| | - Neeranuch Thangnimitchok
- Lao-Oxford-Mahosot Hospital-Wellcome Trust Research Unit, Microbiology Laboratory, Mahosot Hospital, Vientiane, Lao PDR
| | - Stuart D. Blacksell
- Lao-Oxford-Mahosot Hospital-Wellcome Trust Research Unit, Microbiology Laboratory, Mahosot Hospital, Vientiane, Lao PDR
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Ampai Tanganuchitcharnchai
- Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Daniel H. Paris
- Department of Medicine, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland
- Department of Clinical Research, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Paul N. Newton
- Lao-Oxford-Mahosot Hospital-Wellcome Trust Research Unit, Microbiology Laboratory, Mahosot Hospital, Vientiane, Lao PDR
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Serge Morand
- MIVEGEC, CNRS, IRD, Montpellier University, Montpellier, France
- Faculty of Veterinary Technology, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand
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Byers KA, Lee MJ, Hill JE, Fernando C, Speerin L, Donovan CM, Patrick DM, Himsworth CG. Culling of Urban Norway Rats and Carriage of Bartonella spp. Bacteria, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Emerg Infect Dis 2022; 28:1659-1663. [PMID: 35876624 PMCID: PMC9328906 DOI: 10.3201/eid2808.211164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [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: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
We investigated the effects of culling on Bartonella spp. bacteria carriage among urban rats in Canada. We found that the odds of Bartonella spp. carriage increased across city blocks except those in which culling occurred. Removing rats may have prevented an increase in Bartonella spp. prevalence, potentially lowering human health risks.
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Camp JV, Desvars-Larrive A, Nowotny N, Walzer C. Monitoring Urban Zoonotic Virus Activity: Are City Rats a Promising Surveillance Tool for Emerging Viruses? Viruses 2022; 14:v14071516. [PMID: 35891496 PMCID: PMC9316102 DOI: 10.3390/v14071516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2022] [Revised: 06/16/2022] [Accepted: 07/08/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Urban environments represent unique ecosystems where dense human populations may come into contact with wildlife species, some of which are established or potential reservoirs for zoonotic pathogens that cause human diseases. Finding practical ways to monitor the presence and/or abundance of zoonotic pathogens is important to estimate the risk of spillover to humans in cities. As brown rats (Rattus norvegicus) are ubiquitous in urban habitats, and are hosts of several zoonotic viruses, we conducted longitudinal sampling of brown rats in Vienna, Austria, a large population center in Central Europe. We investigated rat tissues for the presence of several zoonotic viruses, including flaviviruses, hantaviruses, coronaviruses, poxviruses, hepatitis E virus, encephalomyocarditis virus, and influenza A virus. Although we found no evidence of active infections (all were negative for viral nucleic acids) among 96 rats captured between 2016 and 2018, our study supports the findings of others, suggesting that monitoring urban rats may be an efficient way to estimate the activity of zoonotic viruses in urban environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy V. Camp
- Institute of Virology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, 1210 Vienna, Austria;
- Center for Virology, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
- Correspondence:
| | - Amélie Desvars-Larrive
- Institute of Food Safety, Food Technology and Veterinary Public Health, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, 1210 Vienna, Austria;
- Complexity Science Hub Vienna, 1080 Vienna, Austria
- VetFarm, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, 1210 Vienna, Austria
| | - Norbert Nowotny
- Institute of Virology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, 1210 Vienna, Austria;
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dubai P.O. Box 505055, United Arab Emirates
| | - Chris Walzer
- Research Institute of Wildlife Ecology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, 1210 Vienna, Austria;
- Wildlife Conservation Society, Global Conservation Program, Bronx, NY 10460, USA
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Herrero-Cófreces S, Mougeot F, Sironen T, Meyer H, Rodríguez-Pastor R, Luque-Larena JJ. Viral Zoonoses in Small Wild Mammals and Detection of Hantavirus, Spain. Emerg Infect Dis 2022; 28:1294-1296. [PMID: 35608945 PMCID: PMC9155867 DOI: 10.3201/eid2806.212508] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
We screened 526 wild small mammals for zoonotic viruses in northwest Spain and found hantavirus in common voles (Microtus arvalis) (1.5%) and high prevalence (48%) of orthopoxvirus among western Mediterranean mice (Mus spretus). We also detected arenavirus among small mammals. These findings suggest novel risks for viral transmission in the region.
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Poje JE, Azevedo JF, Nair N, Mahachi K, Frank LE, Sherpa P, Krizek RS, Baccam T, Gomes-Solecki M, Petersen CA. Borrelia burgdorferi (Spirochaetales: Spirochaetaceae) Infection Prevalence and Host Associations of Ticks Found on Peromyscus spp. in Maryland. J Med Entomol 2022; 59:752-757. [PMID: 34971369 PMCID: PMC8924970 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjab206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Lyme disease, caused by Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto and most commonly transmitted by Ixodes scapularis Say (Ixodida: Ixodidae), is the most common tick-borne disease in Maryland. Because B. burgdorferi s.s. is maintained in enzootic cycles among wild mice (Peromyscus spp) and Ixodes spp ticks, differing patterns of parasitism of ticks on mice could impact the infection prevalence with B. burgdorferi. We determined the infection prevalence of Peromyscus spp as well as questing and partially engorged nymphal ticks collected at six sites on private land in five counties in Maryland from May to August 2020. Questing nymph infection prevalence (NIP) was 14%. We trapped 1258 mice and collected 554 ticks and 413 ear tissue samples. The prevalence of infested Peromyscus spp varied based on host age and sex, with older and male mice more likely to be infested. We detected a significant difference amongst the proportion of attached Ixodes and the location of trapping. Similarly, the prevalence of B. burgdorferi infected Peromyscus spp mice varied between locations (average mouse infection prevalence was 40%), with the highest prevalence in locations where Ixodes were the most commonly found ticks. The B. burgdorferi infection prevalence in partially engorged I. scapularis nymphs retrieved from Peromyscus spp was ~36% which lends further support to the host infection prevalence. Local differences in distribution of infected vectors and reservoirs are important factors to consider when planning interventions to reduce Lyme disease risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia E Poje
- Department of Epidemiology, College of Public Health, University of Iowa, 145 N. Riverside Drive, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Jose F Azevedo
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Biochemistry, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, 858 Madison Avenue, Memphis, TN 38163, USA
| | - Nisha Nair
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Biochemistry, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, 858 Madison Avenue, Memphis, TN 38163, USA
| | - Kurayi Mahachi
- Department of Epidemiology, College of Public Health, University of Iowa, 145 N. Riverside Drive, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
- Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases, College of Public Health, University of Iowa, 145 N. Riverside Drive, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Lexi E Frank
- Department of Epidemiology, College of Public Health, University of Iowa, 145 N. Riverside Drive, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Phurchhoki Sherpa
- Department of Epidemiology, College of Public Health, University of Iowa, 145 N. Riverside Drive, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Rachel S Krizek
- Department of Epidemiology, College of Public Health, University of Iowa, 145 N. Riverside Drive, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Tyler Baccam
- Department of Epidemiology, College of Public Health, University of Iowa, 145 N. Riverside Drive, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
- Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases, College of Public Health, University of Iowa, 145 N. Riverside Drive, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Maria Gomes-Solecki
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Biochemistry, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, 858 Madison Avenue, Memphis, TN 38163, USA
| | - Christine A Petersen
- Department of Epidemiology, College of Public Health, University of Iowa, 145 N. Riverside Drive, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
- Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases, College of Public Health, University of Iowa, 145 N. Riverside Drive, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
