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Yousery A, Soliman DE, Samy AA, Allam AM, Shaalan MG, Abdel Hamid AE. Molecular detection of some zoonotic tick-borne pathogens in ticks collected from camels (Camelus dromedarius) as hosts and wild rodents as potential reservoirs. Vet Res Commun 2024:10.1007/s11259-024-10488-9. [PMID: 39145855 DOI: 10.1007/s11259-024-10488-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2024] [Accepted: 07/31/2024] [Indexed: 08/16/2024]
Abstract
Ticks and tick-borne pathogens pose a great threat to human and animal health. The present study aimed to determine the prevalence of ticks that infest camels and investigate the presence of tick-borne pathogens in the blood of camels, associated ticks, and surrounding rodents as reservoirs. From 100 inspected camels, from different localities in the Giza governorate, 1000 ixodid ticks were collected; these ticks belonged to three genera: Hyalomma, Amblyomma, and Rhipicephalus. The genus Hyalomma was represented by four species, Hyalomma dromedarii was the most prevalent species (55.4%), followed by Hyalomma excavatum (22%), Hyalomma impeltatum (11.6%) and Hyalomma rufipes (2.8%). The genus Amblyomma was represented by two species, Amblyomma gemma (2.8%) and Amblyomma marmoreum (2.7%), while the genus Rhipicephalus was represented by only one species, Rhipicephalus pulchellus (2.7%). Ticks, camel blood, and rodents (total number 100 brown rats) are screened for tick-borne pathogens (Borrelia burgdorferi, Borrelia miyamotoi, Babesia sp., and Coxiella burnetii) using PCR. Camel blood was found to be infected with Borrelia burgdorferi (66.6%), Borrelia miyamotoi (55%), and Babesia sp. (11.6%). Coxiella burnetii DNA was detected in all the collected ticks but was not detected in the blood of camels or rodents. Borrelia miyamotoi was detected in 12.5% of H. impeltatum, 55% of Camels, and 6% of the rodents, which may indicate a proposed risk of dispersal of B. miyamotoi, the agent of tick-borne relapsing fever.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayat Yousery
- Entomology Department, Faculty of Science, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Doaa E Soliman
- Entomology Department, Faculty of Science, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt.
| | - A A Samy
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Veterinary Research Institute, National Research Centre, Dokki, Egypt
| | - Ahmad M Allam
- Department of Parasitology and Animal Diseases, Veterinary Research Institute, National Research Centre, Dokki, Egypt
| | - Mona G Shaalan
- Entomology Department, Faculty of Science, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Amira E Abdel Hamid
- Entomology Department, Faculty of Science, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt
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Veinović G, Sukara R, Mihaljica D, Penezić A, Ćirović D, Tomanović S. The Occurrence and Diversity of Tick-Borne Pathogens in Small Mammals from Serbia. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2024; 24:285-292. [PMID: 38346321 DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2023.0088] [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: 05/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Background: Despite abundance of small mammals in Serbia, there is no information on their role in the epidemiology of tick-borne diseases (TBDs). This retrospective study aimed to identify different tick-borne pathogens (TBPs) in small mammals in Serbia collected during 2011. Materials and Methods: A total of 179 small mammals were collected from seven different localities in Serbia. The five localities belong to the capital city of Serbia-Belgrade: recreational areas-Ada Ciganlija, Titov gaj, and Košutnjak as well as mountainous suburban areas used for hiking-Avala and Kosmaj. The locality Veliko Gradište is a tourist place in northeastern Serbia, whereas the locality Milošev Do is a remote area in western Serbia with minor human impact on the environment. Results: The results of the presented retrospective study are the first findings of Rickettsia helvetica, Rickettsia monacensis, Neoehrlichia mikurensis, Borrelia afzelii, Borrelia miyamotoi, Babesia microti, Hepatozoon canis, and Coxiella burnetii in small mammals in Serbia. The presence of R. helvetica was confirmed in two Apodemus flavicollis, the presence of one of the following pathogens, R. monacensis, B. afzelii, H. canis, Ba. microti, and N. mikurensis was confirmed in one A. flavicollis each, whereas the presence of B. miyamotoi was confirmed in one Apodemus agrarius. Coinfection with B. afzelii and Ba. microti was confirmed in one A. flavicollis. DNA of C. burnetii was detected in 3 of 18 pools. Conclusions: The results confirm that detected pathogens circulate in the sylvatic cycle in Serbia and point to small mammals as potential reservoir hosts for the detected TBPs. Further large-scale studies on contemporary samples are needed to clarify the exact role of particular small mammal species in the epidemiology of TBDs caused by the detected pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gorana Veinović
- Group for Medical Entomology, Centre of Excellence for Food and Vector-Borne Zoonoses, Institute for Medical Research, National Institute of Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Ratko Sukara
- Group for Medical Entomology, Centre of Excellence for Food and Vector-Borne Zoonoses, Institute for Medical Research, National Institute of Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Darko Mihaljica
- Group for Medical Entomology, Centre of Excellence for Food and Vector-Borne Zoonoses, Institute for Medical Research, National Institute of Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | | | - Duško Ćirović
- Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Snežana Tomanović
- Group for Medical Entomology, Centre of Excellence for Food and Vector-Borne Zoonoses, Institute for Medical Research, National Institute of Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
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Mehl C, Adeyemi OA, Wylezich C, Höper D, Beer M, Triebenbacher C, Heckel G, Ulrich RG. Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis Virus Lineage V in Wood Mice, Germany. Emerg Infect Dis 2024; 30:399-401. [PMID: 38270110 PMCID: PMC10826776 DOI: 10.3201/eid3002.230868] [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: 01/26/2024] Open
Abstract
We identified a novel lineage of lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus, tentatively named lineage V, in wood mice (Apodemus sylvaticus) from Germany. Wood mouse-derived lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus can be found across a substantially greater range than previously thought. Increased surveillance is needed to determine its geographic range and zoonotic potential.
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Rametov NM, Steiner M, Bizhanova NA, Abdel ZZ, Yessimseit DT, Abdeliyev BZ, Mussagalieva RS. Mapping Plague Risk Using Super Species Distribution Models and Forecasts for Rodents in the Zhambyl Region, Kazakhstan. GEOHEALTH 2023; 7:e2023GH000853. [PMID: 37965638 PMCID: PMC10641984 DOI: 10.1029/2023gh000853] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2023] [Revised: 10/21/2023] [Accepted: 10/24/2023] [Indexed: 11/16/2023]
Abstract
One of the most extensive natural plague centers, or foci, is located in Central Asia, in particular, the Zhambyl region in Southern Kazakhstan. Here, we conducted plague surveillance from 2000 to 2020 in the Zhambyl region in Kazakhstan and confirmed 3,072 cases of infected wild animals. We used Species Distribution Modeling by employing MaxEnt, and identified that the natural plague foci are primarily located in the Moiynqum, Betpaqdala, and Tauqum Deserts. The Zhambyl region's central part, including the Moiynqum and Sarysu districts, has a high potential risk of plague outbreak for the rural towns and villages. Since the phenomenon of climate change has been identified as a determinant that affects the rodent populations, thereby elevating the likelihood of an outbreak of plague, we investigated the potential dissemination routes of the disease under the changing climate conditions, thus creating Species Distribution Forecasts for the rodent species in southern part of Kazakhstan for the year 2100. By 2100, in case of increasing temperatures, the range of host species is likely to expand, leading to a higher risk of plague outbreaks. The highest risk of disease transmission can be expected at the outer limits of the modeled total distribution range, where infection rates are high, but antibody presence is low, making many species susceptible to the pathogen. To mitigate the risk of a potential plague outbreak, it is necessary to implement appropriate sanitary-epidemiological measures and climate mitigation policies.
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Affiliation(s)
- N. M. Rametov
- National Scientific Center for Particularly Dangerous Infections named after M. AikimbaevAlmatyKazakhstan
- Institute of IonosphereAlmatyKazakhstan
- Department of Geospatial EngineeringSatpaev Kazakh National Research Technical UniversityAlmatyKazakhstan
| | - M. Steiner
- Department of Animal ScienceWageningen University and ResearchWageningenThe Netherlands
| | - N. A. Bizhanova
- Laboratory of TheriologyInstitute of ZoologyAlmatyKazakhstan
- Department of Biodiversity and BioresourcesAl‐Farabi Kazakh National UniversityAlmatyKazakhstan
- Wildlife Without Borders Public FundAlmatyKazakhstan
| | - Z. Zh. Abdel
- National Scientific Center for Particularly Dangerous Infections named after M. AikimbaevAlmatyKazakhstan
| | - D. T. Yessimseit
- National Scientific Center for Particularly Dangerous Infections named after M. AikimbaevAlmatyKazakhstan
| | - B. Z. Abdeliyev
- National Scientific Center for Particularly Dangerous Infections named after M. AikimbaevAlmatyKazakhstan
| | - R. S. Mussagalieva
- National Scientific Center for Particularly Dangerous Infections named after M. AikimbaevAlmatyKazakhstan
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Esson C, Samelius G, Strand TM, Lundkvist Å, Michaux JR, Råsbäck T, Wahab T, Mijiddorj TN, Berger L, Skerratt LF, Low M. The prevalence of rodent-borne zoonotic pathogens in the South Gobi desert region of Mongolia. Infect Ecol Epidemiol 2023; 13:2270258. [PMID: 37867606 PMCID: PMC10588514 DOI: 10.1080/20008686.2023.2270258] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2022] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 10/24/2023] Open
Abstract
The alpine ecosystems and communities of central Asia are currently undergoing large-scale ecological and socio-ecological changes likely to affect wildlife-livestock-human disease interactions and zoonosis transmission risk. However, relatively little is known about the prevalence of pathogens in this region. Between 2012 and 2015 we screened 142 rodents in Mongolia's Gobi desert for exposure to important zoonotic and livestock pathogens. Rodent seroprevalence to Leptospira spp. was >1/3 of tested animals, Toxoplasma gondii and Coxiella burnetii approximately 1/8 animals, and the hantaviruses being between 1/20 (Puumala-like hantavirus) and <1/100 (Seoul-like hantavirus). Gerbils trapped inside local dwellings were one of the species seropositive to Puumala-like hantavirus, suggesting a potential zoonotic transmission pathway. Seventeen genera of zoonotic bacteria were also detected in the faeces and ticks collected from these rodents, with one tick testing positive to Yersinia. Our study helps provide baseline patterns of disease prevalence needed to infer potential transmission between source and target populations in this region, and to help shift the focus of epidemiological research towards understanding disease transmission among species and proactive disease mitigation strategies within a broader One Health framework.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carol Esson
- One Health Research Group, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - Gustaf Samelius
- Snow Leopard Trust, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Nordens Ark, Åby Säteri, Hunnebostrand, Sweden
| | - Tanja M. Strand
- Zoonosis Science Centre, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
- National Veterinary Institute (SVA), Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Åke Lundkvist
- Zoonosis Science Centre, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Johan R. Michaux
- Laboratoire de génétique de la conservation, Institut de Botanique, Université de Liège, Liège, Belgium
- Animal Sante Territoire Risque Environnement, Centre International de Recherche Agronomique pour le Developpement, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | | | - Tara Wahab
- Public Health Agency of Sweden, Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | - Lee Berger
- One Health Research Group, Melbourne Veterinary School, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Lee F. Skerratt
- One Health Research Group, Melbourne Veterinary School, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Matthew Low
- Department of Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
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Tian S, Jiang BG, Liu WS, Chen HR, Gao ZH, Pu EN, Li YQ, Chen JJ, Fang LQ, Wang GL, Du CH, Wei YH. Zoonotic pathogens identified in rodents and shrews from four provinces, China, 2015-2022. Epidemiol Infect 2023; 151:e174. [PMID: 37675640 PMCID: PMC10600915 DOI: 10.1017/s0950268823001450] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2023] [Revised: 05/20/2023] [Accepted: 07/04/2023] [Indexed: 09/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Rodents and shrews are major reservoirs of various pathogens that are related to zoonotic infectious diseases. The purpose of this study was to investigate co-infections of zoonotic pathogens in rodents and shrews trapped in four provinces of China. We sampled different rodent and shrew communities within and around human settlements in four provinces of China and characterised several important zoonotic viral, bacterial, and parasitic pathogens by PCR methods and phylogenetic analysis. A total of 864 rodents and shrews belonging to 24 and 13 species from RODENTIA and EULIPOTYPHLA orders were captured, respectively. For viral pathogens, two species of hantavirus (Hantaan orthohantavirus and Caobang orthohantavirus) were identified in 3.47% of rodents and shrews. The overall prevalence of Bartonella spp., Anaplasmataceae, Babesia spp., Leptospira spp., Spotted fever group Rickettsiae, Borrelia spp., and Coxiella burnetii were 31.25%, 8.91%, 4.17%, 3.94%, 3.59%, 3.47%, and 0.58%, respectively. Furthermore, the highest co-infection status of three pathogens was observed among Bartonella spp., Leptospira spp., and Anaplasmataceae with a co-infection rate of 0.46%. Our results suggested that species distribution and co-infections of zoonotic pathogens were prevalent in rodents and shrews, highlighting the necessity of active surveillance for zoonotic pathogens in wild mammals in wider regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shen Tian
- Institute of Public Health, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, P.R. China
- Guangzhou Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Guangzhou, P.R. China
- Institute of Public Health, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, P.R. China
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Bao-Gui Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Wan-Shuang Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Hao-Rong Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Zi-Hou Gao
- Yunnan Institute for Endemic Diseases Control and Prevention, Yunnan Provincial Key Laboratory of Natural Epidemic Disease Prevention and Control technology, Yunnan, P.R. China
| | - En-Nian Pu
- Yunnan Institute for Endemic Diseases Control and Prevention, Yunnan Provincial Key Laboratory of Natural Epidemic Disease Prevention and Control technology, Yunnan, P.R. China
| | - Yu-Qiong Li
- Yunnan Institute for Endemic Diseases Control and Prevention, Yunnan Provincial Key Laboratory of Natural Epidemic Disease Prevention and Control technology, Yunnan, P.R. China
| | - Jin-Jin Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Li-Qun Fang
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Guo-Lin Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Chun-Hong Du
- Yunnan Institute for Endemic Diseases Control and Prevention, Yunnan Provincial Key Laboratory of Natural Epidemic Disease Prevention and Control technology, Yunnan, P.R. China
| | - Yue-Hong Wei
- Institute of Public Health, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, P.R. China
- Guangzhou Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Guangzhou, P.R. China
- Institute of Public Health, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, P.R. China
