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Guiry E, Kennedy R, Orton D, Armitage P, Bratten J, Dagneau C, Dawdy S, deFrance S, Gaulton B, Givens D, Hall O, Laberge A, Lavin M, Miller H, Minkoff MF, Niculescu T, Noël S, Pavao-Zuckerman B, Stricker L, Teeter M, Welker M, Wilkoski J, Szpak P, Buckley M. The ratting of North America: A 350-year retrospective on Rattus species compositions and competition. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2024; 10:eadm6755. [PMID: 38569028 PMCID: PMC10990262 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adm6755] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2023] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024]
Abstract
While the impacts of black (Rattus rattus) and brown (Rattus norvegicus) rats on human society are well documented-including the spread of disease, broad-scale environmental destruction, and billions spent annually on animal control-little is known about their ecology and behavior in urban areas due to the challenges of studying animals in city environments. We use isotopic and ZooMS analysis of archaeological (1550s-1900 CE) rat remains from eastern North America to provide a large-scale framework for species arrival, interspecific competition, and dietary ecology. Brown rats arrived earlier than expected and rapidly outcompeted black rats in coastal urban areas. This replacement happened despite evidence that the two species occupy different trophic positions. Findings include the earliest molecularly confirmed brown rat in the Americas and show a deep ecological structure to how rats exploit human-structured areas, with implications for understanding urban zoonosis, rat management, and ecosystem planning as well as broader themes of rat dispersal, phylogeny, evolutionary ecology, and climate impacts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric Guiry
- Department of Anthropology, Trent University, 1600 West Bank Dr., Peterborough, ON K9L 0G2, Canada
- School of Archaeology and Ancient History, University of Leicester, Mayor’s Walk, Leicester LE1 7RH, UK
| | - Ryan Kennedy
- Department of Anthropology, Indiana University Bloomington, 701 E. Kirkwood Ave., Bloomington, IN 47405, USA
| | - David Orton
- BioArCh, Department of Archaeology, University of York, Heslington, York YO10 5DD, UK
| | - Philip Armitage
- Independent researcher, 7 Park Court, Heath Road, Brixham TQ5 9AX, UK
| | - John Bratten
- Department of Anthropology, University of West Florida, 11000 University Pkwy, Pensacola, FL 32514, USA
| | - Charles Dagneau
- Underwater Archaeology Team, Parks Canada, 1800 Walkley, Ottawa, ON K1H8K3, Canada
| | - Shannon Dawdy
- Department of Anthropology, University of Chicago, 1126 E 59th St, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Susan deFrance
- Department of Anthropology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Barry Gaulton
- Department of Archaeology, Memorial University, Queen's College, 210 Prince Philip Dr., St. John's, NL A1B 3R6, Canada
| | - David Givens
- Jamestown Rediscovery/Preservation Virginia, 1365 Colonial Parkway, Jamestown, VA 23081, USA
| | - Olivia Hall
- Department of Anthropology, Trent University, 1600 West Bank Dr., Peterborough, ON K9L 0G2, Canada
| | - Anne Laberge
- Département des sciences historiques, Université Laval, 1030 avenue des Sciences-Humaines, Québec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
| | - Michael Lavin
- Jamestown Rediscovery/Preservation Virginia, 1365 Colonial Parkway, Jamestown, VA 23081, USA
| | - Henry Miller
- Historic St. Mary's City, St. Mary's City, MD 20686, USA
| | - Mary F. Minkoff
- Florida Public Archaeology Network, 207 E Main St., Pensacola, FL 32502, USA
| | - Tatiana Niculescu
- Office of Historic Alexandria/Alexandria Archaeology, 105 North Union Street, #327, Alexandria, VA 22314, USA
| | - Stéphane Noël
- Ville de Quebec, Bureau de projet du tramway de Québec, 226-825 boul. Lebourgneuf, Québec, QC G2J 0B9, Canada
| | - Barnet Pavao-Zuckerman
- Department of Anthropology, University of Maryland, 4302 Chapel Lane, College Park, MD 20742, USA
| | - Leah Stricker
- Jamestown Rediscovery/Preservation Virginia, 1365 Colonial Parkway, Jamestown, VA 23081, USA
| | - Matt Teeter
- Department of Anthropology, Trent University, 1600 West Bank Dr., Peterborough, ON K9L 0G2, Canada
| | - Martin Welker
- Arizona State Museum, University of Arizona, 1013 E University Blvd. Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
- School of Anthropology, University of Arizona, 1009 E South Campus Dr., Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
| | - Jennifer Wilkoski
- Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, 401 W Duke of Gloucester St, Williamsburg, VA 23185, USA
| | - Paul Szpak
- Department of Anthropology, Trent University, 1600 West Bank Dr., Peterborough, ON K9L 0G2, Canada
| | - Michael Buckley
- Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, School of Natural Sciences, The University of Manchester, 131 Princess Street, Manchester M1 7DN, UK
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Li J, Huang E, Wu Y, Zhu C, Li W, Ai L, Xie Q, Tian Z, Zhong W, Sun G, Zhang L, Tan W. Population structure, dispersion patterns and genetic diversity of two major invasive and commensal zoonotic disease hosts ( Rattus norvegicus and Rattus tanezumi) from the southeastern coast of China. Front Genet 2024; 14:1174584. [PMID: 38259625 PMCID: PMC10800861 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2023.1174584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Background: The invasive brownrat (Rattus norvegicus) and the Oriental rats (Rattus tanezumi) are common commensal murid that are important hosts for rodent-borne diseases in southeast Asia. Understanding their population structure and genetic diversity is essential to uncover their invasion biology and distribution dynamics that are essential for controlling rodent-borne diseases. Methods: TA total of 103 R. norvegicus and 85 R. tanezumi were collected from 13 to 9 coastal areas of six provincial monitoring sentinel sites, respectivelyto assess patterns in their microsatellite loci and their mitochondrial coxl gene region. Results: Eleven sampled populations of R. norvegicus were divided into two major clusters by region. The observed heterozygosity values of all regional populations were smaller than expected genetic diversity heterozygosity values and deviated from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium Nine sample populations of R. tanezumi were divided into three clusters; two that included sample from Hainan and Fujian provinces, and one that included samples from the other provinces and cities. The genetic diversity of R. tanezumi was highest in samples from Jiangsu and Guangdong provinces. Conclusion: The data in this paper confirm the two invasive rodent species from the southeastern coastal region of China may have relied on maritime transport to spread from the southern region of China to the Yangtze River basin. R. tanezumi may then hanve migrated unidirectionally, along the southeastern provinces of China towards the north, while R. norvegicus spread in a complex and multidirectional manner in Hainan, Fujian, Zhejiang and Jiangsu Provinces of the country.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaqiao Li
- Nanjing Bioengineering (Gene) Technology Center for Medicines, Nanjing, China
- School of Resources and Chemical Engineering, Sanming University, Sanming, China
- Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Enjiong Huang
- Technology Center of Fuzhou Customs, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
| | - Yifan Wu
- Nanjing Bioengineering (Gene) Technology Center for Medicines, Nanjing, China