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Elias SP, Witham JW, Schneider EF, Rand PW, Hunter ML, Lubelczyk C, Smith RP. Emergence of Ixodes scapularis (Acari: Ixodidae) in a Small Mammal Population in a Coastal Oak-Pine Forest, Maine, USA. J Med Entomol 2022; 59:725-740. [PMID: 34958101 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjab209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
In the United States, surveillance has been key to tracking spatiotemporal emergence of blacklegged ticks [Ixodes scapularis Say (Ixodida:Ixodidae)] and their pathogens such as Borrelia burgdorferi Johnson, Schmid, Hyde, Steigerwalt & Brenner (Spirochaetales: Spirochaetaceae), the agent of Lyme disease. On the Holt Research Forest in midcoastal Maine, collection of feeding ticks from live-trapped small mammal hosts allowed us to track the emergence and establishment of I. scapularis, 1989-2019. From 1989-1995, we collected only I. angustus Neumann (Ixodida: Ixodidae)(vole tick), Dermacentor variabilis Say (Ixodida: Ixodidae) (American dog tick), and I. marxi Banks (Ixodida: Ixodidae) (squirrel tick) from seven species of small mammals. The most abundant tick host was the white-footed mouse [Peromyscus leucopus Rafinesque (Rodentia:Cricetidae)] followed by the red-backed vole (Myodes gapperi Vigors (Rodentia: Cricetidae)). Emergence of I. scapularis was signaled via the appearance of subadult I. scapularis in 1996. Emergence of B. burgdorferi was signaled through its appearance in I. scapularis feeding on mice in 2005. There was a substantial increase in I. scapularis prevalence (proportion of hosts parasitized) and burdens (ticks/host) on white-footed mice and red-backed voles in 2007. The ~11-yr time-to-establishment for I. scapularis was consistent with that seen in other studies. White-footed mice comprised 65.9% of all captures and hosted 94.1% of the total I. scapularis burden. The white-footed mouse population fluctuated interannually, but did not trend up as did I. scapularis prevalence and burdens. There were concurrent declines in I. angustus and D. variabilis. We discuss these results in the broader context of regional I. scapularis range expansion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susan P Elias
- Maine Medical Center Research Institute, Lyme & Vector-Borne Disease Laboratory, 81 Research Drive, Scarborough, ME 04074, USA
| | - Jack W Witham
- Center for Research on Sustainable Forests, University of Maine, 5755 Nutting Hall, Orono, ME 04469, USA
| | - Elizabeth F Schneider
- Maine Medical Center Research Institute, Lyme & Vector-Borne Disease Laboratory, 81 Research Drive, Scarborough, ME 04074, USA
| | - Peter W Rand
- Maine Medical Center Research Institute, Lyme & Vector-Borne Disease Laboratory, 81 Research Drive, Scarborough, ME 04074, USA
| | - Malcolm L Hunter
- Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Conservation Biology, University of Maine, 5755 Nutting Hall, Orono, ME 04469, USA
| | - Charles Lubelczyk
- Maine Medical Center Research Institute, Lyme & Vector-Borne Disease Laboratory, 81 Research Drive, Scarborough, ME 04074, USA
| | - Robert P Smith
- Maine Medical Center Research Institute, Lyme & Vector-Borne Disease Laboratory, 81 Research Drive, Scarborough, ME 04074, USA
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Ganoe LS, Brown JD, Lovallo MJ, Yabsley MJ, Garrett KB, Thompson AT, Poppenga RH, Ruder MG, Walter WD. Surveillance for diseases, pathogens, and toxicants of muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus) in Pennsylvania and surrounding regions. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0260987. [PMID: 34882733 PMCID: PMC8659318 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0260987] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2021] [Accepted: 11/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Using diagnostic data and contemporary sampling efforts, we conducted surveillance for a diversity of pathogens, toxicants, and diseases of muskrats (Ondatra zibethicus). Between 1977 and 2019, 26 diagnostic cases were examined from Kansas and throughout the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic, USA. We identified multiple causes of mortality in muskrats, but trauma (8/26), Tyzzer's disease (5/6), and cysticercosis (5/26) were the most common. We also conducted necropsies, during November 2018-January 2019 Pennsylvania muskrat trapping season, on 380 trapper-harvested muskrat carcasses after the pelt was removed. Tissue samples and exudate were tested for presence of or exposure to a suite of pathogens and contaminants. Gastrointestinal tracts were examined for helminths. Intestinal helminths were present in 39.2% of necropsied muskrats, with Hymenolepis spp. (62%) and echinostome spp. (44%) being the most common Molecular testing identified a low prevalence of infection with Clostridium piliforme in the feces and Sarcocystis spp. in the heart. We detected a low seroprevalence to Toxoplasma gondii (1/380). No muskrats were positive for Francisella tularensis or Babesia spp. Cysticercosis was detected in 20% (5/26) of diagnostic cases and 15% (57/380) of our trapper-harvested muskrats. Toxic concentrations of arsenic, cadmium, lead, or mercury were not detected in tested liver samples. Copper, molybdenum, and zinc concentrations were detected at acceptable levels comparative to previous studies. Parasite intensity and abundance were typical of historic reports; however, younger muskrats had higher intensity of infection than older muskrats which is contradictory to what has been previously reported. A diversity of pathogens and contaminants have been reported from muskrats, but the associated disease impacts are poorly understood. Our data are consistent with historic reports and highlight the wide range of parasites, pathogens and contaminants harbored by muskrats in Pennsylvania. The data collected are a critical component in assessing overall muskrat health and serve as a basis for understanding the impacts of disease on recent muskrat population declines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laken S. Ganoe
- Pennsylvania Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Justin D. Brown
- Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Matthew J. Lovallo
- Bureau of Wildlife Management, Pennsylvania Game Commission, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Michael J. Yabsley
- Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, United States of America
- Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Kayla B. Garrett
- Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, United States of America
- Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Alec T. Thompson
- Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Robert H. Poppenga
- California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory, University of California, Davis, California, United States of America
| | - Mark G. Ruder
- Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, United States of America
| | - W. David Walter
- U.S. Geological Survey, Pennsylvania Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, United States of America
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Wulandhari SA, Paladsing Y, Saesim W, Charoennitiwat V, Sonthayanon P, Kumlert R, Morand S, Sumruayphol S, Chaisiri K. High prevalence and low diversity of chigger infestation in small mammals found in Bangkok Metropolitan parks. Med Vet Entomol 2021; 35:534-546. [PMID: 34021500 DOI: 10.1111/mve.12531] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2021] [Revised: 05/03/2021] [Accepted: 05/10/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Chiggers are recognized as vectors of scrub typhus disease caused by the bacteria, Orientia tsutsugamushi. The risk of disease exposure is mainly related to chigger bites when humans or animals roam into vector-infested habitats. In big cities, urban public parks could provide areas for the animal-human interface and zoonotic pathogen transmission. The ecology and epidemiology of urban scrub typhus are still poorly understood in Thailand. Small mammals were trapped and examined for chigger infestation in urban public parks across metropolitan Bangkok, Thailand. We found a high prevalence of infestation (76.8%) with surprisingly low diversity. Two chigger species, Leptotrombidium deliense and Ascoschoengastia indica, were identified using morphological characteristics and molecular confirmation. The generalized linear model identified host intrinsic variables (i.e. body mass index) with host density, habitat composition and open field as the extrinsic factors explaining the abundance of chigger infestation. The bacteria O. tsutsugamushi was not detected in chiggers (90 chigger-pooled samples) and animal host tissues (164 spleen samples). However, the existence of chigger vectors calls for the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration and public health authorities to develop a comprehensive scrub typhus monitoring and prevention strategy in the parks and nearby communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- S A Wulandhari
- Department of Medical Entomology, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Y Paladsing
- Department of Helminthology, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - W Saesim
- Environment Department, Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - V Charoennitiwat
- Department of Helminthology, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - P Sonthayanon
- Department of Molecular Tropical Medicine and Genetics, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - R Kumlert
