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Cranford HM, Browne AS, LeCount K, Anderson T, Hamond C, Schlater L, Stuber T, Burke-France VJ, Taylor M, Harrison CJ, Matias KY, Medley A, Rossow J, Wiese N, Jankelunas L, de Wilde L, Mehalick M, Blanchard GL, Garcia KR, McKinley AS, Lombard CD, Angeli NF, Horner D, Kelley T, Worthington DJ, Valiulis J, Bradford B, Berentsen A, Salzer JS, Galloway R, Schafer IJ, Bisgard K, Roth J, Ellis BR, Ellis EM, Nally JE. Mongooses (Urva auropunctata) as reservoir hosts of Leptospira species in the United States Virgin Islands, 2019-2020. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2021; 15:e0009859. [PMID: 34780473 PMCID: PMC8592401 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0009859] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2021] [Accepted: 09/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
During 2019-2020, the Virgin Islands Department of Health investigated potential animal reservoirs of Leptospira spp., the bacteria that cause leptospirosis. In this cross-sectional study, we investigated Leptospira spp. exposure and carriage in the small Indian mongoose (Urva auropunctata, syn: Herpestes auropunctatus), an invasive animal species. This study was conducted across the three main islands of the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI), which are St. Croix, St. Thomas, and St. John. We used the microscopic agglutination test (MAT), fluorescent antibody test (FAT), real-time polymerase chain reaction (lipl32 rt-PCR), and bacterial culture to evaluate serum and kidney specimens and compared the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of these laboratory methods. Mongooses (n = 274) were live-trapped at 31 field sites in ten regions across USVI and humanely euthanized for Leptospira spp. testing. Bacterial isolates were sequenced and evaluated for species and phylogenetic analysis using the ppk gene. Anti-Leptospira spp. antibodies were detected in 34% (87/256) of mongooses. Reactions were observed with the following serogroups: Sejroe, Icterohaemorrhagiae, Pyrogenes, Mini, Cynopteri, Australis, Hebdomadis, Autumnalis, Mankarso, Pomona, and Ballum. Of the kidney specimens examined, 5.8% (16/270) were FAT-positive, 10% (27/274) were culture-positive, and 12.4% (34/274) were positive by rt-PCR. Of the Leptospira spp. isolated from mongooses, 25 were L. borgpetersenii, one was L. interrogans, and one was L. kirschneri. Positive predictive values of FAT and rt-PCR testing for predicting successful isolation of Leptospira by culture were 88% and 65%, respectively. The isolation and identification of Leptospira spp. in mongooses highlights the potential role of mongooses as a wildlife reservoir of leptospirosis; mongooses could be a source of Leptospira spp. infections for other wildlife, domestic animals, and humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah M. Cranford
- Virgin Islands Department of Health, Epidemiology Division, Christiansted, Virgin Islands, United States of America
| | - A. Springer Browne
- Virgin Islands Department of Health, Epidemiology Division, Christiansted, Virgin Islands, United States of America
- Epidemic Intelligence Service, Division of Scientific Education and Professional Development, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Karen LeCount
- Leptospira Working Group, National Centers for Animal Health, United States Department of Agriculture, Ames, Iowa, United States of America
- National Veterinary Services Laboratories, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Ames, Iowa, United States of America
| | - Tammy Anderson
- Leptospira Working Group, National Centers for Animal Health, United States Department of Agriculture, Ames, Iowa, United States of America
- National Veterinary Services Laboratories, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Ames, Iowa, United States of America
| | - Camila Hamond
- Leptospira Working Group, National Centers for Animal Health, United States Department of Agriculture, Ames, Iowa, United States of America
- National Veterinary Services Laboratories, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Ames, Iowa, United States of America
| | - Linda Schlater
- Leptospira Working Group, National Centers for Animal Health, United States Department of Agriculture, Ames, Iowa, United States of America
- National Veterinary Services Laboratories, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Ames, Iowa, United States of America
| | - Tod Stuber
- Leptospira Working Group, National Centers for Animal Health, United States Department of Agriculture, Ames, Iowa, United States of America
- National Veterinary Services Laboratories, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Ames, Iowa, United States of America
| | - Valicia J. Burke-France
- Virgin Islands Department of Health, Epidemiology Division, Christiansted, Virgin Islands, United States of America
| | - Marissa Taylor
- Virgin Islands Department of Health, Epidemiology Division, Christiansted, Virgin Islands, United States of America
| | - Cosme J. Harrison
- Virgin Islands Department of Health, Epidemiology Division, Christiansted, Virgin Islands, United States of America
| | - Katia Y. Matias
- Virgin Islands Department of Health, Public Health Laboratory, Christiansted, Virgin Islands, United States of America
| | - Alexandra Medley
- Epidemic Intelligence Service, Division of Scientific Education and Professional Development, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - John Rossow