| | - Changqiang Zhu
- Nanjing Bioengineering (Gene) Technology Center for Medicines, Nanjing, China
| | - Wenhao Li
- Nanjing Bioengineering (Gene) Technology Center for Medicines, Nanjing, China
| | - Lele Ai
- Nanjing Bioengineering (Gene) Technology Center for Medicines, Nanjing, China
| | - Qinghua Xie
- Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Zhi Tian
- Nanjing Bioengineering (Gene) Technology Center for Medicines, Nanjing, China
| | - Weiwen Zhong
- Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Longquan, Zhejiang, China
| | - Gang Sun
- School of Resources and Chemical Engineering, Sanming University, Sanming, China
| | - Lingling Zhang
- Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Weilong Tan
- Nanjing Bioengineering (Gene) Technology Center for Medicines, Nanjing, China
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Yi B, Deng Q, Guo C, Li X, Wu Q, Zha R, Wang X, Lu J. Evaluating the zoonotic potential of RNA viromes of rodents provides new insight into rodent-borne zoonotic pathogens in Guangdong, China. One Health 2023; 17:100631. [PMID: 38024253 PMCID: PMC10665145 DOI: 10.1016/j.onehlt.2023.100631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2023] [Revised: 09/18/2023] [Accepted: 09/19/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases have been on the rise, with a significant proportion being zoonotic. Rodents, as the natural reservoirs of numerous diverse zoonotic viruses, pose a substantial threat to human health. To investigate the diversity of known and unknown viruses harbored by rodents in Guangdong (southern province of China), we conducted a comprehensive analysis of viral genomes through metagenomic sequencing of organs from 194 rodents. Our analysis yielded 2163 viral contigs that were assigned to 25 families known to infect a wide range of hosts, including vertebrates, invertebrates, amoebas, and plants. The viral compositions vary considerably among different organs, but not in rodent species. We also assessed and prioritized zoonotic potential of those detected viruses. Ninety-two viral species that are either known to infect vertebrates and invertebrates or only vertebrates were identified, among which 21 are considered high-risk to humans. The high-risk viruses included members of the Hantavirus, Picobirnaviruses, Astroviruses and Pestivirus. The phylogenetic trees of four zoonotic viruses revealed features of novel viral genomes that seem to fit evolutionarily into a zone of viruses that potentially pose a risk of transmission to humans. Recognizing that zoonotic diseases are a One Health issue, we approached the problem of identifying the zoonotic risk from rodent-transmitted disease in the Guangdong province by performing next-generation sequencing to look for potentially zoonotic viruses in these animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Boyang Yi
- School of Public Health, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
- One Health Center of Excellence for Research & Training, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Qiang Deng
- School of Public Health, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
- One Health Center of Excellence for Research & Training, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Cheng Guo
- Center for Infection and Immunity, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York 10032, USA
| | - Xiaokang Li
- School of Public Health, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
- One Health Center of Excellence for Research & Training, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Qin Wu
- School of Public Health, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
- One Health Center of Excellence for Research & Training, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Renyun Zha
- School of Public Health, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
- One Health Center of Excellence for Research & Training, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Xianhua Wang
- School of Health Sciences, Guangzhou Xinhua University, Guangzhou 510520, China
| | - Jiahai Lu
- School of Public Health, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
- One Health Center of Excellence for Research & Training, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
- National Medical Products Administration Key Laboratory for Quality Monitoring and Evaluation of Vaccines and Biological Products, Guangzhou 510080, China
- Hainan Key Novel Thinktank “Hainan Medical University ‘One Health’ Research Center”, Haikou 571199, China
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Diseases Control, Sun Yat-Sen University, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou 510080, China
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Zhang YH, Zhao L, Zhang MY, Cao RD, Hou GM, Teng HJ, Zhang JX. Fatty acid metabolism decreased while sexual selection increased in brown rats spreading south. iScience 2023; 26:107742. [PMID: 37731619 PMCID: PMC10507208 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.107742] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2023] [Revised: 06/27/2023] [Accepted: 08/24/2023] [Indexed: 09/22/2023] Open
Abstract
For mammals that originate in the cold north, adapting to warmer environments is crucial for southwards invasion. The brown rat (Rattus norvegicus) originated in Northeast China and has become a global pest. R. n. humiliatus (RNH) spread from the northeast, where R. n. caraco (RNC) lives, to North China and diverged to form a subspecies. Genomic analyses revealed that subspecies differentiation was promoted by temperature but impeded by gene flow and that genes related to fatty acid metabolism were under the strongest selection. Transcriptome analyses revealed downregulated hepatic genes related to fatty acid metabolism and upregulated those related to pheromones in RNH vs. RNC. Similar patterns were observed in relation to cold/warm acclimation. RNH preferred mates with stronger pheromone signals intra-populationally and more genetic divergence inter-populationally. We concluded that RNH experienced reduced fat utilization and increased pheromone-mediated sexual selection during its invasion from the cold north to warm south.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yao-Hua Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents in Agriculture, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beichen West Road 1-5, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Lei Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents in Agriculture, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beichen West Road 1-5, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100101, China
- CAS Center for Excellence in Biotic Interactions, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Ming-Yu Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents in Agriculture, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beichen West Road 1-5, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100101, China
- CAS Center for Excellence in Biotic Interactions, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Rui-Dong Cao
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents in Agriculture, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beichen West Road 1-5, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100101, China
- CAS Center for Excellence in Biotic Interactions, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Guan-Mei Hou
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents in Agriculture, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beichen West Road 1-5, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100101, China