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Guo Y, Li Z, Dong S, Si X, Ta N, Liang H, Xu L. Multiple infections of zoonotic pathogens in wild Brandt's voles (Lasiopodomys brandtii). Vet Med Sci 2023; 9:2201-2211. [PMID: 37491010 PMCID: PMC10508490 DOI: 10.1002/vms3.1214] [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: 06/16/2022] [Revised: 06/03/2023] [Accepted: 07/08/2023] [Indexed: 07/27/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The frequent interactions of rodents with humans make them a common source of zoonotic infections. Brandt's vole is the dominant rodent species of the typical steppe in Inner Mongolia, and it is also an important pest in grassland. OBJECTIVES To obtain an initial unbiased measure of the microbial diversity and abundance in the blood and intestinal tracts and to detect the pathogens carried by wild Brandt's voles in Hulun Buir, Inner Mongolia. METHODS Twenty wild adult Brandt's voles were trapped using live cages, and 12 intestinal samples were collected for metagenomic analysis and 8 blood samples were collected for meta-transcriptomic analysis. We compared the sequencing data with pathogenic microbiota databases to analyse the phylogenetic characteristics of zoonotic pathogens carried by wild voles. RESULTS A total of 122 phyla, 79 classes, 168 orders, 382 families and 1693 genera of bacteria and a total of 32 families of DNA and RNA viruses in Brandt's voles were characterized. We found that each sample carried more than 10 pathogens, whereas some pathogens that were low in abundance were still at risk of transmission to humans. CONCLUSION This study improves our understanding of the viral and bacterial diversity in wild Brandt's voles and highlights the multiple viral and bacterial pathogens carried by this rodent. These findings may serve as a basis for developing strategies targeting rodent population control in Hulun Buir and provide a better approach to the surveillance of pathogenic microorganisms in wildlife.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongman Guo
- Vanke School of Public HealthTsinghua UniversityBeijingChina
- Institute for Healthy ChinaTsinghua UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Zhengrun Li
- Vanke School of Public HealthTsinghua UniversityBeijingChina
- Institute for Healthy ChinaTsinghua UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Shike Dong
- Vanke School of Public HealthTsinghua UniversityBeijingChina
- Institute for Healthy ChinaTsinghua UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Xiaoyan Si
- Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region Center for Disease Control and PreventionHohhotChina
| | - Na Ta
- Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region Center for Disease Control and PreventionHohhotChina
| | - Hanwei Liang
- Vanke School of Public HealthTsinghua UniversityBeijingChina
- Institute for Healthy ChinaTsinghua UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Lei Xu
- Vanke School of Public HealthTsinghua UniversityBeijingChina
- Institute for Healthy ChinaTsinghua UniversityBeijingChina
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Weiss V, Weidinger P, Matt J, Weissenbacher-Lang C, Nowotny N, Weissenböck H. Rustrela Virus-Associated Encephalomyelitis ('Staggering Disease') in Cats from Eastern Austria, 1994-2016. Viruses 2023; 15:1621. [PMID: 37631964 PMCID: PMC10458416 DOI: 10.3390/v15081621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2023] [Revised: 07/18/2023] [Accepted: 07/21/2023] [Indexed: 08/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Clinical cases of 'staggering disease', a nonsuppurative encephalomyelitis associated with gait abnormalities in cats, have been documented for decades in Sweden. In Austria, an increased incidence was observed in the 1990s. Only recently, rustrela virus (RusV) was identified as the causative agent of this clinicopathologic disease entity. In this retrospective study, we analyzed a total of 23 brain and spinal cord samples from Austrian cats with the pathohistological diagnosis of nonsuppurative encephalomyelitis and clinical signs consistent with staggering disease from 1994 to 2016 using reverse transcription real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and in situ hybridization. We were able to detect RusV nucleic acids in seven of the examined samples. Borna disease virus 1 (BoDV-1) could be excluded in all cases via immunohistochemistry and RT-qPCR. This study confirms that RusV has been a relevant etiological agent of nonsuppurative encephalomyelitis of cats in a geographically and temporally limited disease cluster in Austria, mainly in the 1990s. The geographic distribution of the positive samples in this study is consistent with earlier reports on 'staggering disease' in Austria. Further studies are necessary to confirm the reservoir host of 'staggering disease' in Austria, as well as investigations on the disappearance of this disease and its possible zoonotic potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Viktoria Weiss
- Institute of Pathology, University of Veterinary Medicine, 1210 Vienna, Austria; (V.W.); (J.M.); (C.W.-L.)
| | - Pia Weidinger
- Viral Zoonoses, Emerging and Vector-Borne Infections Group, Institute of Virology, University of Veterinary Medicine, 1210 Vienna, Austria; (P.W.); (N.N.)
| | - Julia Matt
- Institute of Pathology, University of Veterinary Medicine, 1210 Vienna, Austria; (V.W.); (J.M.); (C.W.-L.)
| | | | - Norbert Nowotny
- Viral Zoonoses, Emerging and Vector-Borne Infections Group, Institute of Virology, University of Veterinary Medicine, 1210 Vienna, Austria; (P.W.); (N.N.)
- 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
| | - Herbert Weissenböck
- Institute of Pathology, University of Veterinary Medicine, 1210 Vienna, Austria; (V.W.); (J.M.); (C.W.-L.)
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Schotte U, Binder A, Goller KV, Faulde M, Ruhl S, Sauer S, Schlegel M, Teifke JP, Ulrich RG, Wylezich C. Field survey and molecular characterization of apicomplexan parasites in small mammals from military camps in Afghanistan. Parasitol Res 2023; 122:1199-1211. [PMID: 36944808 PMCID: PMC10097762 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-023-07820-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2022] [Accepted: 03/05/2023] [Indexed: 03/23/2023]
Abstract
Small mammals are an important reservoir for causative agents of numerous infectious diseases, including zoonotic and vector-borne diseases. The occurrence of these pathogens represents a regional but permanent threat for humans and animals in general and might especially weaken military personnel and companion animals in abroad missions. In our study, small mammals collected in military camps in Afghanistan (Feyzabad, Mazar-e Sharif, and Kunduz) were investigated for the presence of apicomplexans using histopathology and molecular methods. For this purpose, well-established and newly developed real-time PCR assays were applied. A high prevalence was detected not only in house mice (Mus musculus), but also in shrews (Crocidura cf. suaveolens) and grey dwarf hamsters (Cricetulus migratorius). The molecular characterization based on the 18S rRNA gene revealed a close relationship to a cluster of Hepatozoon sp. detected in voles of the genus Microtus. Hepatozoon canis DNA was detected in one house mouse as well as in two Rhipicephalus ticks from a dog puppy. In addition, around 5% of the house mice were found to be infected with far related adeleorinids showing the highest sequence identity of 91.5% to Klossiella equi, the only published Klossiella sequence at present. For their better phylogenetic characterization, we conducted metagenomics by sequencing of two selected samples. The resulting 18S rRNA gene sequences have a length of about 2400 base pairs including an insertion of about 500 base pairs and are 100% identical to each other. Histopathology together with organ tropism and detection rates verified this sequence as of Klossiella muris. In conclusion, we documented naturally occurring protozoan stages and the additional taxonomic characterization of a well-known commensal in mice by applying a combination of different approaches. The study is of medical, social, and biological importance for ensuring human and animal health in military camps and also stresses the required awareness for the potential risk of zoonoses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ulrich Schotte
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Central Institute of the Bundeswehr Medical Service Kiel, Kopperpahler Allee 120, 24119, Kronshagen, Germany.
| | - Alfred Binder
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Central Institute of the Bundeswehr Medical Service Kiel, Kopperpahler Allee 120, 24119, Kronshagen, Germany
| | - Katja V Goller
- Institute of Diagnostic Virology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Südufer 10, 17493, Greifswald Insel Riems, Germany
- Institute for Hygiene and Environmental Medicine and Central Unit for Infection Prevention and Control, University Medicine Greifswald, Fleischmannstraße 8, 17475, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Michael Faulde
- Department of Medicine, Central Institute of the Bundeswehr Medical Service Koblenz, Andernacher Str. 100, 56070, Koblenz, Germany
- Bundeswehr Research Institute (WIWeB), Institutsweg 1, 85435, Erding, Germany
| | - Silke Ruhl
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Central Institute of the Bundeswehr Medical Service Kiel, Kopperpahler Allee 120, 24119, Kronshagen, Germany
- Bundeswehr Medical Academy, Deployment Health Surveillance Center, Neuherbergstr. 11, 80937, Munich, Germany
| | - Sabine Sauer
- Division E, Bundeswehr Medical Academy, Military Medical Research and Development, Neuherbergstr. 11, 80937, Munich, Germany
| | - Mathias Schlegel
- Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Südufer 10, 17493, Greifswald Insel Riems, Germany
- Seramun Diagnostica GmbH, Spreenhagener Str. 1, 15754, Heidesee, Germany
| | - Jens P Teifke
- Department of Experimental Animal Facilities and Biorisk Management (ATB), Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Südufer 10, 17493, Greifswald Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Rainer G Ulrich
- Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Südufer 10, 17493, Greifswald Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Claudia Wylezich
- Institute of Diagnostic Virology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Südufer 10, 17493, Greifswald Insel Riems, Germany.
- Department of Experimental Animal Facilities and Biorisk Management (ATB), Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Südufer 10, 17493, Greifswald Insel Riems, Germany.
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Krügel M, Król N, Kempf VAJ, Pfeffer M, Obiegala A. Emerging rodent-associated Bartonella: a threat for human health? Parasit Vectors 2022; 15:113. [PMID: 35361285 PMCID: PMC8969336 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-022-05162-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2021] [Accepted: 01/11/2022] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Species of the genus Bartonella are facultative intracellular alphaproteobacteria with zoonotic potential. Bartonella infections in humans range from mild with unspecific symptoms to life threatening, and can be transmitted via arthropod vectors or through direct contact with infected hosts, although the latter mode of transmission is rare. Among the small mammals that harbour Bartonella spp., rodents are the most speciose group and harbour the highest diversity of these parasites. Human–rodent interactions are not unlikely as many rodent species live in proximity to humans. However, a surprisingly low number of clinical cases of bartonellosis related to rodent-associated Bartonella spp. have thus far been recorded in humans. Methods The main purpose of this review is to determine explanatory factors for this unexpected finding, by taking a closer look at published clinical cases of bartonellosis connected with rodent-associated Bartonella species, some of which have been newly described in recent years. Thus, another focus of this review are these recently proposed species. Conclusions Worldwide, only 24 cases of bartonellosis caused by rodent-associated bartonellae have been reported in humans. Possible reasons for this low number of cases in comparison to the high prevalences of Bartonella in small mammal species are (i) a lack of awareness amongst physicians of Bartonella infections in humans in general, and especially those caused by rodent-associated bartonellae; and (ii) a frequent lack of the sophisticated equipment required for the confirmation of Bartonella infections in laboratories that undertake routine diagnostic testing. As regards recently described Bartonella spp., there are presently 14 rodent-associated Candidatus taxa. In contrast to species which have been taxonomically classified, there is no official process for the review of proposed Candidatus species and their names before they are published. This had led to the use of malformed names that are not based on the International Code of Nomenclature of Prokaryotes. Researchers are thus encouraged to propose Candidatus names to the International Committee on Systematics of Prokaryotes for approval before publishing them, and only to propose new species of Bartonella when the relevant datasets allow them to be clearly differentiated from known species and subspecies. Graphical Abstract ![]()
Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13071-022-05162-5.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Krügel
- Institute of Animal Hygiene and Veterinary Public Health, University of Leipzig, An den Tierkliniken 1, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Nina Król
- Institute of Animal Hygiene and Veterinary Public Health, University of Leipzig, An den Tierkliniken 1, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Volkhard A J Kempf
- Institute for Medical Microbiology and Infection Control, University Hospital, Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.,National Consiliary Laboratory for Bartonella, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Martin Pfeffer
- Institute of Animal Hygiene and Veterinary Public Health, University of Leipzig, An den Tierkliniken 1, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Anna Obiegala
- Institute of Animal Hygiene and Veterinary Public Health, University of Leipzig, An den Tierkliniken 1, 04103, Leipzig, Germany.
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García-Mendoza D, van den Berg HJHJ, van den Brink NW. Environmental exposure to cadmium reduces the primary antibody-mediated response of wood mice (Apodemus sylvaticus) from differentially polluted locations in the Netherlands. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2021; 289:117909. [PMID: 34371263 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2021.117909] [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: 03/22/2021] [Revised: 08/02/2021] [Accepted: 08/03/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The Wood mouse (Apodemus sylvaticus) is a widespread mammalian species that acts as a reservoir host for multiple infections, including zoonotic diseases. Exposure to immunotoxins, like for instance trace metals, may reduce the ability of the host to mount proper responses to pathogens, potentially increasing the transmission and prevalence of infections. Antibody-mediated responses are crucial in preventing and limiting infections, and the quantification of the primary antibody response is considered a sensitive predictor of immunosuppression. The current study aims to investigate effects of cadmium exposure on the antibody-mediated responses of wood mice inhabiting polluted and non-polluted areas in the Netherlands. Wood mice were captured alive at different locations and immunized to sheep red blood cells (SRBC) to induce a primary antibody response. SRBC-specific antibody-producing cells, or plaque forming cells (PFC), were quantified and related to kidney cadmium levels. Differential circulating main leukocyte populations were also characterised. Cadmium concentrations in mice kidneys differed between mice captured at different locations, and increased with individual body mass, likely associated with age-related time of exposure. Effect of cadmium was apparent on the percentages of B cell counts in blood. Because of potential natural immune heterogeneity between wild rodent populations, mice immune responses were analysed and compared grouped by captured locations. Capture location had significant effect on the total counts of white blood cells. Increasing cadmium exposure in wood mice captured from polluted sites was associated with a decrease of splenic PFC counts. This field research shows that wood mice antibody responses can be impaired by cadmium exposure, even at low environmental levels, by affecting B cell functioning mainly. Impaired B cell function can make exposed mice more susceptible to infections, potentially increasing the reservoir function of their populations. It also shows that immunomodulatory effects in the field should be assessed site specifically.