- Epidemic Intelligence Service, Division of Scientific Education and Professional Development, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Nicholas Wiese
- Laboratory Leadership Service, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Leanne Jankelunas
- Epidemiology Elective Program, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Leah de Wilde
- Virgin Islands Department of Health, Epidemiology Division, Christiansted, Virgin Islands, United States of America
| | - Michelle Mehalick
- St. Croix Animal Welfare Center, Christiansted, Virgin Islands, United States of America
| | - Gerard L. Blanchard
- Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Wildlife Services, United States Department of Agriculture, Charlotte Amalie, Virgin Islands, United States of America
| | - Keith R. Garcia
- Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Wildlife Services, United States Department of Agriculture, Charlotte Amalie, Virgin Islands, United States of America
| | - Alan S. McKinley
- Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Wildlife Services, United States Department of Agriculture, Charlotte Amalie, Virgin Islands, United States of America
| | - Claudia D. Lombard
- United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Christiansted, Virgin Islands, United States of America
| | - Nicole F. Angeli
- United States Virgin Islands Department of Planning and Natural Resources, Christiansted, Virgin Islands, United States of America
| | - David Horner
- National Park Service, Cruz Bay, Virgin Islands, United States of America
| | - Thomas Kelley
- National Park Service, Cruz Bay, Virgin Islands, United States of America
| | | | - Jennifer Valiulis
- St. Croix Environmental Association, Christiansted, Virgin Islands, United States of America
| | - Bethany Bradford
- United States Virgin Islands Department of Agriculture, Christiansted, Virgin Islands, United States of America
| | - Are Berentsen
- Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Wildlife Services, National Wildlife Research Center, United States Department of Agriculture, Ames, Iowa, United States of America
| | - Johanna S. Salzer
- Bacterial Special Pathogens Branch, Division of High-Consequence Pathogens and Pathology, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Renee Galloway
- Bacterial Special Pathogens Branch, Division of High-Consequence Pathogens and Pathology, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Ilana J. Schafer
- Bacterial Special Pathogens Branch, Division of High-Consequence Pathogens and Pathology, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Kristine Bisgard
- Center for Surveillance, Epidemiology, and Laboratory Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Joseph Roth
- Virgin Islands Department of Health, Epidemiology Division, Christiansted, Virgin Islands, United States of America
| | - Brett R. Ellis
- Virgin Islands Department of Health, Public Health Laboratory, Christiansted, Virgin Islands, United States of America
| | - Esther M. Ellis
- Virgin Islands Department of Health, Epidemiology Division, Christiansted, Virgin Islands, United States of America
| | - Jarlath E. Nally
- Leptospira Working Group, National Centers for Animal Health, United States Department of Agriculture, Ames, Iowa, United States of America
- Agricultural Research Service, Infectious Bacterial Diseases Research Unit, United States Department of Agriculture, Ames, Iowa, United States of America
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Fang K, Philpot K, Chi X, Ketzis J, Du A, Yao C. Small Indian Mongooses ( Herpestes auropunctatus) Serve As Reservoirs of Bartonella henselae and Rickettsia felis Vectored by Ctenocephalides felis. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2021; 21:422-431. [PMID: 33646062 DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2020.2733] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Small Indian mongooses (SIMs, Herpestes auropunctatus) have invasively inhabited over 60 islands worldwide. They have been confirmed as a reservoir of rabies, leptospirosis, and salmonellosis; however, their role in the epidemiology of other zoonoses is little known. On St. Kitts, as well as other islands, SIMs harbor Ctenocephalides felis, which can vector several zoonotic diseases. In this study, SIMs were examined for fleas, and the collected fleas analyzed by PCR and DNA sequencing for Bartonella henselae, Rickettsia felis, Yersinia pestis, and Dipylidium caninum. Of the 87 SIMs, 75 (86.2%) harbored C. felis. C. felis recovered from nine (10.3%), one (1.1%), and one (1.1%) of the SIMs was positive for B. henselae, R. felis, and D. caninum, respectively. These data indicate that SIMs serve as an additional reservoir of B. henselae and R. felis, which should be taken into consideration in control and prevention of these rapidly emerging zoonoses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kexin Fang
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and One Health Center for Zoonoses and Tropical Veterinary Medicine, Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, Basseterre, West Indies
| | - Kaitlyn Philpot
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and One Health Center for Zoonoses and Tropical Veterinary Medicine, Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, Basseterre, West Indies
| | - Xinyu Chi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and One Health Center for Zoonoses and Tropical Veterinary Medicine, Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, Basseterre, West Indies