- CAS Center for Excellence in Biotic Interactions, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Hua-Jing Teng
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Department of Radiation Oncology, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing 100142, China
| | - Jian-Xu Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents in Agriculture, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beichen West Road 1-5, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100101, China
- CAS Center for Excellence in Biotic Interactions, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
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Zhang Q, Li M, Yin Y, Ge S, Li D, Ahmad IM, Nabi G, Sun Y, Luo X, Li D. Physiological but not morphological adjustments along latitudinal gradients in a human commensal species, the Eurasian tree sparrow. Integr Zool 2023; 18:891-905. [PMID: 36880561 DOI: 10.1111/1749-4877.12709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/08/2023]
Abstract
Human commensal species take advantage of anthropogenic conditions that are less likely to be challenged by the selective pressures of natural environments. Their morphological and physiological phenotypes can therefore dissociate from habitat characteristics. Understanding how these species adjust their morphological and physiological traits across latitudinal gradients is fundamental to uncovering the eco-physiological strategies underlying coping mechanisms. Here, we studied morphological traits in breeding Eurasian tree sparrows (ETSs; Passer montanus) among low-latitude (Yunnan and Hunan) and middle-latitude (Hebei) localities in China. We then compared body mass; lengths of bill, tarsometatarsus, wing, total body, and tail feather; and baseline and capture stress-induced levels of plasma corticosterone (CORT) and the metabolites including glucose (Glu), total triglyceride (TG), free fatty acid (FFA), total protein, and uric acid (UA). None of the measured morphological parameters varied with latitude except in the Hunan population, which demonstrated longer bills than those in other populations. Stress-induced CORT levels significantly exceeded baseline levels and decreased with increasing latitude, but total integrated CORT levels did not vary with latitude. Capture stress-induced significantly increased Glu levels and decreased TG levels, independent of site. However, the Hunan population had significantly higher baseline CORT, baseline and stress-induced FFA levels, but lower UA levels, which differed from other populations. Our results suggest that rather than morphological adjustments, physiological adjustments are mainly involved in coping mechanisms for middle-latitude adaptation in ETSs. It is worth investigating whether other avian species also exhibit such dissociation from external morphological designs while depending on physiological adjustments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qian Zhang
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, China
- Hebei Collaborative Innovation Center for Eco-Environment, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Mo Li
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, China
- Hebei Collaborative Innovation Center for Eco-Environment, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Yuan Yin
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, China
- Hebei Collaborative Innovation Center for Eco-Environment, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Shiyong Ge
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, China
- Hebei Collaborative Innovation Center for Eco-Environment, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Danjie Li
- Key Laboratory for Conserving Wildlife with Small Populations in Yunnan, Faculty of Biodiversity and Conservation, Southwest Forestry University, Kunming, China
| | - Ibrahim M Ahmad
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, China
- Hebei Collaborative Innovation Center for Eco-Environment, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Ghulam Nabi
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, China
- Hebei Collaborative Innovation Center for Eco-Environment, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Yanfeng Sun
- Ocean College, Hebei Agricultural University, Qinhuangdao, China
| | - Xu Luo
- Key Laboratory for Conserving Wildlife with Small Populations in Yunnan, Faculty of Biodiversity and Conservation, Southwest Forestry University, Kunming, China
| | - Dongming Li
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, China
- Hebei Collaborative Innovation Center for Eco-Environment, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, China
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Tanthanathipchai N, Mitsuwan W, Chaisiri K, Thaikoed S, de Lourdes Pereira M, Paul AK, Saengsawang P. Trypanosoma lewisi in blood of Rattus rattus complex residing in human settlements, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand: Microscopic and molecular investigations. Comp Immunol Microbiol Infect Dis 2023; 98:102010. [PMID: 37379668 DOI: 10.1016/j.cimid.2023.102010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2023] [Revised: 06/20/2023] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 06/30/2023]
Abstract
Trypanosomes are blood parasites infected in various mammals, including rats. The presence of rats in human settlements can increase the chance of Trypanosoma transmission to humans. The molecular study of multispacer in Trypanosoma spp. in naturally infected rodents in Thailand is scanty. The objective of this study was to detect Trypanosoma in the blood of the captured rats in Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand, using microscopic and molecular techniques. This was a cross-sectional study conducted in human settlement areas. Ninety-nine blood samples were collected using cardiac puncture. A blood sample was smeared on a glass slide and examined using a compound light microscope and a scanning electron microscope. Moreover, polymerase chain reaction was applied to detect Trypanosoma evansi and T. lewisi in the blood. An additional primer set was used to confirm the species of the detected trypanosome. Approximately 18% of the rats had positive Trypanosoma infections. All Trypanosoma-positive blood samples were matched with sequences of T. lewisi. The stumpy form of trypanosome had higher nucleus related parameters than the slender form. Interestingly, the partial sequences of the alpha-tubulin gene of T. lewisi were first reported in the naturally infected RrC in this study. Based on the results obtained, T. lewisi biology, particularly the virulent components and route of transmission, pathogenesis, and in vitro experiments, are strongly recommended for further study.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Watcharapong Mitsuwan
- Akkhraratchakumari Veterinary College, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat 80160, Thailand; One Health Research Center, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat 80160, Thailand
| | - Kittipong Chaisiri
- Department of Helminthology, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
| | - Sunsaneeya Thaikoed
- Akkhraratchakumari Veterinary College, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat 80160, Thailand
| | - Maria de Lourdes Pereira
- CICECO-Aveiro Institute of Materials & Department of Medical Sciences, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Alok K Paul
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS 7001, Australia
| | - Phirabhat Saengsawang
- Akkhraratchakumari Veterinary College, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat 80160, Thailand; One Health Research Center, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat 80160, Thailand.