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Influence of Season, Population and Individual Characteristics on the Prevalence of Leptospira spp. in Bank Voles in North-West Germany. BIOLOGY 2021; 10:biology10090933. [PMID: 34571810 PMCID: PMC8466531 DOI: 10.3390/biology10090933] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2021] [Revised: 09/13/2021] [Accepted: 09/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Simple Summary Leptospirosis is a worldwide emerging zoonotic disease. Clinical symptoms in humans range from mild flu-like symptoms to severe clinical disease with kidney failure and multiple organ dysfunction. Infections occur after contact with infected animals or through water and soil contaminated by urine of infected animals. Cases are mostly linked to occupational risk groups such as field workers or farmers, but contact with pets and recreational activities like fresh water sports also lead to a higher exposure risk. This study was conducted to evaluate the prevalence and species distribution of Leptospira in bank voles in Germany. We analyzed the DNA of 1817 kidney samples and detected a mean prevalence of 7.5% with the following pathogenic Leptospira species: L. interrogans, L. kirschneri, and L. borgpetersenii. The individual infection risk in bank voles depended on season, body weight and abundance of bank voles. Even if leptospirosis case numbers in Germany are low, our study shows that pathogenic Leptospira spp. are present and a potential source for human infection, which should be recognized by clinicians and veterinarians. Abstract Leptospirosis is a worldwide zoonotic disease with more than 1 million human cases annually. Infections are associated with direct contact to infected animals or indirect contact to contaminated water or soil. As not much is known about the prevalence and host specificity of Leptospira spp. in bank voles (Clethrionomys glareolus), our study aimed to evaluate Leptospira spp. prevalence and genomospecies distribution as well as the influence of season, host abundance and individual characteristics on the Leptospira prevalence. Bank voles, which are abundant and widely distributed in forest habitats, were collected in the years 2018 to 2020 in North-West Germany, covering parts of North Rhine-Westphalia and Lower Saxony. The DNA of 1817 kidney samples was analyzed by real-time PCR targeting the lipl32 gene. Positive samples were further analyzed by targeting the secY gene to determine Leptospira genomospecies and multilocus sequence typing (MLST) to determine the sequence type (ST). The overall prevalence was 7.5% (95% confidence interval: 6.4–8.9). Leptospira interrogans (83.3%), L. kirschneri (11.5%) and L. borgpetersenii (5.2%) were detected in bank voles. Increasing body weight as a proxy for age increased the individual infection probability. Only in years with high bank vole abundance was this probability significantly higher in males than in females. Even if case numbers of human leptospirosis in Germany are low, our study shows that pathogenic Leptospira spp. are present and thus a persisting potential source for human infection.
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Liyai R, Kimita G, Masakhwe C, Abuom D, Mutai B, Onyango DM, Waitumbi J. The spleen bacteriome of wild rodents and shrews from Marigat, Baringo County, Kenya. PeerJ 2021; 9:e12067. [PMID: 34557350 PMCID: PMC8418798 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.12067] [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: 12/13/2020] [Accepted: 08/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is a global increase in reports of emerging diseases, some of which have emerged as spillover events from wild animals. The spleen is a major phagocytic organ and can therefore be probed for systemic microbiome. This study assessed bacterial diversity in the spleen of wild caught small mammals so as to evaluate their utility as surveillance tools for monitoring bacteria in an ecosystem shared with humans. METHODS Fifty-four small mammals (rodents and shrews) were trapped from different sites in Marigat, Baringo County, Kenya. To characterize their bacteriome, DNA was extracted from their spleens and the V3-V4 regions of the 16S rRNA amplified and then sequenced on Illumina MiSeq. A non-target control sample was used to track laboratory contaminants. Sequence data was analyzed with Mothur v1.35, and taxomy determined using the SILVA database. The Shannon diversity index was used to estimate bacterial diversity in each animal and then aggregated to genus level before computing the means. Animal species within the rodents and shrews were identified by amplification of mitochondrial cytochrome b (cytb) gene followed by Sanger sequencing. CLC workbench was used to assemble the cytb gene sequences, after which their phylogenetic placements were determined by querying them against the GenBank nucleotide database. RESULTS cytb gene sequences were generated for 49/54 mammalian samples: 38 rodents (Rodentia) and 11 shrews (Eulipotyphyla). Within the order Rodentia, 21 Acomys, eight Mastomys, six Arvicanthis and three Rattus were identified. In the order Eulipotyphyla, 11 Crucidura were identified. Bacteria characterization revealed 17 phyla that grouped into 182 genera. Of the phyla, Proteobacteria was the most abundant (67.9%). Other phyla included Actinobacteria (16.5%), Firmicutes (5.5%), Chlamydiae (3.8%), Chloroflexi (2.6%) and Bacteroidetes (1.3%) among others. Of the potentially pathogenic bacteria, Bartonella was the most abundant (45.6%), followed by Anaplasma (8.0%), Methylobacterium (3.5%), Delftia (3.8%), Coxiella (2.6%), Bradyrhizobium (1.6%) and Acinetobacter (1.1%). Other less abundant (<1%) and potentially pathogenic included Ehrlichia, Rickettsia, Leptospira, Borrelia, Brucella, Chlamydia and Streptococcus. By Shannon diversity index, Acomys spleens carried more diverse bacteria (mean Shannon diversity index of 2.86, p = 0.008) compared to 1.77 for Crocidura, 1.44 for Rattus, 1.40 for Arvicathis and 0.60 for Mastomys. CONCLUSION This study examined systemic bacteria that are filtered by the spleen and the findings underscore the utility of 16S rRNA deep sequencing in characterizing complex microbiota that are potentially relevant to one health issues. An inherent problem with the V3-V4 region of 16S rRNA is the inability to classify bacteria reliably beyond the genera. Future studies should utilize the newer long read methods of 16S rRNA analysis that can delimit the species composition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rehema Liyai
- Department of Zoology, Maseno University College, Kisumu, Kenya
- Basic Science Laboratory, United States Army Medical Research Directorate-Africa, Kisumu, Kenya
| | - Gathii Kimita
- Basic Science Laboratory, United States Army Medical Research Directorate-Africa, Kisumu, Kenya
| | - Clement Masakhwe
- Basic Science Laboratory, United States Army Medical Research Directorate-Africa, Kisumu, Kenya
| | - David Abuom
- Entomology Section, United States Medical Research Directorate-Africa, Kisumu, Kenya
| | - Beth Mutai
- Basic Science Laboratory, United States Army Medical Research Directorate-Africa, Kisumu, Kenya
| | | | - John Waitumbi
- Basic Science Laboratory, United States Army Medical Research Directorate-Africa, Kisumu, Kenya
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Herrero-Cófreces S, Mougeot F, Lambin X, Luque-Larena JJ. Linking Zoonosis Emergence to Farmland Invasion by Fluctuating Herbivores: Common Vole Populations and Tularemia Outbreaks in NW Spain. Front Vet Sci 2021; 8:698454. [PMID: 34458354 PMCID: PMC8397442 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2021.698454] [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: 04/21/2021] [Accepted: 07/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The expansion and intensification of agriculture are driving profound changes in ecosystems worldwide, favoring the (re)emergence of many human infectious diseases. Muroid rodents are a key host group for zoonotic infectious pathogens and frequently invade farming environments, promoting disease transmission and spillover. Understanding the role that fluctuating populations of farm dwelling rodents play in the epidemiology of zoonotic diseases is paramount to improve prevention schemes. Here, we review a decade of research on the colonization of farming environments in NW Spain by common voles (Microtus arvalis) and its public health impacts, specifically periodic tularemia outbreaks in humans. The spread of this colonizing rodent was analogous to an invasion process and was putatively triggered by the transformation and irrigation of agricultural habitats that created a novel terrestrial-aquatic interface. This irruptive rodent host is an effective amplifier for the Francisella tularensis bacterium during population outbreaks, and human tularemia episodes are tightly linked in time and space to periodic (cyclic) variations in vole abundance. Beyond the information accumulated to date, several key knowledge gaps about this pathogen-rodent epidemiological link remain unaddressed, namely (i) did colonizing vole introduce or amplified pre-existing F. tularensis? (ii) which features of the “Francisella—Microtus” relationship are crucial for the epidemiology of tularemia? (iii) how virulent and persistent F. tularensis infection is for voles under natural conditions? and (iv) where does the bacterium persist during inter-epizootics? Future research should focus on more integrated, community-based approaches in order to understand the details and dynamics of disease circulation in ecosystems colonized by highly fluctuating hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Herrero-Cófreces
- Dpto. Ciencias Agroforestales, Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingenierías Agrarias, Universidad de Valladolid, Palencia, Spain.,Instituto Universitario de Investigación en Gestión Forestal Sostenible, Universidad de Valladolid, Palencia, Spain
| | - François Mougeot
- Grupo de Gestión de Recursos Cinegéticos y Fauna Silvestre, Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos (IREC, CSIC-UCLM-JCCM), Ciudad Real, Spain
| | - Xavier Lambin
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
| | - Juan José Luque-Larena
- Dpto. Ciencias Agroforestales, Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingenierías Agrarias, Universidad de Valladolid, Palencia, Spain.,Instituto Universitario de Investigación en Gestión Forestal Sostenible, Universidad de Valladolid, Palencia, Spain
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15
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FREQUENT LEPTOSPIRA SPP. DETECTION BUT ABSENCE OF TULA ORTHOHANTAVIRUS IN MICROTUS SPP. VOLES, NORTHWESTERN SPAIN. J Wildl Dis 2021; 57:733-742. [PMID: 34320644 DOI: 10.7589/jwd-d-20-00109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2020] [Accepted: 04/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
The common vole (Microtus arvalis) is a major agricultural pest in Europe and is a reservoir for several zoonotic agents, such as Leptospira spp. and Tula orthohantavirus (TULV). However, little is known about the occurrence of those pathogens in voles from Spain, where the species has largely expanded its distribution range in the past decades, causing agricultural pests and zoonotic diseases. For a molecular survey, 580 common voles and six Lusitanian pine voles (Microtus lusitanicus) were collected in 26 localities from four provinces of northwestern Spain. We assessed the presence of Leptospira spp. DNA in kidney tissue by PCR targeting the lipL32 gene, detecting a prevalence of 7.9% (95% confidence interval, 5.9-10.4) for common voles and of 33.3% (95% confidence interval, 4.3-77.7) for Lusitanian pine voles. We identified Leptospira kirschneri in 24 animals and Leptospira borgpetersenii in two animals, using secY gene-specific PCR. We analyzed environmental and demographic factors (such as age class, weight, and sex) and population dynamics data for their potential effect on the Leptospira spp. prevalence in those voles. The Leptospira spp. DNA detection rate in common voles increased significantly with maximum air temperature, vole weight, and amount of accumulated rainfall during the 90 d before capture and within the peak phase of the population cycle. We assessed the presence of TULV in lung tissue of 389 voles by reverse-transcription PCR, with no positive results. The absence of TULV might be explained by the evolutionary isolation of the common vole in Spain. The detection of two Leptospira genomospecies underlines the necessity for further typing efforts to understand the epidemiology of leptospiral infection in the common vole and the potential risk for human health in Spain.
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Schneider J, Hoffmann B, Fevola C, Schmidt ML, Imholt C, Fischer S, Ecke F, Hörnfeldt B, Magnusson M, Olsson GE, Rizzoli A, Tagliapietra V, Chiari M, Reusken C, Bužan E, Kazimirova M, Stanko M, White TA, Reil D, Obiegala A, Meredith A, Drexler JF, Essbauer S, Henttonen H, Jacob J, Hauffe HC, Beer M, Heckel G, Ulrich RG. Geographical Distribution and Genetic Diversity of Bank Vole Hepaciviruses in Europe. Viruses 2021; 13:1258. [PMID: 34203238 PMCID: PMC8310187 DOI: 10.3390/v13071258] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2021] [Revised: 06/15/2021] [Accepted: 06/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The development of new diagnostic methods resulted in the discovery of novel hepaciviruses in wild populations of the bank vole (Myodes glareolus, syn. Clethrionomys glareolus). The naturally infected voles demonstrate signs of hepatitis similar to those induced by hepatitis C virus (HCV) in humans. The aim of the present research was to investigate the geographical distribution of bank vole-associated hepaciviruses (BvHVs) and their genetic diversity in Europe. Real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) screening revealed BvHV RNA in 442 out of 1838 (24.0%) bank voles from nine European countries and in one of seven northern red-backed voles (Myodes rutilus, syn. Clethrionomys rutilus). BvHV RNA was not found in any other small mammal species (n = 23) tested here. Phylogenetic and isolation-by-distance analyses confirmed the occurrence of both BvHV species (Hepacivirus F and Hepacivirus J) and their sympatric occurrence at several trapping sites in two countries. The broad geographical distribution of BvHVs across Europe was associated with their presence in bank voles of different evolutionary lineages. The extensive geographical distribution and high levels of genetic diversity of BvHVs, as well as the high population fluctuations of bank voles and occasional commensalism in some parts of Europe warrant future studies on the zoonotic potential of BvHVs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Schneider
- Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany; (M.L.S.); (S.F.)
- Institute of Virology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany;
| | - Bernd Hoffmann
- Institute of Diagnostic Virology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany; (B.H.); (M.B.)
| | - Cristina Fevola
- Research and Innovation Centre, Department of Biodiversity and Molecular Ecology, Fondazione Edmund Mach, 38098 San Michele all’Adige, Italy; (C.F.); (A.R.); (V.T.); (H.C.H.)
- Department of Virology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, 00100 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Marie Luisa Schmidt
- Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany; (M.L.S.); (S.F.)
- Institute of Virology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany;
| | - Christian Imholt
- Vertebrate Research, Federal Research Centre for Cultivated Plants, Institute for Plant Protection in Horticulture and Forests, Julius Kühn-Institute (JKI), Toppheideweg 88, 48161 Münster, Germany; (C.I.); (D.R.); (J.J.)
| | - Stefan Fischer
- Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany; (M.L.S.); (S.F.)
| | - Frauke Ecke
- Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Environmental Studies, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 90183 Umeå, Sweden; (F.E.); (B.H.); (M.M.); (G.E.O.)
| | - Birger Hörnfeldt
- Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Environmental Studies, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 90183 Umeå, Sweden; (F.E.); (B.H.); (M.M.); (G.E.O.)
| | - Magnus Magnusson
- Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Environmental Studies, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 90183 Umeå, Sweden; (F.E.); (B.H.); (M.M.); (G.E.O.)
| | - Gert E. Olsson
- Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Environmental Studies, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 90183 Umeå, Sweden; (F.E.); (B.H.); (M.M.); (G.E.O.)