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, Department of Disease Control, Ministry of Public Health, Nonthaburi, Thailand
| | - S Morand
- Department of Helminthology, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
- CNRS-CIRAD, Faculty of Veterinary Technology, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - S Sumruayphol
- Department of Medical Entomology, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - K Chaisiri
- Department of Helminthology, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
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Siy PN, Larson RT, Zembsch TE, Lee X, Paskewitz SM. High Prevalence of Borrelia mayonii (Spirochaetales: Spirochaetaceae) in Field-Caught Tamias striatus (Rodentia: Sciuridae) From Northern Wisconsin. J Med Entomol 2021; 58:2504-2507. [PMID: 34086946 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjab102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Borrelia mayonii is a recently discovered bacterial spirochete that causes Lyme disease and is transmitted by the blacklegged tick, Ixodes scapularis Say (Acari: Ixodidae). To date, B. mayonii has been isolated from two vertebrate host species in Minnesota: field-caught white-footed mice (Peromyscus leucopus Rafinesque; Rodentia: Cricetidae) and American red squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus Erxleben). Here, we describe the first detection of B. mayonii in field-caught eastern chipmunks (Tamias striatus L. (Rodentia: Cricetidae)) from northern Wisconsin. During our study, we captured 530 unique small mammals and found an infection prevalence of 23.50% in field-caught eastern chipmunks (4/17) and 1.19% in Peromyscus spp. (5/420). Mean larval and nymphal burdens were determined for captured Blarina brevicauda (0, 0), Glaucomys volans (0.29, 0.14), Myodes gapperi (0.27, 0), Napaeozapus insignis (0, 0.25), Peromyscus spp. (1.88, 0.11), T. striatus (1.06, 0.65), and Sorex cinereus (0.09, 0). The high B. mayonii infection prevalence in eastern chipmunks suggests that the species may be an important reservoir for B. mayonii in the Upper Midwest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patricia N Siy
- Department of Entomology, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, University of Wisconsin - Madison, 1630 Linden Drive, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Ryan T Larson
- Department of Entomology, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, University of Wisconsin - Madison, 1630 Linden Drive, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Tela E Zembsch
- Department of Entomology, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, University of Wisconsin - Madison, 1630 Linden Drive, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Xia Lee
- Department of Entomology, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, University of Wisconsin - Madison, 1630 Linden Drive, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Susan M Paskewitz
- Department of Entomology, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, University of Wisconsin - Madison, 1630 Linden Drive, Madison, WI 53706, USA
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García-Peña GE, Rubio AV, Mendoza H, Fernández M, Milholland MT, Aguirre AA, Suzán G, Zambrana-Torrelio C. Land-use change and rodent-borne diseases: hazards on the shared socioeconomic pathways. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2021; 376:20200362. [PMID: 34538146 PMCID: PMC8450622 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2020.0362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Land-use change has a direct impact on species survival and reproduction, altering their spatio-temporal distributions. It acts as a selective force that favours the abundance and diversity of reservoir hosts and affects host-pathogen dynamics and prevalence. This has led to land-use change being a significant driver of infectious diseases emergence. Here, we predict the presence of rodent taxa and map the zoonotic hazard (potential sources of harm) from rodent-borne diseases in the short and long term (2025 and 2050). The study considers three different land-use scenarios based on the shared socioeconomic pathways narratives (SSPs): sustainable (SSP1-Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP) 2.6), fossil-fuelled development (SSP5-RCP 8.5) and deepening inequality (SSP4-RCP 6.0). We found that cropland expansion into forest and pasture may increase zoonotic hazards in areas with high rodent-species diversity. Nevertheless, a future sustainable scenario may not always reduce hazards. All scenarios presented high heterogeneity in zoonotic hazard, with high-income countries having the lowest hazard range. The SSPs narratives suggest that opening borders and reducing cropland expansion are critical to mitigate current and future zoonotic hazards globally, particularly in middle- and low-income economies. Our study advances previous efforts to anticipate the emergence of zoonotic diseases by integrating past, present and future information to guide surveillance and mitigation of zoonotic hazards at the regional and local scale. This article is part of the theme issue 'Infectious disease macroecology: parasite diversity and dynamics across the globe'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriel E. García-Peña
- Centro de Ciencias de la Complejidad, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - André V. Rubio
- Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas Animales, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias y Pecuarias, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Hugo Mendoza
- Departamento de Etología, Fauna Silvestre y Animales de Laboratorio, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Miguel Fernández
- NatureServe, Arlington, VA, USA
- Department of Environmental Science and Policy, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, USA
| | - Matthew T. Milholland
- University of Maryland, AGNR-Environmental Science and Technology, College Park, MD, USA
| | - A. Alonso Aguirre
- Department of Environmental Science and Policy, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, USA
| | - Gerardo Suzán
- Departamento de Etología, Fauna Silvestre y Animales de Laboratorio, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, Mexico
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Williamson BN, Meade-White K, Boardman K, Schulz JE, Telford CT, Figueroa Acosta DM, Bushmaker T, Fischer RJ, Rosenke K, Feldmann H. Continuing Orthohantavirus Circulation in Deer Mice in Western Montana. Viruses 2021; 13:v13061006. [PMID: 34072112 PMCID: PMC8226622 DOI: 10.3390/v13061006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2021] [Revised: 05/17/2021] [Accepted: 05/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) is an often-fatal disease caused by New World hantaviruses, such as Sin Nombre orthohantavirus (SNV). In the US, >800 cases of HPS have been confirmed since it was first discovered in 1993, of which 43 were reported from the state of Montana. The primary cause of HPS in the US is SNV, which is primarily found in the reservoir host Peromyscus maniculatus (deer mouse). The reservoir host covers most of the US, including Montana, where multiple studies found SNV in local deer mouse populations. This study aimed to check the prevalence of SNV in the deer mice at popular recreation sites throughout the Bitterroot Valley in Western Montana as compared to previous studies in western Montana. We found high prevalence (up to 20%) of deer mice positive for SNV RNA in the lungs. We were unable to obtain a SNV tissue culture isolate from the lungs but could passage SNV from lung tissue into naïve deer mice. Our findings demonstrate continuing circulation of SNV in western Montana.
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Larson RT, Bron GM, Lee X, Paskewitz SM. High Proportion of Unfed Larval Blacklegged Ticks, Ixodes scapularis (Acari: Ixodidae), Collected From Modified Nest Boxes for Mice. J Med Entomol 2021; 58:1448-1453. [PMID: 33471096 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjaa287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The blacklegged tick, Ixodes scapularis Say, is the primary vector of several tick-borne pathogens, including those causing Lyme disease and babesiosis, in the eastern United States and active collection methods for this species include dragging or wild animal sampling. Nest boxes targeting mice may be an alternative strategy for the surveillance and collection of immature I. scapularis feeding on these hosts and would be much safer for animals compared to small mammal trapping. We constructed double-walled insulated nest boxes (DWINs) with collection tubes mounted below the nesting chamber and deployed eleven in southern Wisconsin from June until September of 2020. The DWINs were occupied by Peromyscus spp. and birds (wren species, Troglodytidae family). We collected 192 ticks from collection tubes, all of which were identified as either I. scapularis (95%) or Dermacentor variabilis Say (Acari: Ixodidae) (5%). Only 12% (21/182) and 20% (2/10) of I. scapularis and D. variabilis were blood-fed, respectively. The high proportion of unfed ticks found in collection tubes may be due to grooming by hosts inside the nest boxes. Alternatively, immature ticks may have climbed trees and entered the DWIN seeking a host. Results suggest that nest boxes could be a tool for finding ticks in areas of low density or at the leading edge of invasion, when small mammal trapping or drag sampling is not feasible.