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7
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Rosli MZ, Mohd-Taib FS, Khoo JJ, Chee HY, Wong YP, Shafie NJ, Mohamed NZ, AbuBakar S, Nor SM. A Multi-landscape Assessment of Leptospira Prevalence on a Diversity of Small Mammals. ECOHEALTH 2023; 20:208-224. [PMID: 37103759 DOI: 10.1007/s10393-023-01637-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2021] [Accepted: 03/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Leptospirosis is a major zoonotic disease, especially in the tropics, and rodents were known to be carriers of this bacterium. There was established information on Leptospira prevalence among animal reservoirs in human-dominated landscapes from previous literature. However, there was very little focus given comparing the prevalence of Leptospira in a wide range of habitats. An extensive sampling of small mammals from various landscapes was carried out, covering oil palm plantations, paddy fields, recreational forests, semi-urbans, and wet markets in Peninsular Malaysia. This study aims to determine the prevalence of pathogenic Leptospira in a diversity of small mammals across different landscapes. Cage-trapping was deployed for small mammals' trappings, and the kidneys of captured individuals were extracted, for screening of pathogenic Leptospira by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using LipL32 primer. Eight microhabitat parameters were measured at each study site. Out of 357 individuals captured, 21 (5.9%) were positive for pathogenic Leptospira of which recreational forest had the highest prevalence (8.8%) for landscape types, whereas Sundamys muelleri shows the highest prevalence (50%) among small mammals' species. Microhabitat analysis reveals that rubbish quantity (p < 0.05) significantly influenced the Leptospira prevalence among small mammals. Furthermore, nMDS analysis indicates that the presence of faeces, food waste, and exposure to humans in each landscape type also were linked with high prevalence of pathogenic Leptospira among the small mammals. This study supplements previous studies on pathogenic Leptospira prevalence across different landscape types, and the major microhabitat factors associated with Leptospira prevalence. This information is crucial for epidemiological surveillance and habitat management to curb the possibility of the disease outbreaks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Zahin Rosli
- Department of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600, Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Farah Shafawati Mohd-Taib
- Department of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600, Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia.
| | - Jing Jing Khoo
- Tropical Infectious Diseases Research and Education Centre, University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Hui Yee Chee
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400, Serdang, Malaysia
| | - Yien Ping Wong
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400, Serdang, Malaysia
| | - Nur Juliani Shafie
- School of Marine and Environmental Sciences, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030, Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia
| | - Nor Zalipah Mohamed
- School of Marine and Environmental Sciences, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030, Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia
| | - Sazaly AbuBakar
- Tropical Infectious Diseases Research and Education Centre, University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Shukor Md Nor
- Department of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600, Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia
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8
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Daly EZ, Chabrerie O, Massol F, Facon B, Hess MC, Tasiemski A, Grandjean F, Chauvat M, Viard F, Forey E, Folcher L, Buisson E, Boivin T, Baltora‐Rosset S, Ulmer R, Gibert P, Thiébaut G, Pantel JH, Heger T, Richardson DM, Renault D. A synthesis of biological invasion hypotheses associated with the introduction–naturalisation–invasion continuum. OIKOS 2023. [DOI: 10.1111/oik.09645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Ella Z. Daly
- Univ. of Rennes, CNRS, ECOBIO (Ecosystèmes, Biodiversité, Evolution), UMR 6553 Rennes France
| | - Olivier Chabrerie
- Univ. de Picardie Jules Verne, UMR 7058 CNRS EDYSAN Amiens Cedex 1 France
| | - Francois Massol
- Univ. Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, Inst. Pasteur de Lille, U1019 – UMR 9017 – CIIL – Center for Infection and Immunity of Lille Lille France
| | - Benoit Facon
- CBGP, INRAE, CIRAD, IRD, Montpellier Institut Agro, Univ. Montpellier Montpellier France
| | - Manon C.M. Hess
- Inst. Méditerranéen de Biodiversité et d'Ecologie Marine et Continentale (IMBE), UMR: Aix Marseille Univ., Avignon Université, CNRS, IRD France
- Inst. de Recherche pour la Conservation des zones Humides Méditerranéennes Tour du Valat, Le Sambuc Arles France
| | - Aurélie Tasiemski
- Univ. Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, Inst. Pasteur de Lille, U1019 – UMR 9017 – CIIL – Center for Infection and Immunity of Lille Lille France
| | - Frédéric Grandjean
- Univ. de Poitiers, UMR CNRS 7267 EBI‐Ecologie et Biologie des Interactions, équipe EES Poitiers Cedex 09 France
| | | | | | - Estelle Forey
- Normandie Univ., UNIROUEN, INRAE, USC ECODIV Rouen France
| | - Laurent Folcher
- ANSES – Agence Nationale de Sécurité Sanitaire de l'Alimentation, de l'Environnement et du Travail, Laboratoire de la Santé des Végétaux – Unité de Nématologie Le Rheu France
| | - Elise Buisson
- Inst. Méditerranéen de Biodiversité et d'Ecologie Marine et Continentale (IMBE), UMR: Aix Marseille Univ., Avignon Université, CNRS, IRD France
| | - Thomas Boivin
- INRAE, UR629 Écologie des Forêts Méditerranéennes, Centre de Recherche Provence‐Alpes‐Côte d'Azur Avignon France
| | | | - Romain Ulmer
- Univ. de Picardie Jules Verne, UMR 7058 CNRS EDYSAN Amiens Cedex 1 France
| | - Patricia Gibert
- UMR 5558 CNRS – Univ. Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive, Bât. Gregor Mendel Villeurbanne Cedex France
| | - Gabrielle Thiébaut