- Unit for Nature Conservation, County Administrative Board of Halland County, 30004 Halmstad, Sweden
| | - Annapaola Rizzoli
- Research and Innovation Centre, Department of Biodiversity and Molecular Ecology, Fondazione Edmund Mach, 38098 San Michele all’Adige, Italy; (C.F.); (A.R.); (V.T.); (H.C.H.)
| | - Valentina Tagliapietra
- Research and Innovation Centre, Department of Biodiversity and Molecular Ecology, Fondazione Edmund Mach, 38098 San Michele all’Adige, Italy; (C.F.); (A.R.); (V.T.); (H.C.H.)
| | - Mario Chiari
- Direzione Generale Welfare, U.O. Veterinaria, Piazza Città di Lombardia 1, 20124 Milan, Italy;
| | - Chantal Reusken
- Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), 3720 Bilthoven, The Netherlands;
| | - Elena Bužan
- Faculty of Mathematics, Natural Sciences and Information Technologies, University of Primorska, 6000 Koper, Slovenia;
- Environmental Protection College, 3320 Velenje, Slovenia
| | - Maria Kazimirova
- Institute of Zoology, Slovak Academy of Sciences (SAS), 81438 Bratislava, Slovakia;
| | - Michal Stanko
- Institute of Parasitology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Hlinkova 3, 04001 Košice, Slovakia;
| | - Thomas A. White
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA2 0QZ, UK;
| | - Daniela Reil
- Vertebrate Research, Federal Research Centre for Cultivated Plants, Institute for Plant Protection in Horticulture and Forests, Julius Kühn-Institute (JKI), Toppheideweg 88, 48161 Münster, Germany; (C.I.); (D.R.); (J.J.)
| | - Anna Obiegala
- Institute of Animal Hygiene and Veterinary Public Health, University of Leipzig, 04109 Leipzig, Germany;
| | - Anna Meredith
- Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies and Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH8 9AB, UK;
- Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Jan Felix Drexler
- Institute of Virology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany;
- Martsinovsky Institute of Medical Parasitology, Tropical and Vector-Borne Diseases, Sechenov University, 119991 Moscow, Russia
- German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Associated Partner Site Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Sandra Essbauer
- Department Virology and Rickettsiology, Bundeswehr Institute of Microbiology, 80937 Munich, Germany;
| | - Heikki Henttonen
- Natural Resources Institute Finland (LUKE), 00791 Helsinki, Finland;
| | - Jens Jacob
- Vertebrate Research, Federal Research Centre for Cultivated Plants, Institute for Plant Protection in Horticulture and Forests, Julius Kühn-Institute (JKI), Toppheideweg 88, 48161 Münster, Germany; (C.I.); (D.R.); (J.J.)
| | - Heidi C. Hauffe
- Research and Innovation Centre, Department of Biodiversity and Molecular Ecology, Fondazione Edmund Mach, 38098 San Michele all’Adige, Italy; (C.F.); (A.R.); (V.T.); (H.C.H.)
| | - Martin Beer
- Institute of Diagnostic Virology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany; (B.H.); (M.B.)
| | - Gerald Heckel
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland;
| | - Rainer G. Ulrich
- Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany; (M.L.S.); (S.F.)
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Wild Small Mammals and Ticks in Zoos-Reservoir of Agents with Zoonotic Potential? Pathogens 2021; 10:pathogens10060777. [PMID: 34205547 PMCID: PMC8235793 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10060777] [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: 05/18/2021] [Revised: 06/13/2021] [Accepted: 06/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Wild small mammals and ticks play an important role in maintaining and spreading zoonoses in nature, as well as in captive animals. The aim of this study was to monitor selected agents with zoonotic potential in their reservoirs and vectors in a zoo, and to draw attention to the risk of possible contact with these pathogens. In total, 117 wild small mammals (rodents) and 166 ticks were collected in the area of Brno Zoo. Antibodies to the bacteria Coxiella burnetii, Francisella tularensis, and Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. were detected by a modified enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 19% (19/99), 4% (4/99), and 15% (15/99) of rodents, respectively. Antibodies to Leptospira spp. bacteria were detected by the microscopic agglutination test in 6% (4/63) of rodents. Coinfection (antibodies to more than two agents) were proved in 14.5% (15/97) of animals. The prevalence of C. burnetii statistically differed according to the years of trapping (p = 0.0241). The DNAs of B. burgdorferi s.l., Rickettsia sp., and Anaplasma phagocytophilum were detected by PCR in 16%, 6%, and 1% of ticks, respectively, without coinfection and without effect of life stage and sex of ticks on positivity. Sequencing showed homology with R. helvetica and A. phagocytophilum in four and one positive samples, respectively. The results of our study show that wild small mammals and ticks in a zoo could serve as reservoirs and vectors of infectious agents with zoonotic potential and thus present a risk of infection to zoo animals and also to keepers and visitors to a zoo.
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Schmidt S, Reil D, Jeske K, Drewes S, Rosenfeld UM, Fischer S, Spierling NG, Labutin A, Heckel G, Jacob J, Ulrich RG, Imholt C. Spatial and Temporal Dynamics and Molecular Evolution of Tula orthohantavirus in German Vole Populations. Viruses 2021; 13:1132. [PMID: 34208398 PMCID: PMC8231151 DOI: 10.3390/v13061132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2021] [Revised: 05/21/2021] [Accepted: 06/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Tula orthohantavirus (TULV) is a rodent-borne hantavirus with broad geographical distribution in Europe. Its major reservoir is the common vole (Microtus arvalis), but TULV has also been detected in closely related vole species. Given the large distributional range and high amplitude population dynamics of common voles, this host-pathogen complex presents an ideal system to study the complex mechanisms of pathogen transmission in a wild rodent reservoir. We investigated the dynamics of TULV prevalence and the subsequent potential effects on the molecular evolution of TULV in common voles of the Central evolutionary lineage. Rodents were trapped for three years in four regions of Germany and samples were analyzed for the presence of TULV-reactive antibodies and TULV RNA with subsequent sequence determination. The results show that individual (sex) and population-level factors (abundance) of hosts were significant predictors of local TULV dynamics. At the large geographic scale, different phylogenetic TULV clades and an overall isolation-by-distance pattern in virus sequences were detected, while at the small scale (<4 km) this depended on the study area. In combination with an overall delayed density dependence, our results highlight that frequent, localized bottleneck events for the common vole and TULV do occur and can be offset by local recolonization dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabrina Schmidt
- Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut (FLI), Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany; (S.S.); (K.J.); (S.D.); (U.M.R.); (S.F.); (N.G.S.); (R.G.U.)
| | - Daniela Reil
- Animal Ecology, Institute of Biochemistry and Biology, University of Potsdam, 14469 Potsdam, Germany;
| | - Kathrin Jeske
- Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut (FLI), Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany; (S.S.); (K.J.); (S.D.); (U.M.R.); (S.F.); (N.G.S.); (R.G.U.)
| | - Stephan Drewes
- Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut (FLI), Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany; (S.S.); (K.J.); (S.D.); (U.M.R.); (S.F.); (N.G.S.); (R.G.U.)
| | - Ulrike M. Rosenfeld
- Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut (FLI), Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany; (S.S.); (K.J.); (S.D.); (U.M.R.); (S.F.); (N.G.S.); (R.G.U.)
| | - Stefan Fischer
- Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut (FLI), Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany; (S.S.); (K.J.); (S.D.); (U.M.R.); (S.F.); (N.G.S.); (R.G.U.)
| | - Nastasja G. Spierling
- Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut (FLI), Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany; (S.S.); (K.J.); (S.D.); (U.M.R.); (S.F.); (N.G.S.); (R.G.U.)
| | - Anton Labutin
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland; (A.L.); (G.H.)
| | - Gerald Heckel
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland; (A.L.); (G.H.)
| | - Jens Jacob
- Institute for Plant Protection in Horticulture and Forests, Julius Kühn-Institute (JKI), 48161 Münster, Germany;
| | - Rainer G. Ulrich
- Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut (FLI), Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany; (S.S.); (K.J.); (S.D.); (U.M.R.); (S.F.); (N.G.S.); (R.G.U.)
| | - Christian Imholt
- Institute for Plant Protection in Horticulture and Forests, Julius Kühn-Institute (JKI), 48161 Münster, Germany;
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19
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Diversity and dynamics of zoonotic pathogens within a local community of small mammals. Biologia (Bratisl) 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s11756-021-00797-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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20
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Žákovská A, Bártová E, Pittermannová P, Budíková M. Antibodies Related to Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, Coxiella burnetii, and Francisella tularensis Detected in Serum and Heart Rinses of Wild Small Mammals in the Czech Republic. Pathogens 2021; 10:pathogens10040419. [PMID: 33916002 PMCID: PMC8066200 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10040419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2021] [Revised: 03/26/2021] [Accepted: 03/27/2021] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Wild small mammals are the most common reservoirs of pathogenic microorganisms that can cause zoonotic diseases. The aim of the study was to detect antibodies related to Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, Coxiella burnetii, and Francisella tularensis in wild small mammals from the Czech Republic. In total, sera or heart rinses of 211 wild small mammals (168 Apodemus flavicollis, 28 Myodes glareolus, 9 A. sylvaticus, and 6 Sorex araneus) were examined by modified enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Antibodies related to B.burgdorferi s.l., C. burnetii, and F. tularensis were detected in 15%, 19%, and 20% of animals, respectively. The prevalence of B. burgdorferi and F. tularensis statistically differed in localities and F. tularensis also differed in sex. Antibodies against 2-3 pathogens were found in 17% of animals with a higher prevalence in M. glareolus. This study brings new data about the prevalence of the above-mentioned pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alena Žákovská
- Department of Comparative Animal Physiology and General Zoology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kamenice 753/5, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic;
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Education, Masaryk University, Kamenice 753/5, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Eva Bártová
- Department of Biology and Wildlife Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Hygiene and Ecology, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Palackého tř. 1946/1, 612 42 Brno, Czech Republic;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +420-541-562-633
| | - Pavlína Pittermannová
- Department of Biology and Wildlife Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Hygiene and Ecology, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Palackého tř. 1946/1, 612 42 Brno, Czech Republic;
| | - Marie Budíková
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlářská 2, 611 37 Brno, Czech Republic;
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21
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González-Barrio D, Jado I, Viñuela J, García JT, Olea PP, Arce F, Ruiz-Fons F. Investigating the Role of Micromammals in the Ecology of Coxiella burnetii in Spain. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:654. [PMID: 33801164 PMCID: PMC8000606 DOI: 10.3390/ani11030654] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2021] [Revised: 02/22/2021] [Accepted: 02/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Coxiella burnetii, the causal agent of human Q fever and animal Coxiellosis, is a zoonotic infectious bacterium with a complex ecology that results from its ability to replicate in multiple (in)vertebrate host species. Spain notifies the highest number of Q fever cases to the ECDC annually and wildlife plays a relevant role in C. burnetii ecology in the country. However, the whole picture of C. burnetii hosts is incomplete, so this study seeks to better understand the role of micromammals in C. burnetii ecology in the country. Spleen samples from 816 micromammals of 10 species and 130 vaginal swabs from Microtus arvalis were analysed by qPCR to detect C. burnetii infection and shedding, respectively. The 9.7% of the spleen samples were qPCR positive. The highest infection prevalence (10.8%) was found in Microtus arvalis, in which C. burnetii DNA was also detected in 1 of the 130 vaginal swabs (0.8%) analysed. Positive samples were also found in Apodemus sylvaticus (8.7%), Crocidura russula (7.7%) and Rattus rattus (6.4%). Positive samples were genotyped by coupling PCR with reverse line blotting and a genotype II+ strain was identified for the first time in one of the positive samples from M. arvalis, whereas only partial results could be obtained for the rest of the samples. Acute Q fever was diagnosed in one of the researchers that participated in the study, and it was presumably linked to M. arvalis handling. The results of the study are consistent with previous findings suggesting that micromammals can be infected by C. burnetii. Our findings additionally suggest that micromammals may be potential sources to trace back the origin of human Q fever and animal Coxiellosis cases in Europe.
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Affiliation(s)
- David González-Barrio
- Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos IREC (CSIC-UCLM-JCCM), Ronda de Toledo 12, 13071 Ciudad Real, Spain; (J.V.); (J.T.G.)
- Parasitology Reference and Research Laboratory, Spanish National Centre for Microbiology, Health Institute Carlos III, Ctra. Majadahonda-Pozuelo Km 2, Majadahonda, 28220 Madrid, Spain
- Viral Hepatitis Reference and Research Laboratory, Spanish National Centre for Microbiology, Health Institute Carlos III, Ctra. Majadahonda-Pozuelo Km 2, Majadahonda, 28220 Madrid, Spain
| | - Isabel Jado
- Special Pathogens Reference and Research Laboratory, Spanish National Centre for Microbiology, Health Institute Carlos III, Ctra. Majadahonda-Pozuelo Km 2, Majadahonda, 28220 Madrid, Spain;
| | - Javier Viñuela
- Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos IREC (CSIC-UCLM-JCCM), Ronda de Toledo 12, 13071 Ciudad Real, Spain; (J.V.); (J.T.G.)
| | - Jesús T. García
- Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos IREC (CSIC-UCLM-JCCM), Ronda de Toledo 12, 13071 Ciudad Real, Spain; (J.V.); (J.T.G.)
| | - Pedro P. Olea
- Departamento de Ecología, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM), 28049 Madrid, Spain;
- Centro de Investigación en Biodiversidad y Cambio Global (CIBC-UAM), Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, 28049 Madrid, Spain
| | - Fernando Arce
- School of Natural Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS 7004, Australia;
| | - Francisco Ruiz-Fons
- Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos IREC (CSIC-UCLM-JCCM), Ronda de Toledo 12, 13071 Ciudad Real, Spain; (J.V.); (J.T.G.)