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Affiliation(s)
- R T Larson
- College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, Department of Entomology, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, WI
- Lieutenant Commander, Medical Service Corps, U.S. Navy
- Naval Medical Leader & Professional Development Command (NML & PDC), 8955 Wood Road, Bethesda, MD
| | - G M Bron
- College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, Department of Entomology, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, WI
| | - X Lee
- College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, Department of Entomology, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, WI
| | - S M Paskewitz
- College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, Department of Entomology, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, WI
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Milholland MT, Eisen L, Nadolny RM, Hojgaard A, Machtinger ET, Mullinax JM, Li AY. Surveillance of Ticks and Tick-Borne Pathogens in Suburban Natural Habitats of Central Maryland. J Med Entomol 2021; 58:1352-1362. [PMID: 33511396 PMCID: PMC10947375 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjaa291] [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] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Lyme and other tick-borne diseases are increasing in the eastern United States and there is a lack of research on integrated strategies to control tick vectors. Here we present results of a study on tick-borne pathogens detected from tick vectors and rodent reservoirs from an ongoing 5-yr tick suppression study in the Lyme disease-endemic state of Maryland, where human-biting tick species, including Ixodes scapularis Say (Acari: Ixodidae) (the primary vector of Lyme disease spirochetes), are abundant. During the 2017 tick season, we collected 207 questing ticks and 602 ticks recovered from 327 mice (Peromyscus spp. (Rodentia: Cricetidae)), together with blood and ear tissue from the mice, at seven suburban parks in Howard County. Ticks were selectively tested for the presence of the causative agents of Lyme disease (Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato [s.l.]), anaplasmosis (Anaplasma phagocytophilum), babesiosis (Babesia microti), ehrlichiosis (Ehrlichia ewingii, Ehrlichia chaffeensis, and 'Panola Mountain' Ehrlichia) and spotted fever group rickettsiosis (Rickettsia spp.). Peromyscus ear tissue and blood samples were tested for Bo. burgdorferi sensu stricto (s.s), A. phagocytophilum, Ba. microti, and Borrelia miyamotoi. We found 13.6% (15/110) of questing I. scapularis nymphs to be Bo. burgdorferi s.l. positive and 1.8% (2/110) were A. phagocytophilum positive among all sites. Borrelia burgdorferi s.s. was found in 71.1% (54/76) of I. scapularis nymphs removed from mice and 58.8% (194/330) of captured mice. Results from study on tick abundance and pathogen infection status in questing ticks, rodent reservoirs, and ticks feeding on Peromyscus spp. will aid efficacy evaluation of the integrated tick management measures being implemented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew T. Milholland
- Invasive Insect Biocontrol and Behavior Laboratory, USDA, ARS, Bldg. 007, Rm. 301, BARC-West, 10300 Baltimore Avenue, Beltsville, MD 20705
- AGNR-Environmental Science and Technology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD
| | - Lars Eisen
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, CO
| | - Robyn M. Nadolny
- Tick-Borne Disease Laboratory, Army Public Health Center, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD
| | - Andrias Hojgaard
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, CO
| | - Erika T. Machtinger
- Department of Entomology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA
| | - Jennifer M. Mullinax
- AGNR-Environmental Science and Technology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD
| | - Andrew Y. Li
- Invasive Insect Biocontrol and Behavior Laboratory, USDA, ARS, Bldg. 007, Rm. 301, BARC-West, 10300 Baltimore Avenue, Beltsville, MD 20705
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Theonest NO, Carter RW, Kasagama E, Keyyu JD, Shirima GM, Tarimo R, Thomas KM, Wheelhouse N, Maro VP, Haydon DT, Buza JJ, Allan KJ, Halliday JE. Molecular detection of Coxiella burnetii infection in small mammals from Moshi Rural and Urban Districts, northern Tanzania. Vet Med Sci 2021; 7:960-967. [PMID: 33277971 PMCID: PMC8136964 DOI: 10.1002/vms3.401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2020] [Revised: 10/16/2020] [Accepted: 11/09/2020] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Coxiella burnetii is an obligate intracellular bacterium that causes Q fever, a zoonotic disease of public health importance. In northern Tanzania, Q fever is a known cause of human febrile illness, but little is known about its distribution in animal hosts. We used a quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) targeting the insertion element IS1111 to determine the presence and prevalence of C. burnetii infections in small mammals trapped in 12 villages around Moshi Rural and Moshi Urban Districts, northern Tanzania. A total of 382 trapped small mammals of seven species were included in the study; Rattus rattus (n = 317), Mus musculus (n = 44), Mastomys natalensis (n = 8), Acomys wilson (n = 6), Mus minutoides (n = 3), Paraxerus flavovottis (n = 3) and Atelerix albiventris (n = 1). Overall, 12 (3.1%) of 382 (95% CI: 1.6-5.4) small mammal spleens were positive for C. burnetii DNA. Coxiella burnetii DNA was detected in five of seven of the small mammal species trapped; R. rattus (n = 7), M. musculus (n = 1), A. wilson (n = 2), P. flavovottis (n = 1) and A. albiventris (n = 1). Eleven (91.7%) of twelve (95% CI: 61.5-99.8) C. burnetii DNA positive small mammals were trapped within Moshi Urban District. These findings demonstrate that small mammals in Moshi, northern Tanzania are hosts of C. burnetii and may act as a source of C. burnetii infection to humans and other animals. This detection of C. burnetii infections in small mammals should motivate further studies into the contribution of small mammals to the transmission of C. burnetii to humans and animals in this region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ndyetabura O. Theonest
- School of Life Sciences and BioengineeringNelson Mandela African Institution of Science and TechnologyArushaTanzania
- Kilimanjaro Clinical Research InstituteMoshiTanzania
| | - Ryan W. Carter
- The Boyd Orr Centre for Population and Ecosystem HealthInstitute of Biodiversity Animal Health and Comparative MedicineCollege of Medical Veterinary and Life SciencesUniversity of GlasgowGlasgowUK
| | | | | | - Gabriel M. Shirima
- School of Life Sciences and BioengineeringNelson Mandela African Institution of Science and TechnologyArushaTanzania
| | | | - Kate M. Thomas
- Kilimanjaro Clinical Research InstituteMoshiTanzania
- Centre for International HealthDunedin School of MedicineUniversity of OtagoDunedinNew Zealand
| | - Nick Wheelhouse
- School of Applied SciencesEdinburgh Napier UniversityEdinburghUK
| | - Venance P. Maro
- Kilimanjaro Christian Medical University CollegeMoshiTanzania
| | - Daniel T. Haydon
- The Boyd Orr Centre for Population and Ecosystem HealthInstitute of Biodiversity Animal Health and Comparative MedicineCollege of Medical Veterinary and Life SciencesUniversity of GlasgowGlasgowUK
| | - Joram J. Buza
- School of Life Sciences and BioengineeringNelson Mandela African Institution of Science and TechnologyArushaTanzania
| | - Kathryn J. Allan
- The Boyd Orr Centre for Population and Ecosystem HealthInstitute of Biodiversity Animal Health and Comparative MedicineCollege of Medical Veterinary and Life SciencesUniversity of GlasgowGlasgowUK
| | - Jo E.B. Halliday
- The Boyd Orr Centre for Population and Ecosystem HealthInstitute of Biodiversity Animal Health and Comparative MedicineCollege of Medical Veterinary and Life SciencesUniversity of GlasgowGlasgowUK
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Behnke JM, Rogan MT, Craig PS, Jackson JA, Hide G. Long-term trends in helminth infections of wood mice ( Apodemus sylvaticus) from the vicinity of Malham Tarn in North Yorkshire, England. Parasitology 2021; 148:451-463. [PMID: 33256865 PMCID: PMC11010161 DOI: 10.1017/s0031182020002243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2020] [Revised: 11/03/2020] [Accepted: 11/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Helminth infections in wood mice (n = 483), trapped over a period of 26 years in the woods surrounding Malham Tarn in North Yorkshire, were analysed. Although 10 species of helminths were identified, the overall mean species richness was 1.01 species/mouse indicating that the helminth community was relatively depauperate in this wood mouse population. The dominant species was Heligmosomoides polygyrus, the prevalence (64.6%) and abundance (10.4 worms/mouse) of which declined significantly over the study period. Because of the dominance of this species, analyses of higher taxa (combined helminths and combined nematodes) also revealed significantly declining values for prevalence, although not abundance. Helminth species richness (HSR) and Brillouin's index of diversity (BID) did not show covariance with year, neither did those remaining species whose overall prevalence exceeded 5% (Syphacia stroma, Aonchotheca murissylvatici and Plagiorchis muris). Significant age effects were detected for the prevalence and abundance of all higher taxa, H. polygyrus and P. muris, and for HSR and BID, reflecting the accumulation of helminths with increasing host age. Only two cases of sex bias were found; male bias in abundance of P. muris and combined Digenea. We discuss the significance of these results and hypothesize about the underlying causes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jerzy M. Behnke
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, University Park, NottinghamNG7 2RD, UK
| | - Michael T. Rogan
- Biomedical Research Centre, School of Science, Engineering and Environment, University of Salford, SalfordM5 4WT, UK
| | - Philip S. Craig
- Biomedical Research Centre, School of Science, Engineering and Environment, University of Salford, SalfordM5 4WT, UK
| | - Joseph A. Jackson
- Biomedical Research Centre, School of Science, Engineering and Environment, University of Salford, SalfordM5 4WT, UK
| | - Geoff Hide
- Biomedical Research Centre, School of Science, Engineering and Environment, University of Salford, SalfordM5 4WT, UK
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Cuperus T, de Vries A, Hoornweg TE, Fonville M, Jaarsma RI, Opsteegh M, Maas M. Seoul Virus in Pet and Feeder Rats in The Netherlands. Viruses 2021; 13:443. [PMID: 33801789 PMCID: PMC8002128 DOI: 10.3390/v13030443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2021] [Revised: 03/05/2021] [Accepted: 03/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Seoul virus (SEOV) is a zoonotic orthohantavirus carried by rats. In humans, SEOV can cause hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome. Recent human SEOV cases described in the USA, United Kingdom, France and the Netherlands were associated with contact with pet or feeder rats. The prevalence of SEOV in these types of rats is unknown. We collected 175 pet and feeder rats (Rattus norvegicus) from private owners, ratteries and commercial breeders/traders in the Netherlands. Lung tissue of the rats was tested using a SEOV real-time RT-qPCR and heart fluid was tested for the presence of antibodies against SEOV. In all three investigated groups, RT-qPCR-positive rats were found: in 1/29 rats from private owners (3.6%), 2/56 rats from ratteries (3.4%) and 11/90 rats from commercial breeders (12.2%). The seroprevalence was largely similar to the prevalence calculated from RT-qPCR-positive rats. The SEOV sequences found were highly similar to sequences previously found in domesticated rats in Europe. In conclusion, SEOV is spread throughout different populations of domesticated rats.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Miriam Maas
- Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Postbus 1, 3720 BA Bilthoven, The Netherlands; (T.C.); (A.d.V.); (T.E.H.); (M.F.); (R.I.J.); (M.O.)