- Univ. of Rennes, CNRS, ECOBIO (Ecosystèmes, Biodiversité, Evolution), UMR 6553 Rennes France
| | - Jelena H. Pantel
- Ecological Modelling, Faculty of Biology, Univ. of Duisburg‐Essen Essen Germany
| | - Tina Heger
- Leibniz Inst. of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB) Berlin Germany
- Technical Univ. of Munich, Restoration Ecology Freising Germany
| | - David M. Richardson
- Centre for Invasion Biology, Dept. Botany & Zoology, Stellenbosch University Stellenbosch South Africa
- Inst. of Botany, Czech Academy of Sciences Průhonice Czech Republic
| | - David Renault
- Univ. of Rennes, CNRS, ECOBIO (Ecosystèmes, Biodiversité, Evolution), UMR 6553 Rennes France
- Inst. Universitaire de France Paris Cedex 05 France
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9
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Hitching a ride: the early history of Black rat immigration into southern Africa. Biol Invasions 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s10530-022-02962-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
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10
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Jing M, Chen Y, Yao K, Wang Y, Huang L. Comparative phylogeography of two commensal rat species ( Rattus tanezumi and Rattus norvegicus) in China: Insights from mitochondrial DNA, microsatellite, and 2b-RAD data. Ecol Evol 2022; 12:e9409. [PMID: 36254297 PMCID: PMC9557235 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.9409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2022] [Revised: 09/09/2022] [Accepted: 09/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Rattus norvegicus and Rattus tanezumi are dominant species of Chinese house rats, but the colonization and demographic history of two species in China have not been thoroughly explored. Phylogenetic analyses with mitochondrial DNA including 486 individuals from 31 localities revealed that R. norvegicus is widely distributed in China, R. tanezumi is mainly distributed in southern China with currently invading northward; northeast China was the natal region of R. norvegicus, while the spread of R. tanezumi in China most likely started from the southeast coast. A total of 123 individuals from 18 localities were subjected to 2b-RAD analyses. In neighbor-joining tree, individuals of R. tanezumi grouped into geographic-specific branches, and populations from southeast coast were ancestral groups, which confirmed the colonization route from southeast coast to central and western China. However, individuals of R. norvegicus were generally grouped into two clusters instead of geographic-specific branches. One cluster comprised inland populations, and another cluster included both southeast coast and inland populations, which indicated that spread history of R. norvegicus in China was complex; in addition to on-land colonization, shipping transportation also have played great roles. ADMIXTURE and principal component analyses provided further supports for the colonization history. Demographic analyses revealed that climate changes at ~40,000 to 18,000 years ago and ~4000 years ago had led to population declines of both species; the R. norvegicus declined rapidly while the population of R. tanezumi continuously expanded since ~1500 years ago, indicating the importance of interspecies' competition in their population size changes. Our study provided a valuable framework for further investigation on phylogeography of two species in China.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meidong Jing
- School of Life SciencesNantong UniversityNantongChina
| | - Yingjie Chen
- School of Life SciencesNantong UniversityNantongChina
| | - Keying Yao
- School of Life SciencesNantong UniversityNantongChina
| | - Youming Wang
- School of Life SciencesNantong UniversityNantongChina
| | - Ling Huang
- School of Life SciencesNantong UniversityNantongChina
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11
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Häberle S, Schäfer M, Soteras R, Martínez-Grau H, Hajdas I, Jacomet S, Röder B, Schibler J, van Willigen S, Antolín F. Small Animals, Big Impact? Early Farmers and Pre- and Post-Harvest Pests from the Middle Neolithic Site of Les Bagnoles in the South-East of France (L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, Vaucluse, Provence-Alpes-Côte-d’Azur). Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12121511. [PMID: 35739848 PMCID: PMC9219518 DOI: 10.3390/ani12121511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2022] [Revised: 05/31/2022] [Accepted: 06/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Pests appear to have accompanied humans and their crops since the beginning of farming. Nevertheless, their study is only rarely integrated into research on farming in prehistory. An assemblage of invertebrates and small mammals was recovered from the waterlogged layers of three wells at the Middle Neolithic site (4250–3700 cal B.C.) of Les Bagnoles (SE France). The microfaunal remains were retrieved from sediment samples by wet sieving (wash-over technique). The most common among the rodents is the wood mouse. The assemblage also consists of insect remains of grain weevil, seed beetle, and corn ground beetle. The different finds not only offer data on the role of insect and rodent pests in the Neolithic but on the possible strategies adopted by the early farming communities in the western Mediterranean in response to pest infestation. The findings appear to confirm the hypothesis that the wood mouse was a commensal and storage pest in settlements long before the arrival of the invasive house mouse during the Bronze Age. The presence of the main storage pest, the grain weevil, suggests a long-term grain storage issue at Les Bagnoles. The combination of the results of the site’s archaeobotanical findings with those of other sites in the western Mediterranean suggests that the shift from naked to glume wheat around 4000 B.C. may also stem from a reaction to the problem of grain weevil infestation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simone Häberle
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Integrative Prehistory and Archaeological Science (IPAS), Basel University, 4055 Basel, Switzerland; (R.S.); (H.M.-G.); (S.J.); (J.S.); (F.A.)