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22
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Abstract
European orthohantaviruses (Puumala orthohantavirus (PUUV); Dobrava-Belgrade orthohantavirus (DOBV), genotype Kurkino; Tula orthohantavirus (TULV)), and Leptospira spp. are small mammal-associated zoonotic pathogens that cause diseases with potentially similar symptoms in humans. We investigated the frequency of Leptospira spp. and hantavirus single and double infections in small mammals from 22 sites in Thuringia, central Germany, during 2017. TULV infections were detected at 18 of 22 sites (mean prevalence 13.8%, 93/674). PUUV infections were detected at four of 22 sites (mean prevalence 1.5%, 7/471), and respective PUUV sequences formed a novel phylogenetic clade, but DOBV infections were not detected at all. Leptospira infections were detected at 21 of 22 sites with the highest overall prevalence in field voles (Microtus agrestis) with 54.5% (6/11) and common voles (Microtus arvalis) with 30.3% (205/676). Leptospira–hantavirus coinfections were found in 6.6% (44/671) of common voles but only in two of 395 bank voles. TULV and Leptospira coinfection probability in common voles was driven by individual (age) and population-level factors. Coinfections seemed to be particularly associated with sites where Leptospira spp. prevalence exceeded 35%. Future investigations should evaluate public health consequences of this strong spatial clustering of coinfections.
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23
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Jeske K, Herzig-Straschil B, Răileanu C, Kunec D, Tauchmann O, Emirhar D, Schmidt S, Trimpert J, Silaghi C, Heckel G, Ulrich RG, Drewes S. Zoonotic pathogen screening of striped field mice (Apodemus agrarius) from Austria. Transbound Emerg Dis 2021; 69:886-890. [PMID: 33534959 DOI: 10.1111/tbed.14015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2019] [Revised: 01/12/2021] [Accepted: 01/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
The striped field mouse (Apodemus agrarius) is known to carry several zoonotic pathogens, including Leptospira spp. and Dobrava-Belgrade orthohantavirus (DOBV). Since its first detection in 1996 in south-east Austria, the striped field mouse has further expanded its range in Austria. Here, we screened 35 striped field mice collected in an Austrian region near the Hungarian border for DOBV, Leptospira spp. and seven vector-borne pathogens. Hantavirus RT-PCR screening and DOBV IgG ELISA analysis led to the detection of two DOBV-positive striped field mice. The complete coding sequences of all three genome segments of both strains were determined by a combination of target enrichment and next-generation sequencing. Both complete coding S segment sequences clustered within the DOBV genotype Kurkino clade with the highest similarity to a sequence from Hungary. In one of 35 striped field mice, Leptospira borgpetersenii sequence type (ST) 146 was detected. Bartonella spp., Borrelia miyamotoi and Neoehrlichia mikurensis DNA was detected in four, one and two of 32 mice, respectively. Babesia, Anaplasma, Ehrlichia and Rickettsia specific DNA was not detected. Future investigations will have to determine the prevalence and invasion of these pathogens with the ongoing range expansion of the striped field mouse in Austria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathrin Jeske
- Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany.,Institute of Diagnostic Virology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | | | - Cristian Răileanu
- Institute of Infectology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Dusan Kunec
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Institute of Virology, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Oliver Tauchmann
- Institute of Infectology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Duygu Emirhar
- Department for Biological Safety, German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Berlin, Germany
| | - Sabrina Schmidt
- Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany.,German Society of Tissue Transplantation, Essen, Germany
| | - Jakob Trimpert
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Institute of Virology, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Cornelia Silaghi
- Institute of Infectology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Gerald Heckel
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.,Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Rainer G Ulrich
- Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Stephan Drewes
- Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
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24
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Yin PW, Guo XG, Jin DC, Fan R, Zhao CF, Zhang ZW, Huang XB, Mao KY. Distribution and Host Selection of Tropical Rat Mite, Ornithonyssus bacoti, in Yunnan Province of Southwest China. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:ani11010110. [PMID: 33430422 PMCID: PMC7826691 DOI: 10.3390/ani11010110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2020] [Revised: 12/24/2020] [Accepted: 12/30/2020] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary The tropical rat mite (Ornithonyssus bacoti) is a transmission vector of rickettsia pox and a potential vector of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS). This article reports the distribution and host selection of O. bacoti in Yunnan Province of Southwest China. The original data came from the investigations in 39 counties of Yunnan. The prevalence (PM), mean abundance (MA) and mean intensity (MI) were calculated to reflect the infestations of the dominant rat hosts with O. bacoti mites. The patchiness index and Taylor’s power law were used to measure the spatial distribution of the mites. A total of 4121 O. bacoti mites were identified from 15 species of small mammal hosts in 27 of the 39 investigated counties, and 99.20% of them (4088/4121) were found on rodents. The majority of total O. bacoti mites was found in the flatland landscape (91.28%) and indoor habitat (73.48%). Moreover, 51.78% and 40.09% of O. bacoti mites were identified from Rattus tanezumi and R. norvegicus, the two synanthropic rat species. The mites had some host-specificity, with a preference to two dominant hosts (R. tanezumi and R. norvegicus), and they were of aggregated distribution on R. tanezumi. Abstract (1) Background: As a species of gamasid mite, the tropical rat mite (Ornithonyssus bacoti) is a common ectoparasite on rodents and some other small mammals. Besides stinging humans to cause dermatitis, O. bacoti can be a vector of rickettsia pox and a potential vector of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS). (2) Objective: The present study was conducted to understand the host selection of O. bacoti on different animal hosts and the distribution in different environmental gradients in Yunnan Province of Southwest China. (3) Methods: The original data came from the investigations in 39 counties of Yunnan, between 1990 and 2015. The animal hosts, rodents and some other small mammals were mainly trapped with mouse traps. The O. bacoti mites on the body surface of animal hosts were collected and identified in a conventional way. The constituent ratio (Cr), prevalence (PM), mean abundance (MA) and mean intensity (MI) were used to reflect infestations of animal hosts with O. bacoti mites. The patchiness index and Taylor’s power law were used to measure the spatial distribution pattern of O. bacoti mites on their hosts. (4) Results: A total of 4121 tropical rat mites (O. bacoti) were identified from 15 species and 14,739 individuals of hosts, and 99.20% of them were found on rodents. More than half of O. bacoti mites (51.78%) were identified from the Asian house rat (Rattus tanezumi), and 40.09% of the mites from the Norway rat (R. norvegicus) (p < 0.05). The infestations of R. tanezumi (PM = 7.61%, MA = 0.40 and MI = 5.31) and R. norvegicus (PM = 10.98, MA = 1.14 and MI = 10.39) with O. bacoti mites were significantly higher than those of other host species (p < 0.05). The infestations of two dominant rat hosts (R. tanezumi and R. norvegicus) with O. bacoti mites varied in different environmental gradients (latitudes, longitudes, altitudes, landscapes and habitats) and on different sexes and ages of the hosts. The prevalence of juvenile R. norvegicus rats with O. bacoti mites (PM = 12.90%) was significantly higher than that of adult rats (PM = 9.62%) (p < 0.05). The prevalence (PM = 38.46%) and mean abundance (MA = 2.28 mites/host) of R. tanezumi rats with O. bacoti mites in the high latitude were higher than those in the low latitudes (p < 0.05). The majority of the total collected 4121 O. bacoti mites was found in the flatland landscape (91.28%) and indoor habitat (73.48%) (p < 0.05). The PM (10.66%) and MA (0.49 mites/host) of R. tanezumi rats with O. bacoti mites were significantly higher in the indoor habitat than in the outdoor habitat (p < 0.05). The tropical rat mites showed an aggregated distribution pattern on their first dominant host, R. tanezumi. Conclusion: The tropical rat mite (O. bacoti) is a widely distributed species of gamasid mite in Yunnan Province, Southwest China, and its dominant hosts are two synanthropic species of rats, R. tanezumi and R. norvegicus. It is mainly distributed in the flatland landscape and indoor habitat. It has some host-specificity, with a preference to rodents, especially R. tanezumi and R. norvegicus. The O. bacoti mites are of aggregated distribution on R. tanezumi rats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng-Wu Yin
- Institute of Entomology, Guizhou University, and the Provincial Key Laboratory for Agricultural Pest Management in Mountainous Region, Guiyang 550025, China; (P.-W.Y.); (D.-C.J.)
- Vector Laboratory, Institute of Pathogens and Vectors, Yunnan Provincial Key Laboratory for Zoonosis Control and Prevention, Dali University, Dali 671000, China; (R.F.); (C.-F.Z.); (Z.-W.Z.); (X.-B.H.); (K.-Y.M.)
| | - Xian-Guo Guo
- Institute of Entomology, Guizhou University, and the Provincial Key Laboratory for Agricultural Pest Management in Mountainous Region, Guiyang 550025, China; (P.-W.Y.); (D.-C.J.)
- Vector Laboratory, Institute of Pathogens and Vectors, Yunnan Provincial Key Laboratory for Zoonosis Control and Prevention, Dali University, Dali 671000, China; (R.F.); (C.-F.Z.); (Z.-W.Z.); (X.-B.H.); (K.-Y.M.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +86-872-2257-104
| | - Dao-Chao Jin
- Institute of Entomology, Guizhou University, and the Provincial Key Laboratory for Agricultural Pest Management in Mountainous Region, Guiyang 550025, China; (P.-W.Y.); (D.-C.J.)
| | - Rong Fan
- Vector Laboratory, Institute of Pathogens and Vectors, Yunnan Provincial Key Laboratory for Zoonosis Control and Prevention, Dali University, Dali 671000, China; (R.F.); (C.-F.Z.); (Z.-W.Z.); (X.-B.H.); (K.-Y.M.)
| | - Cheng-Fu Zhao
- Vector Laboratory, Institute of Pathogens and Vectors, Yunnan Provincial Key Laboratory for Zoonosis Control and Prevention, Dali University, Dali 671000, China; (R.F.); (C.-F.Z.); (Z.-W.Z.); (X.-B.H.); (K.-Y.M.)
| | - Zhi-Wei Zhang
- Vector Laboratory, Institute of Pathogens and Vectors, Yunnan Provincial Key Laboratory for Zoonosis Control and Prevention, Dali University, Dali 671000, China; (R.F.); (C.-F.Z.); (Z.-W.Z.); (X.-B.H.); (K.-Y.M.)
| | - Xiao-Bin Huang
- Vector Laboratory, Institute of Pathogens and Vectors, Yunnan Provincial Key Laboratory for Zoonosis Control and Prevention, Dali University, Dali 671000, China; (R.F.); (C.-F.Z.); (Z.-W.Z.); (X.-B.H.); (K.-Y.M.)
| | - Ke-Yu Mao
- Vector Laboratory, Institute of Pathogens and Vectors, Yunnan Provincial Key Laboratory for Zoonosis Control and Prevention, Dali University, Dali 671000, China; (R.F.); (C.-F.Z.); (Z.-W.Z.); (X.-B.H.); (K.-Y.M.)
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25
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Su Q, Chen Y, Wang B, Huang C, Han S, Yuan G, Zhang Q, He H. Epidemiology and genetic diversity of zoonotic pathogens in urban rats (Rattus spp.) from a subtropical city, Guangzhou, southern China. Zoonoses Public Health 2020; 67:534-545. [PMID: 32452163 DOI: 10.1111/zph.12717] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2020] [Revised: 04/13/2020] [Accepted: 04/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Commensal rats (Rattus spp.), which are globally distributed, harbour many pathogens responsible for significant human diseases. Despite this, we have a poor understanding of the epidemiology and genetic diversity of some recently neglected zoonotic pathogens, such as Leptospira spp., Bartonella spp. and hepatitis E virus (HEV), which constitute a major public health threat. Thus, we surveyed the occurrences, co-infection and genetic diversity of these pathogens in 129 urban rats from China. For Rattus tanezumi, the prevalences of Leptospira spp., Bartonella spp. and HEV infection were 6.67%, 0% and 46.67%, respectively. The prevalences of Leptospira spp., Bartonella spp. and HEV infection were 57.89%, 9.65% and 57.89% for Rattus norvegicus respectively. Leptospira spp. and HEV infections were more likely to occur in mature R. norvegicus. Phylogenetic analyses showed that pathogenic Leptospira interrogans and Leptospira borgpetersenii might exist. We also found that Bartonella spp. showed high similarity to Bartonella elizabethae, Bartonella rochalimae and Bartonella tribocorum, which are implicated in human disease. Dual and triple infections were both detected. Moreover, dual infections with Leptospira spp. and HEV represented the most frequent co-infection, and there was a significantly positive association between them. High genetic diversity was observed in genes segments from Leptospira, Bartonella and HEV. Our results first discover the occurrence of multiple co-infections and genetic diversity of Leptospira, Bartonella and HEV in commensal rats from China. Altogether, the present study provides an insight into evaluating the risk of rat-borne zoonoses in urban China.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qianqian Su
- National Research Center for Wildlife-Borne Diseases, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yi Chen
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Bo Wang
- National Research Center for Wildlife-Borne Diseases, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Chengmei Huang
- National Research Center for Wildlife-Borne Diseases, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Shuyi Han
- National Research Center for Wildlife-Borne Diseases, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Guohui Yuan
- National Research Center for Wildlife-Borne Diseases, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Qingxun Zhang
- National Research Center for Wildlife-Borne Diseases, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Hongxuan He
- National Research Center for Wildlife-Borne Diseases, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
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26
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Krügel M, Pfeffer M, Król N, Imholt C, Baert K, Ulrich RG, Obiegala A. Rats as potential reservoirs for neglected zoonotic Bartonella species in Flanders, Belgium. Parasit Vectors 2020; 13:235. [PMID: 32381113 PMCID: PMC7206682 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-020-04098-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2019] [Accepted: 04/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Bartonella spp. are vector-borne pathogens transmitted to humans via blood-sucking arthropods. Rodents such as the black rat (Rattus rattus) and Norway rat (R. norvegicus) are thought to be the main reservoirs. An infection with rodent-associated Bartonella spp. may cause severe symptoms in humans such as endocarditis and neuroretinitis. The current knowledge of Bartonella prevalence in rats from western Europe is scarce. METHODS Rats and a few other rodent by-catches were trapped in the context of a rodenticide resistance study at different sites in Flanders, Belgium. During dissection, biometric data were collected, and spleen tissues were taken. DNA was extracted from spleen samples and tested for Bartonella spp. by conventional generic polymerase chain reaction (PCR). To determine the Bartonella species, a selected number of amplicons were sequenced and compared with GenBank entries. RESULTS In total, 1123 rodents were trapped. The predominate species was R. norvegicus (99.64%). Other rodents trapped included: two water voles (Arvicola amphibius, 0.18%); one colour rat (R. norvegicus forma domestica, 0.09%); and one muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus, 0.09%). PCR analysis of 1097 rodents resulted in 410 (37.37%, 95% CI: 34.50-40.31%) Bartonella spp. DNA-positive samples. Bartonella tribocorum (94.68%, 95% CI: 88.02-98.25%) was the most frequently detected Bartonella species, followed by B. grahamii (3.19%, 95% CI: 0.66-9.04%) and B. doshiae (1.06%, 95% CI: 0.03-5.79%). An uncultured Bartonella species occurred in one water vole (1.06%, 95% CI: 0.03-5.79%). There was a significantly higher Bartonella prevalence in older rats compared to juveniles and a significant difference in Bartonella prevalence concerning the localisation of trapping sites. In contrast, there was no statistically significant difference in Bartonella prevalence regarding sex, degree of urbanisation and season. CONCLUSIONS Based on the high prevalence found, we conclude that the Norway rat seems to be a key reservoir host for zoonotic B. tribocorum in Belgium.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Krügel
- Institute of Animal Hygiene and Veterinary Public Health, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Martin Pfeffer
- Institute of Animal Hygiene and Veterinary Public Health, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Nina Król
- Institute of Animal Hygiene and Veterinary Public Health, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Christian Imholt
- Julius Kühn-Institute, Federal Research Institute for Cultivated Plants, Institute for Plant Protection in Horticulture and Forests, Vertebrate Research, Münster, Belgium
| | - Kristof Baert
- Research Institute for Nature and Forest, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Rainer G. Ulrich
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Hamburg-Lübeck-Borstel-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Anna Obiegala
- Institute of Animal Hygiene and Veterinary Public Health, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
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Search for polyoma-, herpes-, and bornaviruses in squirrels of the family Sciuridae. Virol J 2020; 17:42. [PMID: 32220234 PMCID: PMC7099801 DOI: 10.1186/s12985-020-01310-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2020] [Accepted: 02/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Squirrels (family Sciuridae) are globally distributed members of the order Rodentia with wildlife occurrence in indigenous and non-indigenous regions (as invasive species) and frequent presence in zoological gardens and other holdings. Multiple species introductions, strong inter-species competition as well as the recent discovery of a novel zoonotic bornavirus resulted in increased research interest on squirrel pathogens. Therefore we aimed to test a variety of squirrel species for representatives of three virus families. METHODS Several species of the squirrel subfamilies Sciurinae, Callosciurinae and Xerinae were tested for the presence of polyomaviruses (PyVs; family Polyomaviridae) and herpesviruses (HVs; family Herpesviridae), using generic nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with specificity for the PyV VP1 gene and the HV DNA polymerase (DPOL) gene, respectively. Selected animals were tested for the presence of bornaviruses (family Bornaviridae), using both a broad-range orthobornavirus- and a variegated squirrel bornavirus 1 (VSBV-1)-specific reverse transcription-quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR). RESULTS In addition to previously detected bornavirus RNA-positive squirrels no more animals tested positive in this study, but four novel PyVs, four novel betaherpesviruses (BHVs) and six novel gammaherpesviruses (GHVs) were identified. For three PyVs, complete genomes could be amplified with long-distance PCR (LD-PCR). Splice sites of the PyV genomes were predicted in silico for large T antigen, small T antigen, and VP2 coding sequences, and experimentally confirmed in Vero and NIH/3T3 cells. Attempts to extend the HV DPOL sequences in upstream direction resulted in contiguous sequences of around 3.3 kilobase pairs for one BHV and two GHVs. Phylogenetic analysis allocated the novel squirrel PyVs to the genera Alpha- and Betapolyomavirus, the BHVs to the genus Muromegalovirus, and the GHVs to the genera Rhadinovirus and Macavirus. CONCLUSIONS This is the first report on molecular identification and sequence characterization of PyVs and HVs and the detection of bornavirus coinfections with PyVs or HVs in two squirrel species. Multiple detection of PyVs and HVs in certain squirrel species exclusively indicate their potential host association to a single squirrel species. The novel PyVs and HVs might serve for a better understanding of virus evolution in invading host species in the future.