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Niebuhr CN, Siers SR, Leinbach IL, Kaluna LM, Jarvi SI. Variation in Angiostrongylus cantonensis infection in definitive and intermediate hosts in Hawaii, a global hotspot of rat lungworm disease. Parasitology 2021; 148:133-142. [PMID: 32907654 PMCID: PMC11010199 DOI: 10.1017/s003118202000164x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2020] [Revised: 08/21/2020] [Accepted: 08/22/2020] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Angiostrongylus cantonensis (rat lungworm) is a tropical and subtropical parasitic nematode, with infections in humans causing angiostrongyliasis (rat lungworm disease), characterized by eosinophilic meningitis. Hawaii has been identified as a global hotspot of infection, with recent reports of high infection rates in humans, as well as rat definitive and snail intermediate hosts. This study investigated variation in A. cantonensis infection, both prevalence and intensity, in wild populations of two species of rats (Rattus exulans and R. rattus) and one species of snail (Parmarion martensi). An overall infection prevalence of 86.2% was observed in P. martensi and 63.8% in rats, with R. exulans (77.4%) greater than R. rattus (47.6%). We found infections to vary with environmental and host-related factors. Body mass was a strong predictor of infection in all three species, with different patterns seen between sexes and species of rats. Infection prevalence and intensity for R. exulans were high in May 2018 and again in February 2019, but generally lower and more variable during the intervening months. Information on sources of variability of infection in wild host populations will be a crucial component in predicting the effectiveness of future disease surveillance or targeted management strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chris N. Niebuhr
- USDA APHIS Wildlife Services, National Wildlife Research Center, Hawaii Field Station, Hilo, HI, USA
- Manaaki Whenua–Landcare Research, PO Box 69040, Lincoln 7640, New Zealand
| | - Shane R. Siers
- USDA APHIS Wildlife Services, National Wildlife Research Center, Hawaii Field Station, Hilo, HI, USA
| | - Israel L. Leinbach
- USDA APHIS Wildlife Services, National Wildlife Research Center, Hawaii Field Station, Hilo, HI, USA
| | - Lisa M. Kaluna
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy, University of Hawaii at Hilo, Hilo, HI, USA
| | - Susan I. Jarvi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy, University of Hawaii at Hilo, Hilo, HI, USA
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Estaño LA, Bordado AMD, Paller VGV. Angiostrongylus cantonensis infection of non-native rats in Mount Makiling Forest Reserve, the Philippines. Parasitology 2021; 148:143-148. [PMID: 32782032 PMCID: PMC11010066 DOI: 10.1017/s0031182020001511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2020] [Revised: 07/28/2020] [Accepted: 07/29/2020] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
A number of studies had been conducted on rat species diversity in the Philippines, however, there is a dearth of information on the extent of Angiostrongylus spp. infection in various ecological niches. Collection of non-native rat samples occurred in various sampling sites categorized as residential, agricultural and agro-forest in Philippine Mount Makiling Forest Reserve (MMFR) and its adjacent areas . Three species of non-native rats were captured including Rattus tanezumi, Rattus norvegicus and Rattus exulans. Of the total 90 non-native rats collected, 24.4% were found infected with Angiostrongylus cantonensis. Statistical analysis showed significant difference among rat species with highest prevalence observed in R. exulans (42.9%) followed by R. tanezumi (29.8%) and R. norvegicus (7.7%) (P = 0.047). Angiostrongylus cantonensis infection was significantly higher in adults (29.4%) than in juvenile rats (9.1%) (P = 0.050). However, results showed no significant difference in A. cantonensis infection between male (43.3%) and female (18.3%) rats and between wet (31.6%) and dry seasons (19.2%) (P > 0.05). Moreover, this study also revealed that rats from agricultural and agro-forest areas showed significantly higher prevalence than residential areas. With urbanization and the everchanging landscape of MMFR watersheds and buffer zones, zoonotic transmission can pose health threats to the local people.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonardo A. Estaño
- Parasitology Research Laboratory, Animal Biology Division, Institute of Biological Sciences, University of the Philippines Los Baňos (UPLB), College 4031, Laguna, Philippines
- Department of Biology, College of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Caraga State University, Ampayon, Butuan City, Philippines
| | - Anna Monica D. Bordado
- Parasitology Research Laboratory, Animal Biology Division, Institute of Biological Sciences, University of the Philippines Los Baňos (UPLB), College 4031, Laguna, Philippines
- Department of Science and Technology – Science Education Institute, Bicutan, Taguig City, Philippines
| | - Vachel Gay V. Paller
- Parasitology Research Laboratory, Animal Biology Division, Institute of Biological Sciences, University of the Philippines Los Baňos (UPLB), College 4031, Laguna, Philippines
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Himsworth CG, Byers KA, Whelan T, Bai Y, Kosoy MY. Flea Presence and Abundance Are not Predictors of Bartonella tribocorum Carriage in Norway Rats ( Rattus norvegicus) from an Underserved Neighborhood of Vancouver, Canada. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2021; 21:121-124. [PMID: 33226890 PMCID: PMC10895708 DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2020.2665] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Urban Norway rats (Rattus norvegicus) carry pathogenic Bartonella spp. that are transmitted among rats and from rats to people through arthropod vectors, particularly fleas. There is marked temporospatial variation in Bartonella spp. carriage among Norway rats in Vancouver, Canada, and we investigated whether this variation is associated with flea presence or abundance. Bartonella triborocum was isolated from 96/370 (35%) rats and 211 (57%) rats had fleas with an average of one flea per rat. All fleas were identified as Nosopsyllus fasciatus. There was no significant relationship between B. tribocorum carriage and flea presence or abundance, suggesting that, in contrast to other rat-associated zoonoses transmitted by fleas (e.g., Yersinia pestis) flea indices may not be informative for understanding the ecology of Bartonella spp. in rats, particularly for N. fasciatus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chelsea G Himsworth
- Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative-British Columbia, Abbotsford, Canada
- School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
- Animal Health Centre, British Columbia Ministry of Agriculture, Abbotsford, Canada
| | - Kaylee A Byers
- Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative-British Columbia, Abbotsford, Canada
- Department of Interdisciplinary Studies, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
- Biodiversity Research Centre, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Tammi Whelan
- School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Ying Bai
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
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Zou HY, Yu QF, Qiu C, Webster JP, Lu DB. Meta-analyses of Schistosoma japonicum infections in wild rodents across China over time indicates a potential challenge to the 2030 elimination targets. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2020; 14:e0008652. [PMID: 32877407 PMCID: PMC7491725 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0008652] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2019] [Revised: 09/15/2020] [Accepted: 07/27/2020] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