- Correspondence: (S.H.); (M.S.)
| | - Marguerita Schäfer
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Integrative Prehistory and Archaeological Science (IPAS), Basel University, 4055 Basel, Switzerland; (R.S.); (H.M.-G.); (S.J.); (J.S.); (F.A.)
- Correspondence: (S.H.); (M.S.)
| | - Raül Soteras
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Integrative Prehistory and Archaeological Science (IPAS), Basel University, 4055 Basel, Switzerland; (R.S.); (H.M.-G.); (S.J.); (J.S.); (F.A.)
- Deutsches Archäologisches Institut, Referat Naturwissenschaften an der Zentrale, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Héctor Martínez-Grau
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Integrative Prehistory and Archaeological Science (IPAS), Basel University, 4055 Basel, Switzerland; (R.S.); (H.M.-G.); (S.J.); (J.S.); (F.A.)
| | - Irka Hajdas
- Laboratory of Ion Beam Physics (LIP), Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) Zurich, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland;
| | - Stefanie Jacomet
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Integrative Prehistory and Archaeological Science (IPAS), Basel University, 4055 Basel, Switzerland; (R.S.); (H.M.-G.); (S.J.); (J.S.); (F.A.)
| | - Brigitte Röder
- Departement Altertumswissenschaften, Ur- und Frühgeschichtliche und Provinzialrömische Archäologie, Basel University, 4051 Basel, Switzerland;
| | - Jörg Schibler
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Integrative Prehistory and Archaeological Science (IPAS), Basel University, 4055 Basel, Switzerland; (R.S.); (H.M.-G.); (S.J.); (J.S.); (F.A.)
| | | | - Ferran Antolín
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Integrative Prehistory and Archaeological Science (IPAS), Basel University, 4055 Basel, Switzerland; (R.S.); (H.M.-G.); (S.J.); (J.S.); (F.A.)
- Deutsches Archäologisches Institut, Referat Naturwissenschaften an der Zentrale, 14195 Berlin, Germany
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12
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Palaeogenomic analysis of black rat (Rattus rattus) reveals multiple European introductions associated with human economic history. Nat Commun 2022; 13:2399. [PMID: 35504912 PMCID: PMC9064997 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-30009-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2021] [Accepted: 03/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The distribution of the black rat (Rattus rattus) has been heavily influenced by its association with humans. The dispersal history of this non-native commensal rodent across Europe, however, remains poorly understood, and different introductions may have occurred during the Roman and medieval periods. Here, in order to reconstruct the population history of European black rats, we first generate a de novo genome assembly of the black rat. We then sequence 67 ancient and three modern black rat mitogenomes, and 36 ancient and three modern nuclear genomes from archaeological sites spanning the 1st-17th centuries CE in Europe and North Africa. Analyses of our newly reported sequences, together with published mitochondrial DNA sequences, confirm that black rats were introduced into the Mediterranean and Europe from Southwest Asia. Genomic analyses of the ancient rats reveal a population turnover in temperate Europe between the 6th and 10th centuries CE, coincident with an archaeologically attested decline in the black rat population. The near disappearance and re-emergence of black rats in Europe may have been the result of the breakdown of the Roman Empire, the First Plague Pandemic, and/or post-Roman climatic cooling. ‘Archaeogenetic analysis of black rat remains reveals that this species was introduced into temperate Europe twice, in the Roman and medieval periods. This population turnover was likely associated with multiple historical and environmental factors.’
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13
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Prakash JAJ, Kamarasu K, Samuel PP, Govindarajan R, Govindasamy P, Johnson LA, Ramalingam P, Nirmalson J, Seran KC. Detection of Orientia tsutsugamushi in Novel Trombiculid Mite Species in Northern Tamil Nadu, India: Use of Targeting the Multicopy traD Gene. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2022; 59:693-699. [PMID: 34850037 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjab180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Detection of Orientia tsutsugamushi DNA in a trombiculid mite chigger species suggests that it might be a potential vector of scrub typhus in an endemic area. Over a period of 20 mo, 85 rats were trapped, 57 had chiggers that were identified by standard morphometric techniques. The chigger pools were assessed by performing PCR assays targeting fragments of the single-copy genes 56 kDa type-specific antigen gene (TSA56) by nested PCR and the 47 kDa (htrA) quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR). The novel traD SYBR green assay that detects a multicopy gene was also performed. In total, 27 chigger pools were positive by traD qPCR, of which only 7 were positive by 47 kDa qPCR and in 3 of these, 56 kDa gene was amplified by nested PCR. Orientia tsutsugamushi-specific DNA was detected in Ascoschoengastia spp., Schoengastiella ligula, Leptotrombidium rajasthanense, Leptotrombidium deliense, and Leptotrombidium jayawickremei chigger pools. Therefore, they could be potential vectors of scrub typhus in Southern India. The three 56 kDa sequences belonged to TA716 genotype and Kato genogroup. Further studies are needed to confirm these chigger species as scrub typhus vectors in Northern Tamil Nadu.