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Bártová E, Kučerová HL, Žákovská A, Budíková M, Nejezchlebová H. Coxiella burnetii and Francisella tularensis in wild small mammals from the Czech Republic. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2020; 11:101350. [PMID: 31848075 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2019.101350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2019] [Revised: 11/08/2019] [Accepted: 11/28/2019] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Wild rodents are an important source of the tick-borne pathogens Coxiella burnetii and Francisella tularensis. The aim of our study was to assess the prevalence of antibodies and possible coexistence of these pathogens in wild small mammals from three localities in the Czech Republic. A total of 614 wild small mammals (324 Apodemus flavicollis, 145 Myodes glareolus, 50 Sorex araneus, 48 A. sylvaticus, 40 A. agrarius, six Microtus arvalis and one Talpa europaea) were trapped between 2012 and 2015. Their sera or heart extracts were examined by modified indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, with the detection of antibodies against C. burnetii and F. tularensis in 12 % and 7 % of animals, respectively; coinfection was identified in 4.4 % of animals. The prevalence of C. burnetii and F. tularensis antibodies statistically differed according to animal species and sex (p < 0.05); the seroprevalence of C. burnetii (p < 0.05) also differed in the sampling period. The highest prevalence of antibodies against C. burnetii and F. tularensis was detected in the case of M. glareolus (24 % and 14 %, respectively).
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva Bártová
- University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Hygiene and Ecology, Department of Biology and Wildlife Diseases, Palackého tř. 1946/1, Brno, 612 42, Czech Republic.
| | - Hana Lya Kučerová
- Masaryk University, Faculty of Science, Department of Comparative Animal Physiology and General Zoology, Kamenice 753/5, Brno, 625 00, Czech Republic
| | - Alena Žákovská
- Masaryk University, Faculty of Science, Department of Comparative Animal Physiology and General Zoology, Kamenice 753/5, Brno, 625 00, Czech Republic; Masaryk University, Faculty of Education, Department of Biology, Kamenice 753/5, Brno, 625 00, Czech Republic
| | - Marie Budíková
- Masaryk University, Faculty of Science, Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Kotlářská 2, Brno, 611 37, Czech Republic
| | - Helena Nejezchlebová
- Masaryk University, Faculty of Science, Department of Comparative Animal Physiology and General Zoology, Kamenice 753/5, Brno, 625 00, Czech Republic
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Trimmel NE, Walzer C. Infectious Wildlife Diseases in Austria-A Literature Review From 1980 Until 2017. Front Vet Sci 2020; 7:3. [PMID: 32154271 PMCID: PMC7046627 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2020.00003] [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: 08/26/2019] [Accepted: 01/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
This literature review examines infectious wildlife disease research in Austria. We analyzed 226 research papers, published between 1980 and 2017. We determined that wildlife disease papers increased significantly from 0.8 ± 0.8 publications per year in the first decade (1980–1989) when compared to 2008–2017 with an average of 12.9 ± 4.1 publications per year. We illustrate information about the most investigated diseases and highlight the lack of research into certain wildlife pathogens. A special emphasis was given to diseases with zoonotic potential. The review showed that research focused on a few select species like the red fox (Vulpes vulpes), red deer (Cervus elaphus), and wild boar (Sus scrofa), all game species. Moreover, diseases affecting livestock and human health were seen more often. The review also found that only a low number of publications actually stated disease prevalence and confidence interval data. The reported diseases identified were classified according to their notifiable status and the distribution at the wildlife–human and wildlife–livestock interface. Furthermore, we try to argue why research into some diseases is prioritized, and why other diseases are underrepresented in current Austrian research. While spatiotemporal indicators could not be assessed due to the variability in methodologies and objectives of various studies, the information provided by this review offers the first comprehensive evaluation of the status of infectious wildlife disease research in Austria. Therefore, this study could assist investigators to identify further areas of priorities for research and conservation efforts and for wildlife management professionals to inform policy and funding strategies. With this review, we want to encourage research in the field of wildlife diseases in Austria to enhance current knowledge in the prevention of further loss in biodiversity and to find new measures to promote “One Health” on a global scale.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nina Eva Trimmel
- Department of Integrative Biology and Evolution, Research Institute of Wildlife Ecology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Chris Walzer
- Department of Integrative Biology and Evolution, Research Institute of Wildlife Ecology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria.,Wildlife Conservation Society, Bronx, NY, United States
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Prpić J, Keros T, Vucelja M, Bjedov L, Đaković Rode O, Margaletić J, Habrun B, Jemeršić L. First evidence of hepatitis E virus infection in a small mammal (yellow-necked mouse) from Croatia. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0225583. [PMID: 31751424 PMCID: PMC6874066 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0225583] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2019] [Accepted: 11/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Since the role of wild rodents/small mammals in hepatitis E virus (HEV) epidemiology has been a subject of considerable debate, this study was conducted to investigate the potential presence of HEV RNA in small rodents collected within their natural habitats and to detect if they can be potential reservoirs of the virus. A total of 483 small rodents were captured using snap traps placed at 11 regions in Croatia. Sampling was undertaken in 2008 and repeated from 2010 to 2014. Liver samples were tested for the presence of HEV RNA. HEV RNA was detected in only one liver sample (0.21%) originated from Apodemus flavicollis from the location Medvednica, nearby Zagreb collected in 2014. According to the sequence analysis, the isolate has shown to be a member of Orthohepevirus A species, genotype HEV-3. The genotyping results confirmed grouping into subtype 3a, general cluster 3abchij.The detected HEV strain showed to be genetically highly related to strains found in humans and/or domestic pigs and wild boars from Croatia. Our finding indicates that wild small mammals could play a role in the epidemiology of HEV-3 infection and therefore should be taken under consideration as potential reservoirs or/and transmitters of the disease. However, further investigation is needed to recognize their potential for maintaining the infection in natural conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jelena Prpić
- Croatian Veterinary Institute, Zagreb, Croatia
- * E-mail: ,
| | | | - Marko Vucelja
- Forestry Faculty University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Linda Bjedov
- Forestry Faculty University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Oktavija Đaković Rode
- University Hospital for Infectious Diseases “Dr. Fran Mihaljević”, Zagreb, Croatia
- University of Zagreb School of Dental Medicine, Zagreb, Croatia
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Waindok P, Özbakış-Beceriklisoy G, Janecek-Erfurth E, Springer A, Pfeffer M, Leschnik M, Strube C. Parasites in brains of wild rodents (Arvicolinae and Murinae) in the city of Leipzig, Germany. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR PARASITOLOGY-PARASITES AND WILDLIFE 2019; 10:211-217. [PMID: 31667084 PMCID: PMC6812005 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2019.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2019] [Revised: 09/16/2019] [Accepted: 09/17/2019] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Small rodents serve as intermediate or paratenic hosts for a variety of parasites and may participate in the transmission of these parasites into synanthropic cycles. Parasites with neuroinvasive stages, such as Toxoplasma gondii or Toxocara canis, can cause detrimental damage in the brain of intermediate or paratenic hosts. Therefore, the occurrence of neuroinvasive parasite stages was evaluated in brains of wild rodents captured in the city of Leipzig, Germany. In addition, a few specimens from the cities of Hanover, Germany, and Vienna, Austria were included, resulting in a total of 716 rodents collected between 2011 and 2016. Brains were investigated for parasitic stages by microscopic examination of native tissue, artificially digested tissue as well as Giemsa-stained digestion solution to verify positive results. Infective stages of zoonotic ascarids or other helminths were not detected in any sample, while coccidian cysts were found in 10.1% (95% CI: 7.9–12.5%; 72/716) of examined brains. The most abundant rodent species in the study was the bank vole (Myodes glareolus; Arvicolinae), showing an infection rate with cerebral cysts of 13.9% (95% CI: 11.0–17.8%; 62/445), while 2.7% (95% CI: 1.0–5.8%; 6/222) of yellow-necked mice (Apodemus flavicollis; Murinae) were infected. Generalized linear modelling revealed a statistically significant difference in prevalence between M. glareolus and A. flavicollis, significant local differences as well as an effect of increasing body mass on cyst prevalence. Coccidian cysts were differentiated by amplification of the 18S rRNA gene and subsequent sequencing. The majority of identifiable cysts (97.9%) were determined as Frenkelia glareoli, a coccidian species mainly circulating between M. glareolus as intermediate and buzzards (Buteo spp.) as definitive hosts. The zoonotic pathogen Toxoplasma gondii was confirmed in one M. glareolus originating from the city of Leipzig. Overall, it can be concluded that neuroinvasion of zoonotic parasites seems to be rare in M. glareolus and A. flavicollis. In examined rodents, neuroinvasion of zoonotic parasites seems to be rare. The coccidia Frenkelia glareoli was the most abundant neuroinvasive parasite. The zoonotic pathogen Toxoplasma gondii was identified in one Myodes glareolus brain. No neuroinvasive zoonotic helminth stages were detected in the rodents’ brains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick Waindok
- Institute for Parasitology, Centre for Infection Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hanover, Germany
| | | | - Elisabeth Janecek-Erfurth
- Institute for Parasitology, Centre for Infection Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hanover, Germany.,Institute for Experimental Infection Research, TWINCORE, Centre for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research, Hanover Medical School and the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Hanover, Germany
| | - Andrea Springer
- Institute for Parasitology, Centre for Infection Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hanover, Germany
| | - Martin Pfeffer
- Institute of Animal Hygiene and Veterinary Public Health, University of Leipzig, An den Tierkliniken 1, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Michael Leschnik
- Clinical Unit of Internal Medicine Small Animals, Veterinary University Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Christina Strube
- Institute for Parasitology, Centre for Infection Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hanover, Germany
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Obiegala A, Jeske K, Augustin M, Król N, Fischer S, Mertens-Scholz K, Imholt C, Suchomel J, Heroldova M, Tomaso H, Ulrich RG, Pfeffer M. Highly prevalent bartonellae and other vector-borne pathogens in small mammal species from the Czech Republic and Germany. Parasit Vectors 2019; 12:332. [PMID: 31269975 PMCID: PMC6610854 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-019-3576-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2019] [Accepted: 06/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Rodents are important reservoirs for zoonotic vector-borne agents. Thus, the distribution of rodents and their vicinity to humans and companion animals may have an important impact on human and animal health. However, the reservoir potential of some rodent genera, e.g. Microtus, has not yet been precisely examined concerning tick-borne pathogens in Central Europe. Therefore, we examined small mammals from Germany and the Czech Republic for the following vector-borne pathogens: Babesia spp., Bartonella spp., Anaplasma phagocytophilum, “Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis” (CNM) and Coxiella burnetii. Spleen DNA from 321 small mammals belonging to four genera, Myodes (n = 78), Apodemus (n = 56), Microtus (n = 149), Sorex (n = 38), collected during 2014 in Germany and the Czech Republic were available for this study. DNA samples were examined for the presence of Babesia and Bartonella DNA by conventional PCR targeting the 18S rRNA gene and the 16S–23S rRNA intergenic spacer region, respectively. For the detection of CNM, A. phagocytophilum and C. burnetii real-time PCR assays were performed. Results Bartonella spp. DNA was detected in 216 specimens (67.3%) with 102/174 (58.6%) positive in Germany and 114/147 (77.6%) in the Czech Republic. The prevalence in each genus was 44.9% for Myodes, 63.2% for Sorex, 77.2% for Microtus and 75% for Apodemus. Four Bartonella species, i.e. Bartonella sp. N40, B. grahamii, B. taylorii and B. doshiae, as well as uncultured bartonellae, were detected. The Bartonella species diversity was higher in rodents than in shrews. In total, 27/321 (8.4%) small mammals were positive for CNM and 3/321 (0.9%) for A. phagocytophilum (S. coronatus and M. glareolus). All samples were negative for Babesia spp. and Coxiella spp. Conclusions While the detected high prevalence for Bartonella in Apodemus and Myodes spp. is confirmatory with previous findings, the prevalence in Microtus spp. was unexpectedly high. This indicates that individuals belonging to this genus may be regarded as potential reservoirs. Interestingly, only Sorex spp. and M. glareolus were positive for A. phagocytophilum in the present study, suggesting a possible importance of the latter for the maintenance of certain A. phagocytophilum strains in nature. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13071-019-3576-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Obiegala
- Institute of Animal Hygiene and Veterinary Public Health, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.