China once suffered greatly from schistosomiasis japonica, a major zoonotic disease. Nearly 70 years of multidisciplinary efforts have achieved great progress in disease control, with infections in both humans and bovines significantly reduced to very low levels. However, reaching for the target of complete interruption of transmission at the country level by 2030 still faces great challenges, with areas of ongoing endemicity and/or re-emergence within previously 'eliminated' regions. The objectives of this study were, by using meta-analytical methods, to estimate the overall prevalence of Schistosoma japonicum infections in abundant commensal rodent species in mainland China after the introduction of praziquantel for schistosomiasis treatment in humans and bovines in 1980s. In doing so we thereby aimed to further assess the role of wild rodents as potential reservoirs in ongoing schistosome transmission. Published studies on infection prevalence of S. japonicum in wild rodents in mainland China since 1980 were searched across five electronic bibliographic databases and lists of article references. Eligible studies were selected based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. Risks of within and across study biases, and the variations in prevalence estimates attributable to heterogeneities were assessed. The pooled infection prevalence and its 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated with the Freeman-Tukey double arcsine transformation. We identified a total of 37 relevant articles involving 61 field studies which contained eligible data on 8,795 wild rodents across mainland China. The overall pooled infection prevalence was 3.86% (95% CI: 2.16-5.93%). No significant change in the overall pooled prevalence was observed between 1980-2003 (n = 23 studies) and 2004-current (n = 38 studies). However, whilst the estimated prevalence decreased over time in the marshland and lake regions, there was an apparent increase in prevalence within hilly and mountainous regions. Among seven provinces, a significant prevalence reduction was only seen in Jiangsu where most endemic settings are classified as the marshland and lakes. These estimates changed over season, ranging from 0.58% in spring to 22.39% in winter, in association with increases in rodent density. This study systematically analyzed S. japonicum infections in wild rodents from the published literature over the last forty years after the introduction of praziquantel for schistosomiasis treatment in humans and bovines in 1980s. Although numbers of schistosomiasis cases in humans and bovines have been greatly reduced, no such comparable overall change of infection prevalence in rodents was detected. Furthermore, there appeared to be an increase in S. japonicum prevalence in rodents over time within hilly and mountainous regions. Rodents have been projected to become the dominant wildlife in human-driven environments and the main reservoir of zoonotic diseases in general within tropical zones. Our findings thus suggest that it is now necessary to include monitoring and evaluation of potential schistosome infection within rodents, particularly in hilly and mountainous regions, if we are ever to reach the new 2030 elimination goals and to maximize the impact of future public, and indeed One Health, interventions across, regional, national and international scales.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui-Ying Zou
- Department of Epidemiology and Statistics, School of Public Health, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of National Health and Family Planning Commission on Parasitic Disease Control and Prevention, Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory on Parasite and Vector Control Technology, Jiangsu Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Wuxi, China
| | - Qiu-Fu Yu
- Department of Epidemiology and Statistics, School of Public Health, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of National Health and Family Planning Commission on Parasitic Disease Control and Prevention, Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory on Parasite and Vector Control Technology, Jiangsu Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Wuxi, China
| | - Chen Qiu
- Department of Epidemiology and Statistics, School of Public Health, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of National Health and Family Planning Commission on Parasitic Disease Control and Prevention, Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory on Parasite and Vector Control Technology, Jiangsu Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Wuxi, China
| | - Joanne P. Webster
- Key Laboratory of National Health and Family Planning Commission on Parasitic Disease Control and Prevention, Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory on Parasite and Vector Control Technology, Jiangsu Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Wuxi, China
- Centre for Emerging, Endemic and Exotic Diseases (CEEED), Department of Pathology and Population Sciences, Royal Veterinary College, University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Da-Bing Lu
- Department of Epidemiology and Statistics, School of Public Health, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of National Health and Family Planning Commission on Parasitic Disease Control and Prevention, Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory on Parasite and Vector Control Technology, Jiangsu Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Wuxi, China
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Gliga DS, Pisanu B, Walzer C, Desvars-Larrive A. Helminths of urban rats in developed countries: a systematic review to identify research gaps. Parasitol Res 2020; 119:2383-2397. [PMID: 32607706 PMCID: PMC7366588 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-020-06776-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2020] [Accepted: 06/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Although black (Rattus rattus) and brown (Rattus norvegicus) rats are among the most widespread synanthropic wild rodents, there is a surprising scarcity of knowledge about their ecology in the urban ecosystem. In particular, relatively few studies have investigated their helminth species diversity in such habitat. We followed the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis) guideline to synthesize the existing published literature regarding the helminth fauna of urban rats in developed countries (North America, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and Japan). We aimed at describing the species diversity and richness of urban rat helminths, the species prevalence and associations, the methods of investigation, the pathological changes observed in the hosts, the risk factors of infection and the public health significance of rat-borne helminthiases. Twenty-three scientific papers published between 1946 and 2019 were reviewed, half of them were conducted in Europe. Twenty-five helminth species and eight genera were described from the liver, digestive tract, lungs and muscles of urban rats. The most commonly reported parasite was Calodium hepaticum. Prevalence and risk factors of helminth infection in urban rats varied greatly between studies. Observed pathological findings in the rat host were generally minor, except for C. hepaticum. Several rat helminths can parasitize humans and are therefore of public health significance. The lack of references to identification keys and the rare use of molecular tools for species confirmation represent the main limitation of these studies. Knowledge gap on this topic and the needs for future research are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana S Gliga
- Conservation Medicine, Research Institute of Wildlife Ecology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
| | - Benoît Pisanu
- Unité Mixte de Services (UMS) 2006 Patrimoine Naturel, Office Français pour la Biodiversité (OFB), Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle (MNHN), Paris, France
| | - Chris Walzer
- Conservation Medicine, Research Institute of Wildlife Ecology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
- Health Program, Wildlife Conservation Society, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Amélie Desvars-Larrive
- Conservation Medicine, Research Institute of Wildlife Ecology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria.
- Unit of Veterinary Public Health and Epidemiology, Institute of Food Safety, Food Technology and Veterinary Public Health, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria.
- Complexity Science Hub, Vienna, Austria.