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Affiliation(s)
- John Antony Jude Prakash
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Christian Medical College, Ida Scudder Road, Vellore, Tamil Nadu 632004, India
| | - Kannan Kamarasu
- Institute of Vector Control and Zoonoses, 150 Titan Jewellery Road, SIPCOT Phase I, Hosur Tamil Nadu 635126, India
| | - P Philip Samuel
- ICMR-Vector Control Research Centre Field Station, 4, Sarojini St, Chinna Chokikulam, Madurai Tamil Nadu 625002, India
| | - Renu Govindarajan
- ICMR-Vector Control Research Centre Field Station, 4, Sarojini St, Chinna Chokikulam, Madurai Tamil Nadu 625002, India
| | - Punitha Govindasamy
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Christian Medical College, Ida Scudder Road, Vellore, Tamil Nadu 632004, India
| | - Liji Anna Johnson
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Christian Medical College, Ida Scudder Road, Vellore, Tamil Nadu 632004, India
| | - P Ramalingam
- Institute of Vector Control and Zoonoses, 150 Titan Jewellery Road, SIPCOT Phase I, Hosur Tamil Nadu 635126, India
| | - J Nirmalson
- Institute of Vector Control and Zoonoses, 150 Titan Jewellery Road, SIPCOT Phase I, Hosur Tamil Nadu 635126, India
| | - K C Seran
- Department of Community Medicine, Madras Medical College, Near Park Town Station, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600003, India
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14
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Dunn RR, Burger JR, Carlen EJ, Koltz AM, Light JE, Martin RA, Munshi-South J, Nichols LM, Vargo EL, Yitbarek S, Zhao Y, Cibrián-Jaramillo A. A Theory of City Biogeography and the Origin of Urban Species. FRONTIERS IN CONSERVATION SCIENCE 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fcosc.2022.761449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Many of the choices humans make with regard to infrastructure, urban planning and other phenomena have impacts that will last thousands of years. This can readily be seen in modern cities in which contemporary streets run along street grids that were laid out thousands of years prior or even in which ancient viaducts still play a role. However, rarely do evolutionary biologists explicitly consider the future of life likely to be associated with the decisions we are making today. Here, we consider the evolutionary future of species in cities with a focus on the origin of lineages and species. We do so by adjusting evolutionary predictions from the theory of island biogeography so as to correspond to the unique features of cities as islands. Specifically, the species endemic to cities tend to be associated with the gray habitats in cities. Those habitats tend to be dominated by human bodies, pet bodies and stored food. It is among such species where the origin of new lineages is most likely, although most research on evolution in cities has focused on green habitats. We conclude by considering a range of scenarios for the far future and their implications for the origin of lineages and species.
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15
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He W, Fu J, Wen Y, Cheng M, Mo Y, Chen Q. Detection and Genetic Characterization of Seoul Virus in Liver Tissue Samples From Rattus norvegicus and Rattus tanezumi in Urban Areas of Southern China. Front Vet Sci 2021; 8:748232. [PMID: 34966803 PMCID: PMC8710597 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2021.748232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2021] [Accepted: 11/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Rodents are important hosts of hantaviruses, and lungs and kidneys are known to be the preferred organs of these viruses. Recently, hantaviruses were detected in liver samples from wild rodents in Hungary and the United States, and feeder rats in the Netherlands. However, few studies have detected hantaviruses in the liver of rats from China. In this study, hantaviruses were investigated in liver samples from R. norvegicus and R. tanezumi trapped in urban areas of southern China. A total of 461 R. norvegicus and 64 R. tanezumi were trapped. Using a pan-hantavirus PCR method, hantaviruses were detected in liver, lung, and serum samples from these animals. About 7.43% of liver samples were positive for Seoul virus (SEOV). The detection rate of SEOV in liver samples from R. norvegicus (8.24%) was higher than that from R. tanezumi (1.56%), suggesting the predominant role of R. norvegicus in the transmission of SEOV in urban areas of China. Three R. norvegicus had SEOV RNA in their liver samples but not in their lung samples, suggesting that the liver might be one of the targeted organs of SEOV. The first full SEOV protein-coding sequences (CDS) of the S and M segments, and partial CDS of the L segment from R. tanezumi were amplified. Several full and partial CDS of the S, M, and L segments from R. norvegicus were also obtained. The SEOV sequences obtained from different animals were highly similar, suggesting the cross-species transmission potential of SEOV between R. norvegicus and R. tanezumi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenqiao He
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jiaqi Fu
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yuqi Wen
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Mingji Cheng
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yun Mo
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Qing Chen
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
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16
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Fardell LL, Nano CEM, Pavey CR, Dickman CR. Small Prey Animal Habitat Use in Landscapes of Fear: Effects of Predator Presence and Human Activity Along an Urban Disturbance Gradient. Front Ecol Evol 2021. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2021.750094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Human activity can impose additional stressors to wildlife, both directly and indirectly, including through the introduction of predators and influences on native predators. As urban and adjacent environments are becoming increasingly valuable habitat for wildlife, it is important to understand how susceptible taxa, like small prey animals, persist in urban environments under such additional stressors. Here, in order to determine how small prey animals’ foraging patterns change in response to habitat components and distances to predators and human disturbances, we used filmed giving-up density (GUD) trials under natural conditions along an urban disturbance gradient. We then ran further GUD trials with the addition of experimentally introduced stressors of: the odors of domestic cat (Felis catus)/red fox (Vulpes vulpes) as predator cues, light and sound as human disturbance cues, and their combinations. Small mammals were mostly observed foraging in the GUD trials, and to a lesser degree birds. Animals responded to proximity to predators and human disturbances when foraging under natural conditions, and used habitat components differently based on these distances. Along the urban disturbance gradient situation-specific responses were evident and differed under natural conditions compared to additional stressor conditions. The combined predator with human disturbance treatments resulted in responses of higher perceived risk at environments further from houses. Animals at the urban-edge environment foraged more across the whole site under the additional stressor conditions, but under natural conditions perceived less risk when foraging near predators and further from human disturbance (houses). Contrastingly, at the environments further from houses, foraging near human disturbance (paths/roads) when close to a predator was perceived as lower risk, but when foraging under introduced stressor conditions these disturbances were perceived as high risk. We propose that sensory and behavioral mechanisms, and stress exposure best explain our findings. Our results indicate that habitat components could be managed to reduce the impacts of high predation pressure and human activity in disturbed environments.