| | - Kathrin Jeske
- Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Marie Augustin
- Institute of Animal Hygiene and Veterinary Public Health, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Nina Król
- Institute of Animal Hygiene and Veterinary Public Health, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Stefan Fischer
- Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Katja Mertens-Scholz
- Institute of Bacterial Infections and Zoonoses (IBIZ), Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Jena, Germany
| | - Christian Imholt
- Julius Kühn-Institute, Federal Research Institute for Cultivated Plants, Institute for Plant Protection in Horticulture and Forests, Vertebrate Research, Münster, Germany
| | - Josef Suchomel
- Faculty of AgriSciences, Department of Zoology, Fisheries, Hydrobiology and Apiculture, Mendel University in Brno, Zemědělská 1, 613 00, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Marta Heroldova
- Department of Forest Ecology, Mendel University in Brno, Zemědělská 3, 613 00, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Herbert Tomaso
- Institute of Bacterial Infections and Zoonoses (IBIZ), Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Jena, Germany
| | - Rainer G Ulrich
- Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Martin Pfeffer
- Institute of Animal Hygiene and Veterinary Public Health, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
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Obiegala A, Heuser E, Ryll R, Imholt C, Fürst J, Prautsch LM, Plenge-Bönig A, Ulrich RG, Pfeffer M. Norway and black rats in Europe: potential reservoirs for zoonotic arthropod-borne pathogens? PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE 2019; 75:1556-1563. [PMID: 30624020 DOI: 10.1002/ps.5323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2018] [Revised: 12/20/2018] [Accepted: 01/09/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Norway rats (Rattus norvegicus) and black rats (R. rattus) are known to be cosmopolitan reservoirs for zoonotic agents. Nevertheless, little is known about prevalence and distribution of arthropod-borne pathogens in rats from Europe. Therefore, this survey focused on the detection of arthropod-borne pathogens. Spleen-derived DNA samples were available from 528 Norway rats and 74 black rats collected in several European countries. Further, these samples were processed by polymerase chain reaction for the detection of zoonotic pathogens such as Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis (CNM), Babesia spp. and Bartonella spp. eventually followed by sequencing. RESULTS Babesia spp. was not detected. Four Norway rat samples were positive for A. phagocytophilum DNA and two for CNM. In 50 rat samples, Bartonella spp. DNA was detected (8.1%; 95% Confidence interval (CI) 6.2-10.61). Whereas B. tribocorum (n = 45) and B. grahamii (n = 1) were carried exclusively in Norway rats from Central Europe (Belgium, Germany), B. coopersplainsensis (n = 4) was detected only in black rats from southern European countries (Spain, Italy). CONCLUSIONS Pathogenic Bartonella spp. DNA was found in black and Norway rats from Germany, Italy, Spain and Belgium for the first time. Bartonellae were found focally in zoos suggesting Norway rats as a possible reservoir for B. tribocorum and black rats as a reservoir for B. coopersplainsensis in Europe. These findings should raise awareness of pathogenic Bartonella spp. in Norway rats, especially in terms of pest management control in zoos. Norway and black rats seem not to be predominantly involved in the life cycle of the other examined arthropod-borne pathogens in Europe. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Obiegala
- Institute of Animal Hygiene and Veterinary Public Health, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Elisa Heuser
- Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Greifswald-Insel, Riems, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Hamburg-Luebeck-Borstel-Insel Riems, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - René Ryll
- Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Greifswald-Insel, Riems, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Hamburg-Luebeck-Borstel-Insel Riems, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Christian Imholt
- Julius Kühn-Institute, Federal Research Institute for Cultivated Plants, Institute for Plant Protection in Horticulture and Forests, Vertebrate Research, Münster, Germany
| | - Johanna Fürst
- Institute of Animal Hygiene and Veterinary Public Health, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Lisa-Marie Prautsch
- Institute of Animal Hygiene and Veterinary Public Health, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Anita Plenge-Bönig
- Department Hygiene and Infection Medicine, Institute of Hygiene and Environment, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Rainer G Ulrich
- Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Greifswald-Insel, Riems, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Hamburg-Luebeck-Borstel-Insel Riems, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Martin Pfeffer
- Institute of Animal Hygiene and Veterinary Public Health, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
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Vieira AS, Di Azevedo MIN, D'Andrea PS, do Val Vilela R, Lilenbaum W. Neotropical wild rodents Akodon and Oligoryzomys (Cricetidae: Sigmodontinae) as important carriers of pathogenic renal Leptospira in the Atlantic forest, in Brazil. Res Vet Sci 2019; 124:280-283. [PMID: 31004919 DOI: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2019.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2018] [Revised: 03/20/2019] [Accepted: 04/07/2019] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Leptospirosis is an important worldwide zoonosis, caused by a bacterium of the genus Leptospira. For a better understanding of the disease, it is relevant the application of the one health concept. The Atlantic Forest is considered a biodiversity hotspot, with a great endemism of species and despite its importance and proximity to urban areas, the potential role of its fauna as carriers of infectious agents is still poorly understood. Although it is well-known that rats and mice are key reservoirs of leptospires, particularly Rattus norvegicus, wild rodents have also been revealed as reservoirs of leptospiral strains. Thus, the purpose of this study was to investigate the role of the sigmodontine rodents from genera Akodon and Oligoryzomys as pathogenic Leptospira carriers in the Atlantic Forest. We studied 52 Akodon spp. and 15 Oligoryzomys spp. from three areas. Overall 30% were PCR-positive for pathogenic Leptospira, 27% (14/52) Akodon spp. and 40% (6/15) Oligoryzomys spp. DNA sequencing of LipL32 gene confirmed nine species as pathogenic Leptospira. This remarkable incidence of leptospiral carriage within wild genera emphasizes the role of these rodents as carriers of leptospires throughout in this environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anahi S Vieira
- Fluminense Federal University, Laboratory of Veterinary Bacteriology, Biomedical Institute, 101 Prof. Hernani Mello Street, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Maria Isabel N Di Azevedo
- Fluminense Federal University, Laboratory of Veterinary Bacteriology, Biomedical Institute, 101 Prof. Hernani Mello Street, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Paulo Sérgio D'Andrea
- Laboratório de Biologia e Parasitologia de Mamíferos Silvestres Reservatórios, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Av. Brasil 4365, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 21040-360, Brazil
| | - Roberto do Val Vilela
- Laboratório de Biologia e Parasitologia de Mamíferos Silvestres Reservatórios, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Av. Brasil 4365, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 21040-360, Brazil
| | - Walter Lilenbaum
- Fluminense Federal University, Laboratory of Veterinary Bacteriology, Biomedical Institute, 101 Prof. Hernani Mello Street, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
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Galfsky D, Król N, Pfeffer M, Obiegala A. Long-term trends of tick-borne pathogens in regard to small mammal and tick populations from Saxony, Germany. Parasit Vectors 2019; 12:131. [PMID: 30909955 PMCID: PMC6434846 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-019-3382-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2018] [Accepted: 03/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Rodents are important in the life-cycle of ticks as hosts for immature developmental stages. Both rodents and ticks are of public health interest as they are reservoirs and vectors for different tick-borne pathogens (TBP). The aim of this study was to reassess the prevalence of TBP in previously studied areas of the city of Leipzig (Saxony, Germany). METHODS In the years 2015-2017 rodents and ticks were collected in parks and forest areas in Saxony. DNA was extracted from the rodents, attached and questing ticks. Samples were screened for the presence of Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Babesia spp., Borrelia burgdorferi (s.l.), "Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis" (CNM), Bartonella spp., Hepatozoon spp. and Rickettsia spp. using PCR methods. Rodent, attached nymph and questing tick (nymph and adult) samples were tested individually, while attached larvae were further processed in pools. RESULTS A total of 165 rodents (Apodemus agrarius, n = 1; A. flavicollis, n = 59; Arvicola terrestris, n = 1; Myodes glareolus, n = 104), 1256 attached ticks (Ixodes ricinus, n = 1164; Dermacentor reticulatus, n = 92) and 577 questing ticks (I. ricinus, n = 547; D. reticulatus, n = 30) were collected. The prevalence levels in rodents were 78.2% for Bartonella spp., 58.2% for CNM, 49.1% for B. burgdorferi (s.l.) 29.1% for Rickettsia spp. and 24.2% for Hepatozoon spp. The minimal infection rates (MIR) in attached larvae ticks were 39.8% for Rickettsia spp., 32.7% for Bartonella spp., 7.1% for CNM and 8.8% for B. burgdorferi (s.l.) and the prevalence rates in attached nymphs were 33.7% for Bartonella spp., 52.9% for Rickettsia spp., 13.5% for CNM and 11.3% for B. burgdorferi (s.l.) Both rodents and attached ticks were negative for Babesia spp. The prevalence in questing ticks was 18.2% for Rickettsia spp., 7.3% for CNM, 6.4% for B. burgdorferi (s.l.) and 1.4% for Babesia spp. All tested samples were Anaplasma-negative. Sequencing revealed the occurrence of 14 identified species. CONCLUSIONS This research is the first evaluation of the prevalence for Hepatozoon spp. in rodents from Germany. In comparison to earlier studies, detected pathogens species remained the same; however, the prevalence for particular pathogens differed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Galfsky
- Institute of Animal Hygiene and Veterinary Public Health, University of Leipzig, An den Tierkliniken 1, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Nina Król
- Institute of Animal Hygiene and Veterinary Public Health, University of Leipzig, An den Tierkliniken 1, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Martin Pfeffer
- Institute of Animal Hygiene and Veterinary Public Health, University of Leipzig, An den Tierkliniken 1, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Anna Obiegala
- Institute of Animal Hygiene and Veterinary Public Health, University of Leipzig, An den Tierkliniken 1, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
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Kučerová HL, Žákovská A, Marková J, Bártová E. Detection of antibodies to Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. in wild small mammals and sensitivity of PCR and cultivation. Vet Microbiol 2019; 230:241-243. [PMID: 30827395 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2019.02.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2018] [Revised: 12/17/2018] [Accepted: 02/03/2019] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of antibodies to B. burgdorferi s.l. in wild small mammals in the Czech Republic and compare sensitivity of PCR and cultivaton. Wild small mammals (n = 691) were trapped in years 2010-2014 in three localities of the Czech Republic. Heart rinses (n = 340) and sera (n = 351) were examined by modified indirect ELISA. Seventy animals were randomly selected for comparison of results of cultivation and PCR. Mean annual antiborelian positivity was 12% with statistical difference (p < 0.05) between Bank Vole (Clethrionomys glareolus) and other six animal species, while there was no statistical difference (p > 0.05) between rodentia and insectivora, gender and localities. The cultivation revealed one positive sample (1.4%), negative in both PCR and ELISA. Method PCR revealed seven positive samples (10%); two of them were simultaneously dubious in ELISA. Eleven animals, negative in cultivation and PCR, had antibodies in ELISA. Method of PCR compared to cultivation seems to be more sensitive for detection of Borrelia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hana Lya Kučerová
- Department of Comparative Animal Physiology and General Zoology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kamenice 753/5, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Alena Žákovská
- Department of Comparative Animal Physiology and General Zoology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kamenice 753/5, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic; Department of Biology, Faculty of Education, Masaryk University, Kamenice 753/5, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Jiřina Marková
- Department of Biology and Wildlife Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Hygiene and Ecology, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Palackého tř. 1946/1, 612 42 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Eva Bártová
- Department of Biology and Wildlife Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Hygiene and Ecology, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Palackého tř. 1946/1, 612 42 Brno, Czech Republic.