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Keuler KM, Bron GM, Griebel R, Richgels KLD. An invasive disease, sylvatic plague, increases fragmentation of black-tailed prairie dog (Cynomys ludovicianus) colonies. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0235907. [PMID: 32701990 PMCID: PMC7377483 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0235907] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2020] [Accepted: 06/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Context A disease can be a source of disturbance, causing population declines or extirpations, altering species interactions, and affecting habitat structure. This is particularly relevant for diseases that affect keystone species or ecosystem engineers, leading to potentially cascading effects on ecosystems. Objective We investigated the invasion of a non-native disease, plague, to a keystone species, prairie dogs, and documented the resulting extent of fragmentation and habitat loss in western grasslands. Specifically, we assessed how the arrival of plague in the Conata Basin, South Dakota, United States, affected the size, shape, and aggregation of prairie dog colonies, an animal species known to be highly susceptible to plague. Methods Colonies in the prairie dog complex were mapped every 1 to 3 years from 1993 to 2015. Plague was first confirmed in 2008 and we compared prairie dog complex and colony characteristics before and after the arrival of plague. Results As expected the colony complex and the patches in colonies became smaller and more fragmented after the arrival of plague; the total area of each colony and the mean area per patch within a colony decreased, the number of patches per colony increased, and mean contiguity of each patch decreased, leading to habitat fragmentation. Conclusion We demonstrate how an emerging infectious disease can act as a source of disturbance to natural systems and lead to potentially permanent alteration of habitat characteristics. While perhaps not traditionally thought of as a source of ecosystem disturbances, in recent years emerging infectious diseases have shown to be able to have large effects on ecosystems if they affect keystone species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krystal M. Keuler
- National Wildlife Health Center, U. S. Geological Survey, Madison, WI, United States of America
| | - Gebbiena M. Bron
- National Wildlife Health Center, U. S. Geological Survey, Madison, WI, United States of America
| | - Randall Griebel
- U. S. Forest Service, Bridger-Teton National Forest, Jackson, WY, United States of America
| | - Katherine L. D. Richgels
- National Wildlife Health Center, U. S. Geological Survey, Madison, WI, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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MacDonald AJ, Weinstein SB, O’Connor KE, Swei A. Circulation of Tick-Borne Spirochetes in Tick and Small Mammal Communities in Santa Barbara County, California, USA. J Med Entomol 2020; 57:1293-1300. [PMID: 31943036 PMCID: PMC7457333 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjz253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2019] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
A diversity of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (Johnson, Schmid, Hyde, Steigerwalt & Brenner) (Spirochaetales: Spirochaetaceae) genomospecies, including the Lyme disease agent, Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto (s.s.), have been identified in the western United States. However, enzootic transmission of B. burgdorferi s.l. in small mammals and ticks is poorly characterized throughout much of the region. Here we report prevalence of B. burgdorferi s.l. in small mammal and tick communities in the understudied region of southern California. We found B. burgdorferi s.l. in 1.5% of Ixodes species ticks and 3.6% of small mammals. Infection was uncommon (~0.3%) in Ixodes pacificus Cooley and Kohls (Acari: Ixodidae), the primary vector of the Lyme disease agent to humans in western North America, but a diversity of spirochetes-including Borrelia bissettiae, Borrelia californiensis, Borrelia americana, and B. burgdorferi s.s.-were identified circulating in Ixodes species ticks and their small mammal hosts. Infection with B. burgdorferi s.l. is more common in coastal habitats, where a greater diversity of Ixodes species ticks are found feeding on small mammal hosts (four species when compared with only I. pacificus in other sampled habitats). This provides some preliminary evidence that in southern California, wetter coastal areas might be more favorable for enzootic transmission than hotter and drier climates. Infection patterns confirm that human transmission risk of B. burgdorferi s.s. is low in this region. However, given evidence for local maintenance of B. burgdorferi s.l., more studies of enzootic transmission may be warranted, particularly in understudied regions where the tick vector of B. burgdorferi s.s. occurs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sara B Weinstein
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT
| | - Kerry E O’Connor
- Department of Biology, San Francisco State University, San Francisco, CA
| | - Andrea Swei
- Department of Biology, San Francisco State University, San Francisco, CA
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Butler MD, Griffin K, Brewster CD, Kapuscinski ML, Stenglein MD, Tripp DW, Quackenbush SL, Fox KA. A Novel Retrovirus (Gunnison's Prairie Dog Retrovirus) Associated With Thymic Lymphoma in Gunnison's Prairie Dogs in Colorado, USA. Viruses 2020; 12:E606. [PMID: 32498297 PMCID: PMC7354474 DOI: 10.3390/v12060606] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2020] [Revised: 05/25/2020] [Accepted: 05/31/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
As part of research and wildlife disease surveillance efforts, we performed necropsy examinations of 125 free-ranging (n = 114) and captive (n = 11) prairie dogs in Colorado from 2009 to 2017. From these cases, we identified three cases of thymic lymphoma in free-ranging Gunnison's prairie dogs (Cynomys gunnisoni), and we identified a novel retroviral sequence associated with these tumors. The viral sequence is 7700 nucleotides in length and exhibits a genetic organization that is consistent with the characteristics of a type D betaretrovirus. The proposed name of this virus is Gunnison's prairie dog retrovirus (GPDRV). We screened all 125 prairie dogs for the presence of GPDRV using PCR with envelope-specific primers and DNA extracted from spleen samples. Samples were from Gunnison's prairie dogs (n = 59), black-tailed prairie dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus) (n = 40), and white-tailed prairie dogs (Cynomys leucurus) (n = 26). We identified GPDRV in a total of 7/125 (5.6%) samples including all three of the prairie dogs with thymic lymphoma, as well as spleen from an additional four Gunnison's prairie dogs with no tumors recognized at necropsy. None of the GPDRV-negative Gunnison's prairie dogs had thymic lymphomas. We also identified a related, apparently endogenous retroviral sequence in all prairie dog samples. These results suggest that GPDRV infection may lead to development of thymic lymphoma in Gunnison's prairie dogs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Molly D. Butler
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA; (M.D.B.); (C.D.B.); (M.L.K.); (M.D.S.)
| | - Karen Griffin
- Colorado Division of Parks and Wildlife, Wildlife Health Laboratory, Fort Collins, CO 80521, USA; (K.G.); (D.W.T.)
| | - Connie D. Brewster
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA; (M.D.B.); (C.D.B.); (M.L.K.); (M.D.S.)
| | - Marylee L. Kapuscinski
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA; (M.D.B.); (C.D.B.); (M.L.K.); (M.D.S.)
| | - Mark D. Stenglein
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA; (M.D.B.); (C.D.B.); (M.L.K.); (M.D.S.)
| | - Daniel W. Tripp
- Colorado Division of Parks and Wildlife, Wildlife Health Laboratory, Fort Collins, CO 80521, USA; (K.G.); (D.W.T.)
| | - Sandra L. Quackenbush
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA; (M.D.B.); (C.D.B.); (M.L.K.); (M.D.S.)
| | - Karen A. Fox
- Colorado Division of Parks and Wildlife, Wildlife Health Laboratory, Fort Collins, CO 80521, USA; (K.G.); (D.W.T.)