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17
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Murray MH, Sánchez CA. Urban rat exposure to anticoagulant rodenticides and zoonotic infection risk. Biol Lett 2021; 17:20210311. [PMID: 34376077 DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2021.0311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Anticoagulant rodenticides (ARs) deployed to control rodent pest populations can increase the risk of pathogen infection for some wildlife. However, it is unknown whether ARs also increase infection risk for target rodents, which are common hosts for zoonotic (animal-to-human transmitted) pathogens. In this study, we tested whether rats exposed to ARs were more likely to be infected with zoonotic pathogens, specifically Leptospira spp. or Escherichia coli, after controlling for known predictors of infection (i.e. sex, age, body condition). We collected biological samples from 99 rats trapped in Chicago alleys and tested these for Leptospira infection, E. coli shedding and AR exposure. We found that rats that had been exposed to ARs and survived until the time of trapping, as well as older rats, were significantly more likely to be infected with Leptospira spp. than other rats. We found no significant association between E. coli shedding and any predictors. Our results show that human actions to manage rats can affect rat disease ecology and public health risks in unintended ways, and more broadly, contribute to a growing awareness of bidirectional relationships between humans and natural systems in cities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maureen H Murray
- Department of Conservation and Science, Lincoln Park Zoo, 2001 N Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60614, USA
| | - Cecilia A Sánchez
- EcoHealth Alliance, 520 Eighth Avenue, Suite 1200, New York, NY 10018, USA.,Center for the Ecology of Infectious Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
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18
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Morphometric Study of Mus musculus, Rattus norvegicus, and Rattus rattus in Qatar. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:ani11082162. [PMID: 34438620 PMCID: PMC8388387 DOI: 10.3390/ani11082162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2021] [Revised: 05/25/2021] [Accepted: 05/27/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Rodents are the most abundant and diversified group of mammals. These animals show genetic and physical diversity in different ecosystems of the world, including the desert ecosystem. The current study was undertaken to check the morphometric pattern of three commensal rodent species, viz, Mus musculus, Rattus norvegicus, and Rattus rattus, in Qatar. One hundred forty-eight rodents were captured and studied for body and cranio-mandibular measurements. The study found R. norvregicus as the most prevalent rodent in Qatar. Most of the rodents were collected from Al Rayan municipality, were adults, and were from livestock farms. The rodents’ average body weights were 18.8 ± 2.2 gm, 264.3 ± 87.5 gm, and 130 ± 71.3 gm for M. musculus, R. norvegicus, and R. rattus, respectively. The average morphometric measurements of the external body and skull were normally distributed and can be used as a reference of R. norvegicus and R. rattus for Qatar. Abstract The current study was undertaken to estimate the morphometric pattern of three commensal rodents, i.e., Mus musculus, Rattus norvegicus, and Rattus rattus in Qatar. One hundred forty-eight rodents were captured from different facilities throughout Qatar. The captured rodents were used to identify the external body and cranio-mandibular morphometry. The study found that R. norvregicus was the most prevalent (n = 120, 81%, 95% CI: 73.83–87.05). Most of the rodents were collected from Al Rayan municipality (n = 92, 62%), were adults (n = 138, 93.2%, 95% CI: 87.92–96.71), and were from livestock farms (n = 79, 49%, 95% CI: 41.02–57.65). The rodents’ average body weights were 18.8 ± 2.2 gm, 264.3 ± 87.5 gm, and 130 ± 71.3 gm for M. musculus, R. norvegicus, and R. rattus, respectively. The research found that the studied rodents are smaller than those of other countries such as Turkey, Tunisia, and Iran. The study of morphometry is a useful tool for the traditional identification of small mammal species, including rodents. The average morphometric measurements of the external body and skull were normally distributed and can be used as a reference of R. norvegicus and R. rattus for Qatar. A further comprehensive study is required to investigate the rodent population index, eco-friendly control program, and public health importance in Qatar.
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Presence and Diversity of Different Enteric Viruses in Wild Norway Rats ( Rattus norvegicus). Viruses 2021; 13:v13060992. [PMID: 34073462 PMCID: PMC8227696 DOI: 10.3390/v13060992] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2021] [Revised: 05/21/2021] [Accepted: 05/23/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Rodents are common reservoirs for numerous zoonotic pathogens, but knowledge about diversity of pathogens in rodents is still limited. Here, we investigated the occurrence and genetic diversity of enteric viruses in 51 Norway rats collected in three different countries in Europe. RNA of at least one virus was detected in the intestine of 49 of 51 animals. Astrovirus RNA was detected in 46 animals, mostly of rat astroviruses. Human astrovirus (HAstV-8) RNA was detected in one, rotavirus group A (RVA) RNA was identified in eleven animals. One RVA RNA could be typed as rat G3 type. Rat hepatitis E virus (HEV) RNA was detected in five animals. Two entire genome sequences of ratHEV were determined. Human norovirus RNA was detected in four animals with the genotypes GI.P4-GI.4, GII.P33-GII.1, and GII.P21. In one animal, a replication competent coxsackievirus A20 strain was detected. Additionally, RNA of an enterovirus species A strain was detected in the same animal, albeit in a different tissue. The results show a high detection rate and diversity of enteric viruses in Norway rats in Europe and indicate their significance as vectors for zoonotic transmission of enteric viruses. The detailed role of Norway rats and transmission pathways of enteric viruses needs to be investigated in further studies.
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20
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Hulme-Beaman A, Orton D, Cucchi T. The origins of the domesticate brown rat ( Rattus norvegicus) and its pathways to domestication. Anim Front 2021; 11:78-86. [PMID: 34158992 PMCID: PMC8214441 DOI: 10.1093/af/vfab020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Ardern Hulme-Beaman
- Department of Archaeology, Classics and Egyptology, University of Liverpool, 12–14 Abercromby Square, Liverpool, L69 7WZ, UK
| | - David Orton
- BioArCh, Department of Archaeology, University of York, York YO10 5DD, UK
| | - Thomas Cucchi
- Archaeozoology, Archaeobotany, Societies, Practices, Environments (AASPE-UMR7209), CNRS, National Museum of Natural History (MNHN), Paris, France
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