| | - Jennifer Ketzis
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and One Health Center for Zoonoses and Tropical Veterinary Medicine, Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, Basseterre, West Indies
| | - Aifang Du
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Chaoqun Yao
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and One Health Center for Zoonoses and Tropical Veterinary Medicine, Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, Basseterre, West Indies
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6
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Becker AAMJ, Hill KC, Butaye P. Unraveling the Gut Microbiome of the Invasive Small Indian Mongoose ( Urva auropunctata) in the Caribbean. Microorganisms 2021; 9:microorganisms9030465. [PMID: 33668312 PMCID: PMC7996244 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9030465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2020] [Revised: 02/13/2021] [Accepted: 02/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Small Indian mongooses (Urva auropunctata) are among the most pervasive predators to disrupt the native ecology on Caribbean islands and are strongly entrenched in their areas of introduction. Few studies, however, have considered the microbial ecology of such biological invasions. In this study, we investigated the gut microbiota of invasive small Indian mongooses in terms of taxonomic diversity and functional potential. To this end, we collected fecal samples from 60 free-roaming mongooses trapped in different vegetation zones on the island Saint Kitts. The core gut microbiome, assessed by 16S rRNA amplicon gene sequencing on the Ion S5TM XL platform, reflects a carnivore-like signature with a dominant abundance of Firmicutes (54.96%), followed by Proteobacteria (13.98%) and Fusobacteria (12.39%), and a relatively minor contribution of Actinobacteria (10.4%) and Bacteroidetes (6.40%). Mongooses trapped at coastal sites exhibited a higher relative abundance of Fusobacterium spp. whereas those trapped in scrubland areas were enriched in Bacteroidetes, but there was no site-specific difference in predicted metabolic properties. Between males and females, beta-diversity was not significantly different and no sex-specific strategies for energy production were observed. However, the relative abundance of Gammaproteobacteria, and more specifically, Enterobacteriaceae, was significantly higher in males. This first description of the microbial profile of small Indian mongooses provides new insights into their bioecology and can serve as a springboard to further elucidating this invasive predator’s impact throughout the Caribbean.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne A. M. J. Becker
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, Basseterre, Saint Kitts and Nevis; (K.H.); (P.B.)
- One Health Center for Zoonoses and Tropical Veterinary Medicine, Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, Basseterre, Saint Kitts and Nevis
- Correspondence:
| | - KC Hill
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, Basseterre, Saint Kitts and Nevis; (K.H.); (P.B.)
| | - Patrick Butaye
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, Basseterre, Saint Kitts and Nevis; (K.H.); (P.B.)
- One Health Center for Zoonoses and Tropical Veterinary Medicine, Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, Basseterre, Saint Kitts and Nevis
- Department of Pathology, Bacteriology, and Poultry Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium
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Louppe V, Leroy B, Herrel A, Veron G. The globally invasive small Indian mongoose Urva auropunctata is likely to spread with climate change. Sci Rep 2020; 10:7461. [PMID: 32366920 PMCID: PMC7198557 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-64502-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2019] [Accepted: 04/16/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Invasive alien species represent one of the major factors of global loss of biodiversity and disruption of natural ecosystems. The small Indian mongoose, Urva auropunctata, is considered one of the wild carnivore species with the greatest negative impact on global biodiversity. Understanding of the factors underpinning the species' distribution and potential dispersion in a context of climate change thus appears crucial in the conservation of native ecosystems. Here we modelled the current and future climatically favourable areas for the small Indian mongoose using Ecological Niche Modelling based on data sets filtrated in environmental spaces. Projections from these models show extensive current favourable geographical areas, covering continental and insular regions within tropical and sub-tropical latitudes. Moreover, predictions for 2050 reveal that climate change is likely to expand current favourable areas north of the current favourable spaces, particularly in Eastern Europe. This climate-induced expansion is particularly worrisome given that the species is already spreading in the Balkan region. Our projections suggest that it is very likely that the small Indian mongoose will have an increasing influence on ecosystems and biodiversity in Europe by 2050.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vivien Louppe
- Institut de Systématique, Evolution, Biodiversité (ISYEB), Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, CNRS, Sorbonne Université, EPHE, Université des Antilles, 57 rue Cuvier, CP 51, 75231, Paris, Cedex 5, France.