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Bonilla-Aldana DK, Cardona-Trujillo MC, García-Barco A, Holguin-Rivera Y, Cortes-Bonilla I, Bedoya-Arias HA, Patiño-Cadavid LJ, Tamayo-Orozco JD, Paniz-Mondolfi A, Zambrano LI, Dhama K, Sah R, Rabaan AA, Balbin-Ramon GJ, Rodriguez-Morales AJ. MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV infections in animals: a systematic review and meta-analysis of prevalence studies. Infez Med 2020; 28:71-83. [PMID: 32532942] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Coronaviruses are zoonotic viruses that include human epidemic pathogens such as the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome virus (MERS-CoV), and the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome virus (SARS-CoV), among others (e.g., COVID-19, the recently emerging coronavirus disease). The role of animals as potential reservoirs for such pathogens remains an unanswered question. No systematic reviews have been published on this topic to date. METHODS We performed a systematic literature review with meta-analysis, using three databases to assess MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV infection in animals and its diagnosis by serological and molecular tests. We performed a random-effects model meta-analysis to calculate the pooled prevalence and 95% confidence interval (95%CI). RESULTS 6,493articles were retrieved (1960-2019). After screening by abstract/title, 50 articles were selected for full-text assessment. Of them, 42 were finally included for qualitative and quantitative analyses. From a total of 34 studies (n=20,896 animals), the pool prevalence by RT-PCR for MERS-CoV was 7.2% (95%CI 5.6-8.7%), with 97.3% occurring in camels, in which pool prevalence was 10.3% (95%CI 8.3-12.3). Qatar was the country with the highest MERS-CoV RT-PCR pool prevalence: 32.6% (95%CI 4.8-60.4%). From 5 studies and 2,618 animals, for SARS-CoV, the RT-PCR pool prevalence was 2.3% (95%CI 1.3-3.3). Of those, 38.35% were reported on bats, in which the pool prevalence was 14.1% (95%CI0.0-44.6%). DISCUSSION A considerable proportion of infected animals tested positive, particularly by nucleic acid amplification tests (NAAT). This essential condition highlights the relevance of individual animals as reservoirs of MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV. In this meta-analysis, camels and bats were found to be positive by RT-PCR in over 10% of the cases for both; thus, suggesting their relevance in the maintenance of wild zoonotic transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Katterine Bonilla-Aldana
- Semillero de Investigación en Zoonosis (SIZOO), Grupo de Investigación BIOECOS, Fundación Universitaria Autónoma de las Américas, Sede Pereira, Pereira, Risaralda, Colombia; Public Health and Infection Research Group, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad Tecnológica de Pereira, Pereira, Risaralda, Colombia; Comittee on Tropical Medicine, Zoonoses and Travel Medicine, Asociación Colombiana de Infectología, Bogotá, DC, Colombia
| | - María C Cardona-Trujillo
- Public Health and Infection Research Group, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad Tecnológica de Pereira, Pereira, Risaralda, Colombia; Grupo de Investigación Infección e Inmunidad, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad Tecnológica de Pereira, Pereira, Risaralda,, Colombia
| | - Alejandra García-Barco
- Public Health and Infection Research Group, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad Tecnológica de Pereira, Pereira, Risaralda, Colombia
| | - Yeimer Holguin-Rivera
- Public Health and Infection Research Group, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad Tecnológica de Pereira, Pereira, Risaralda, Colombia
| | - Isabella Cortes-Bonilla
- Public Health and Infection Research Group, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad Tecnológica de Pereira, Pereira, Risaralda, Colombia
| | - Hugo A Bedoya-Arias
- Public Health and Infection Research Group, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad Tecnológica de Pereira, Pereira, Risaralda, Colombia
| | - Leidy Jhoana Patiño-Cadavid
- Public Health and Infection Research Group, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad Tecnológica de Pereira, Pereira, Risaralda, Colombia
| | - Juan David Tamayo-Orozco
- Public Health and Infection Research Group, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad Tecnológica de Pereira, Pereira, Risaralda, Colombia
| | - Alberto Paniz-Mondolfi
- Laboratory of Medical Microbiology, Department of Pathology, Molecular and Cell-based Medicine, The Mount Sinai Hospital-Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, USA; Laboratorio de Señalización Celular y Bioquímica de Parásitos, Instituto de Estudios Avanzados (IDEA), Caracas, DC, Venezuela; Academia Nacional de Medicina, Caracas, Venezuela; Instituto de Investigaciones Biomedicas IDB / Incubadora Venezolana de la Ciencia, Cabudare, Edo. Lara, Venezuela
| | - Lysien I Zambrano
- Departments of Physiological and Morphological Sciences, School of Medical, Sciences, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Honduras (UNAH), Tegucigalpa, Honduras
| | - Kuldeep Dhama
- Division of Pathology, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Ranjit Sah
- Department of Microbiology, Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, Institute of Medicine, Kathmandu, Nepal
| | - Ali A Rabaan
- Molecular Diagnostic Laboratory, Johns Hopkins Aramco Healthcare, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia
| | - Graciela J Balbin-Ramon
- Universidad Científica del Sur, Lima, Peru; Hospital de Emergencias Jose Casimiro Ulloa, Lima, Peru
| | - Alfonso J Rodriguez-Morales
- Semillero de Investigación en Zoonosis (SIZOO), Grupo de Investigación BIOECOS, Fundación Universitaria Autónoma de las Américas, Sede Pereira, Pereira, Risaralda, Colombia; Public Health and Infection Research Group, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad Tecnológica de Pereira, Pereira, Risaralda, Colombia; Comittee on Tropical Medicine, Zoonoses and Travel Medicine, Asociación Colombiana de Infectología, Bogotá, DC, Colombia; Grupo de Investigación Infección e Inmunidad, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad Tecnológica de Pereira, Pereira, Risaralda, Colombia; Universidad Científica del Sur, Lima, Peru; Grupo de Investigación Biomedicina, Faculty of Medicine, Fundación Universitaria Autónoma de las Américas, Pereira, Risaralda, Colombia
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Ricardo T, Jacob P, Chiani Y, Schmeling MF, Cornejo P, Ojeda AA, Teta PV, Vanasco NB, Previtali MA. Seroprevalence of leptospiral antibodies in rodents from riverside communities of Santa Fe, Argentina. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2020; 14:e0008222. [PMID: 32330132 PMCID: PMC7182174 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0008222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2019] [Accepted: 03/16/2020] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease that can be transmitted by contact with the urine of infected mammals. Rodents play a mayor role in the transmission of leptospires to humans. The province of Santa Fe reports the greatest number of cases in Argentina. Yet, in this region, there are still knowledge gaps regarding the diversity of rodent species that may be hosts of pathogenic leptospires. The aims of this study were to evaluate the presence of leptospiral antibodies in rodents from three riverside communities of Santa Fe, and to identify factors associated with leptospiral infection. Methodology/Principal findings Each community was divided into three environmental settings based on the level of human disturbance, and sampled during two springs (Sep-Oct 2014 and 2015) and one autumn (Mar-Apr 2015). Serum samples of captured sigmodontine and murine rodents were tested for leptospiral antibodies by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and microagglutination test (MAT) was used to assess the infecting serovar in seropositive individuals. Factors influencing seropositivity were analyzed using logistic regression models. We caught 119 rodents, of which 101 serums were suitable for analysis. Most frequently trapped species were Scapteromys aquaticus, Akodon azarae and Oligoryzomys spp., with seroprevalences of 41.3%, 42.9% and 55% respectively. Seropositivity was higher in individuals with an average body condition score and in those that were sexually mature, but in the latter the differences were marginally significant. Conclusions/Significance Our results suggest that native rodents may be playing a role in the environmental circulation of pathogenic leptospires and provide relevant information for public health policies in the area. Rodents are considered as the main reservoirs of pathogenic leptospires, which can cause leptospirosis, a disease that can be severe for both humans and domestic animals. Multiple socio-environmental factors have been found to influence the risk of leptospirosis, and many mammal species can play a role in the transmission of the bacteria. The purpose of this study was to investigate the local conditions and rodent fauna that may influence the risk of leptospirosis in communities located in the floodplains of the Parana river, near Santa Fe, Argentina. We conducted a survey of antibodies against leptospires in rodents from the center, border, and outside of three riverside settlements. We observed a relatively high seroprevalence among captured individuals (42%). Animals with an intermediate body condition were more likely to be seropositive. In most sites, native rodents were dominant over introduced rats and mice and lived close to human dwellings. Given the socio-environmental conditions observed in these settlements and the high frequency of floods that affect them, the presence of potentially infected rodents provide ample opportunities for leptospirosis to affect these communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamara Ricardo
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Santa Fe, Argentina
- Departamento de Ciencias Naturales/Facultad de Humanidades y Ciencias/Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Paulina Jacob
- Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Respiratorias (INER) “Dr. E. Coni”/Administración Nacional de Institutos de Salud (ANLIS “Dr. C.G. Malbran”), Santa Fe, Argentina
- Laboratorio de leptospirosis/Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas/Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Yosena Chiani
- Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Respiratorias (INER) “Dr. E. Coni”/Administración Nacional de Institutos de Salud (ANLIS “Dr. C.G. Malbran”), Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - María Fernanda Schmeling
- Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Respiratorias (INER) “Dr. E. Coni”/Administración Nacional de Institutos de Salud (ANLIS “Dr. C.G. Malbran”), Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Paula Cornejo
- Grupo de Investigaciones de la Biodiversidad (GIB)/IADIZA, CCT Mendoza CONICET, Mendoza, Argentina
| | - Agustina Alejandra Ojeda
- Grupo de Investigaciones de la Biodiversidad (GIB)/IADIZA, CCT Mendoza CONICET, Mendoza, Argentina
| | - Pablo Vicente Teta
- División Mastozoología/Museo Argentino de Cs. Naturales “Bernardino Rivadavia”, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Norma Bibiana Vanasco
- Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Respiratorias (INER) “Dr. E. Coni”/Administración Nacional de Institutos de Salud (ANLIS “Dr. C.G. Malbran”), Santa Fe, Argentina
- Laboratorio de leptospirosis/Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas/Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - María Andrea Previtali
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Santa Fe, Argentina
- Departamento de Ciencias Naturales/Facultad de Humanidades y Ciencias/Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Santa Fe, Argentina
- * E-mail:
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