| | - Boris Leroy
- Unité Biologie des Organismes et Ecosystèmes Aquatiques (BOREA UMR 7208), Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Sorbonne Universités, Université de Caen Normandie, Université des Antilles, CNRS, IRD, Paris, France
| | - Anthony Herrel
- Département Adaptations du Vivant (FUNEVOL, UMR 7179), Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, CNRS, Paris, France
| | - Géraldine Veron
- Institut de Systématique, Evolution, Biodiversité (ISYEB), Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, CNRS, Sorbonne Université, EPHE, Université des Antilles, 57 rue Cuvier, CP 51, 75231, Paris, Cedex 5, France
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Rajeev S, Shiokawa K, Llanes A, Rajeev M, Restrepo CM, Chin R, Cedeño E, Ellis E. Detection and Characterization of Leptospira Infection and Exposure in Rats on the Caribbean Island of Saint Kitts. Animals (Basel) 2020; 10:E350. [PMID: 32098357 PMCID: PMC7071179 DOI: 10.3390/ani10020350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2020] [Revised: 02/15/2020] [Accepted: 02/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
In this study, we detected and characterized Leptospira infection and exposure in rats on the Caribbean island of Saint Kitts for the first time. We detected Leptospira infection in 17/29 (59%), 14/29 (48)%, and 11/29 (38)% of rats by RT-PCR, culture, and immunofluorescence assay, respectively. Whole genome sequencing (WGS) and analysis and serogrouping of 17 Leptospira strains isolated from rats revealed their close relationship with L. interrogans serogroup Icterohaemorrhagiae (n = 10) and L. borgpetersenii serogroup Ballum (n = 7). WGS, serogrouping, and additional PCR tests on rat kidneys confirmed mixed infections with L. interrogans and L. borgpetersenii in the kidneys of three rats. Microscopic agglutination test (MAT) was positive for 25/29 (87%) of the rats tested, and the response was restricted to serovars Icterohaemorrhagiae {24/29(83%)}, Mankarso {4/29(14%)}, Copenhageni {4/29(14%)}, Grippotyphosa {2/29(7%)}, and Wolffi {1/29(3%)}. Interestingly, there was no agglutinating antibody response to serovar Ballum. We observed a similar pattern in the serologic response using Leptospira isolates obtained from this study with each of the rat sera, with strong response to L. interrogans isolates but minimal reactivity to L. borgpetersenii isolates. Our findings suggest the use of multiple complementary diagnostic tests for Leptospira surveillance and diagnosis to improve the accuracy of the data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sreekumari Rajeev
- Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, Saint Kitts, KN 0101, West Indies;
| | - Kanae Shiokawa
- Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, Saint Kitts, KN 0101, West Indies;
| | - Alejandro Llanes
- Instituto de Investigaciones Científicas y Servicios de Alta Tecnología (INDICASAT AIP), Panama City 0801, Panama; (A.L.); (C.M.R.); (R.C.); (E.C.); (E.E.)
| | - Malavika Rajeev
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA;
| | - Carlos Mario Restrepo
- Instituto de Investigaciones Científicas y Servicios de Alta Tecnología (INDICASAT AIP), Panama City 0801, Panama; (A.L.); (C.M.R.); (R.C.); (E.C.); (E.E.)
| | - Raymond Chin
- Instituto de Investigaciones Científicas y Servicios de Alta Tecnología (INDICASAT AIP), Panama City 0801, Panama; (A.L.); (C.M.R.); (R.C.); (E.C.); (E.E.)
| | - Eymi Cedeño
- Instituto de Investigaciones Científicas y Servicios de Alta Tecnología (INDICASAT AIP), Panama City 0801, Panama; (A.L.); (C.M.R.); (R.C.); (E.C.); (E.E.)
| | - Esteban Ellis
- Instituto de Investigaciones Científicas y Servicios de Alta Tecnología (INDICASAT AIP), Panama City 0801, Panama; (A.L.); (C.M.R.); (R.C.); (E.C.); (E.E.)
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