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Tołkacz K, Alsarraf M, Kowalec M, Dwużnik D, Grzybek M, Behnke JM, Bajer A. Bartonella infections in three species of Microtus: prevalence and genetic diversity, vertical transmission and the effect of concurrent Babesia microti infection on its success. Parasit Vectors 2018; 11:491. [PMID: 30165879 PMCID: PMC6117881 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-018-3047-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2018] [Accepted: 08/01/2018] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Bartonella spp. cause persistent bacterial infections in mammals. Although these bacteria are transmitted by blood-feeding arthropods, there is also evidence for vertical transmission in their mammalian hosts. We aimed to determine: (i) the prevalence and diversity of Bartonella spp. in a Microtus spp. community; (ii) whether vertical transmission occurs from infected female voles to their offspring; (iii) the effect of concurrent Babesia microti infection on the success of vertical transmission of Bartonella; and (iv) the impact of congenital infection on pup survival. RESULTS We sampled 124 Microtus arvalis, 76 Microtus oeconomus and 17 Microtus agrestis. In total, 115 embryos were isolated from 21 pregnant females. In the following year 11 pregnant females were kept until they had given birth and weaned their pups (n = 62). Blood smears and PCR targeting the Bartonella-specific rpoB gene fragment (333bp) were used for the detection of Bartonella. Bartonella DNA was detected in 66.8% (145/217) of the wild-caught voles. Bartonella infection was detected in 81.8% (36/44) of pregnant female voles. Bartonella-positive individuals were identified among the embryos (47.1%; 40/85) and in 54.8% (34/62) of pups. Congenitally acquired Bartonella infections and co-infection with B. microti had no impact on the survival of pups over a 3-week period post partum. Among 113 Bartonella sequences, four species were detected: Bartonella taylorii, Bartonella grahamii, Bartonella doshiae and a Bartonella rochalimae-like genotype. Bartonella taylorii clade B was the dominant species in wild-caught voles (49%), pregnant females (47%), their embryos (85%), dams (75%) and pups (95%). CONCLUSIONS High prevalence of Bartonella spp. infection maintained in Microtus spp. community is followed by a high rate of vertical transmission of several rodent species of Bartonella in three species of naturally infected voles, M. arvalis, M. oeconomus and M. agrestis. Congenitally acquired Bartonella infection does not affect the survival of pups. Co-infection with B. microti does not affect the effectiveness of the vertical transmission of Bartonella in voles. Bartonella taylorii clade B was found to be the dominant species in wild-caught voles, including pregnant females and dams, and in their offspring, and was also found to be the most successful in vertical transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katarzyna Tołkacz
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Zoology, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, 1 Miecznikowa Street, 02-096, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Mohammed Alsarraf
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Zoology, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, 1 Miecznikowa Street, 02-096, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Maciej Kowalec
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Zoology, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, 1 Miecznikowa Street, 02-096, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Dorota Dwużnik
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Zoology, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, 1 Miecznikowa Street, 02-096, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Maciej Grzybek
- Department of Tropical Parasitology, Institute of Maritime and Tropical Medicine in Gdynia, Medical University of Gdansk, Powstania Styczniowego 9, 81-512, Gdynia, Poland
| | - Jerzy M Behnke
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK
| | - Anna Bajer
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Zoology, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, 1 Miecznikowa Street, 02-096, Warsaw, Poland.
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Tomassone L, Portillo A, Nováková M, de Sousa R, Oteo JA. Neglected aspects of tick-borne rickettsioses. Parasit Vectors 2018; 11:263. [PMID: 29690900 PMCID: PMC5937841 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-018-2856-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2017] [Accepted: 04/18/2018] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Rickettsioses are among the oldest known infectious diseases. In spite of this, and of the extensive research carried out, many aspects of the biology and epidemiology of tick-borne rickettsiae are far from being completely understood. Their association with arthropod vectors, the importance of vertebrates as reservoirs, the rarity of clinical signs in animals, or the interactions of pathogenic species with rickettsial endosymbionts and with the host intracellular environment, are only some examples. Moreover, new rickettsiae are continuously being discovered. In this review, we focus on the ‘neglected’ aspects of tick-borne rickettsioses and on the gaps in knowledge, which could help to explain why these infections are still emerging and re-emerging threats worldwide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Tomassone
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin, Largo Braccini 2, 10095, Grugliasco (Torino), Italy.
| | - Aránzazu Portillo
- Center of Rickettsiosis and Arthropod-Borne Diseases, Hospital San Pedro-CIBIR, C/ Piqueras 98, 26006, Logroño, Spain
| | - Markéta Nováková
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, 625 00, Brno, Czech Republic.,Department of Biology and Wildlife Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Hygiene and Ecology, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Palackého 1946/1, 612 42, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Rita de Sousa
- National Institute of Health Dr. Ricardo Jorge, Av. da Liberdade 5, 2965-575, Aguas de Moura, Portugal
| | - José Antonio Oteo
- Center of Rickettsiosis and Arthropod-Borne Diseases, Hospital San Pedro-CIBIR, C/ Piqueras 98, 26006, Logroño, Spain
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Milholland MT, Castro-Arellano I, Suzán G, Garcia-Peña GE, Lee TE, Rohde RE, Alonso Aguirre A, Mills JN. Global Diversity and Distribution of Hantaviruses and Their Hosts. ECOHEALTH 2018; 15:163-208. [PMID: 29713899 DOI: 10.1007/s10393-017-1305-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2016] [Revised: 11/13/2017] [Accepted: 11/24/2017] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Rodents represent 42% of the world's mammalian biodiversity encompassing 2,277 species populating every continent (except Antarctica) and are reservoir hosts for a wide diversity of disease agents. Thus, knowing the identity, diversity, host-pathogen relationships, and geographic distribution of rodent-borne zoonotic pathogens, is essential for predicting and mitigating zoonotic disease outbreaks. Hantaviruses are hosted by numerous rodent reservoirs. However, the diversity of rodents harboring hantaviruses is likely unknown because research is biased toward specific reservoir hosts and viruses. An up-to-date, systematic review covering all known rodent hosts is lacking. Herein, we document gaps in our knowledge of the diversity and distribution of rodent species that host hantaviruses. Of the currently recognized 681 cricetid, 730 murid, 61 nesomyid, and 278 sciurid species, we determined that 11.3, 2.1, 1.6, and 1.1%, respectively, have known associations with hantaviruses. The diversity of hantaviruses hosted by rodents and their distribution among host species supports a reassessment of the paradigm that each virus is associated with a single-host species. We examine these host-virus associations on a global taxonomic and geographical scale with emphasis on the rodent host diversity and distribution. Previous reviews have been centered on the viruses and not the mammalian hosts. Thus, we provide a perspective not previously addressed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew T Milholland
- Department of Biology, Texas State University, 601 University Drive, San Marcos, TX, 78666, USA
| | - Iván Castro-Arellano
- Department of Biology, Texas State University, 601 University Drive, San Marcos, TX, 78666, USA.
| | - Gerardo Suzán
- Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, 04510, México City, Mexico
| | - Gabriel E Garcia-Peña
- Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, 04510, México City, Mexico
- Centro de Ciencias de la Complejidad C3, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, 04510, México City, Mexico
- UMR MIVEGEC, Maladies Infectieuses et Vecteurs: Ecologie, Génétique, Evolution et Contrôle, UMR 5290, CNRS-IRD-Université de Montpellier, Centre de Recherche IRD, Montpellier Cedex 5, France
| | - Thomas E Lee
- Department of Biology, Abilene Christian University, ACU Box 27868, Abilene, TX, 79699, USA
| | - Rodney E Rohde
- College of Health Professions, Clinical Laboratory Science Program, Texas State University, 601 University Drive, San Marcos, TX, 78666, USA
| | - A Alonso Aguirre
- Department of Environmental Science and Policy, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, 22030, USA
| | - James N Mills
- Population Biology, Ecology, and Evolution Program, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
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Torelli F, Zander S, Ellerbrok H, Kochs G, Ulrich RG, Klotz C, Seeber F. Recombinant IFN-γ from the bank vole Myodes glareolus: a novel tool for research on rodent reservoirs of zoonotic pathogens. Sci Rep 2018; 8:2797. [PMID: 29434310 PMCID: PMC5809609 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-21143-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2017] [Accepted: 01/25/2018] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Rodent species like Myodes glareolus and Microtus spp. are natural reservoirs for many zoonotic pathogens causing human diseases and are gaining increasing interest in the field of eco-immunology as candidate animal models. Despite their importance the lack of immunological reagents has hampered research in these animal species. Here we report the recombinant production and functional characterization of IFN-γ, a central mediator of host’s innate and adaptive immune responses, from the bank vole M. glareolus. Soluble dimeric recMgIFN-γ was purified in high yield from Escherichia coli. Its activity on M. glareolus and Microtus arvalis kidney cell lines was assessed by immunofluorescent detection of nuclear translocation and phosphorylation of the transcription factor STAT1. RecMgIFN-γ also induced expression of an IFN-γ-regulated innate immunity gene. Inhibition of vesicular stomatitis virus replication in vole cells upon recMgIFN-γ treatment provided further evidence of its biological activity. Finally, we established a recMgIFN-γ-responsive bank vole reporter cell line that allows the sensitive titration of the cytokine activity via a bioluminescence reporter assay. Taken together, we report valuable tools for future investigations on the immune response against zoonotic pathogens in their natural animal hosts, which might foster the development of novel animal models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Torelli
- Department of Mycotic and Parasitic Agents and Mycobacteria, Robert Koch-Institut, Berlin, Germany
| | - Steffen Zander
- Department of Mycotic and Parasitic Agents and Mycobacteria, Robert Koch-Institut, Berlin, Germany
| | - Heinz Ellerbrok
- Center for Biological Threats and Special Pathogens, Highly Pathogenic Viruses, Robert Koch-Institut, Berlin, Germany
| | - Georg Kochs
- Institute of Virology, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Rainer G Ulrich
- Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Christian Klotz
- Department of Mycotic and Parasitic Agents and Mycobacteria, Robert Koch-Institut, Berlin, Germany
| | - Frank Seeber
- Department of Mycotic and Parasitic Agents and Mycobacteria, Robert Koch-Institut, Berlin, Germany.
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Mardosaitė-Busaitienė D, Radzijevskaja J, Balčiauskas L, Paulauskas A. First detection of Rickettsia helvetica in small mammals in Lithuania. New Microbes New Infect 2018; 22:19-23. [PMID: 29556404 PMCID: PMC5857161 DOI: 10.1016/j.nmni.2017.12.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2017] [Revised: 12/06/2017] [Accepted: 12/20/2017] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
A total of 489 small mammals belonging to seven species captured in Lithuania during 2013–2014 were investigated for Rickettsia pathogens. The overall prevalence of Rickettsia spp. was 27.6%, with a higher prevalence detected in Micromys minutus (45.9%), followed by Apodemus flavicollis (29.4%), Sorex araneus (25%) and Myodes glareolus (23.7%). Sequence analysis of the gltA gene and the 17 kDa protein coding gene revealed the presence Rickettsia helvetica. This study demonstrates not only the first reported presence of R. helvetica in small mammals in Lithuania but also the first report of R. helvetica in M. minutus more generally.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - J Radzijevskaja
- Vytautas Magnus University, Department of Biology, Kaunas, Lithuania
| | - L Balčiauskas
- Nature Research Centre, Laboratory of Mammalian Ecology, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - A Paulauskas
- Vytautas Magnus University, Department of Biology, Kaunas, Lithuania
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Špitalská E, Minichová L, Kocianová E, Škultéty Ľ, Mahríková L, Hamšíková Z, Slovák M, Kazimírová M. Diversity and prevalence of Bartonella species in small mammals from Slovakia, Central Europe. Parasitol Res 2017; 116:3087-3095. [PMID: 28975409 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-017-5620-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2017] [Accepted: 09/15/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Wild-living rodents are important hosts for zoonotic pathogens. Bartonella infections are widespread in rodents; however, in Slovakia, knowledge on the prevalence of these bacteria in small mammals is limited. We investigated the prevalence and diversity of Bartonella species in the spleens of 640 rodents of six species (Apodemus flavicollis, Apodemus sylvaticus, Myodes glareolus, Microtus arvalis, Microtus subterraneus, and Micromys minutus) and in the European mole (Talpa europaea) from three different habitat types in south-western and central Slovakia. Overall, the prevalence of Bartonella spp. in rodents was 64.8%; a rate of 73.8% was found in natural habitat (deciduous forest), 56.0% in suburban forest park and 64.9% in rural habitat. Bartonella spp. were detected in 63.0% of A. flavicollis, 69% of My. glareolus and 61.1% of M. arvalis and in T. europaea. However, Bartonella were not found in the other examined rodents. Molecular analyses of the 16S-23S rRNA intergenic spacer region revealed the presence of four different Bartonella spp. clusters. We identified B. taylorii, B. rochalimae, B. elizabethae, B. grahamii and Bartonella sp. wbs11 in A. flavicollis and My. glareolus. Bartonella genotypes ascribed to B. taylorii and B. rochalimae were found in M. arvalis. B. taylorii was identified in T. europaea. Questing Ixodes ricinus ticks that were collected at the study sites were not infected with Bartonella. This study improves our understanding of the ecoepidemiology of Bartonella spp. in Europe and underlines the necessity for further research on Bartonella-host-vector associations and their consequences on animal and human health in Slovakia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva Špitalská
- Institute of Virology, Biomedical Research Center, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, 845 05, Bratislava, Slovakia.
| | - Lenka Minichová
- Institute of Virology, Biomedical Research Center, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, 845 05, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Elena Kocianová
- Institute of Virology, Biomedical Research Center, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, 845 05, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Ľudovít Škultéty
- Institute of Virology, Biomedical Research Center, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, 845 05, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Lenka Mahríková
- Institute of Zoology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, 845 06, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Zuzana Hamšíková
- Institute of Zoology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, 845 06, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Mirko Slovák
- Institute of Zoology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, 845 06, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Mária Kazimírová
- Institute of Zoology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, 845 06, Bratislava, Slovakia
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Gajda E, Hildebrand J, Sprong H, Buńkowska-Gawlik K, Perec-Matysiak A, Coipan EC. Spotted fever rickettsiae in wild-living rodents from south-western Poland. Parasit Vectors 2017; 10:413. [PMID: 28874204 PMCID: PMC5585920 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-017-2356-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2017] [Accepted: 08/30/2017] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Rickettsiae are obligate intracellular alpha-proteobacteria. They are transmitted via arthropod vectors, which transmit the bacteria between animals and occasionally to humans. So far, much research has been conducted to indicate reservoir hosts for these microorganisms, but our knowledge is still non-exhaustive. Therefore, this survey was undertaken to investigate the presence of Rickettsia spp. in wild-living small rodents from south-western Poland. RESULTS In total, 337 samples (193 from spleen and 144 from blood) obtained from 193 wild-living rodents: Apodemus agrarius, Apodemus flavicollis, and Myodes glareolus were tested by qPCR for Rickettsia spp. based on a fragment of gltA gene. The prevalence of infection was 17.6% (34/193). Subsequently, the positive samples were analysed by conventional PCR targeting the gltA gene fragment. The genus Rickettsia was confirmed by sequence analysis in four samples from the blood. In two blood samples from A. agrarius, the identified pathogen was Rickettsia helvetica. The Rickettsia obtained from A. flavicollis was assigned to Rickettsia felis-like organisms group. One isolate from A. agrarius could be determined only to the genus level. CONCLUSIONS This study shows the presence of Rickettsia DNA in tissues of wild-living rodents, suggesting some potential role of these animals in temporarily maintaining and spreading the bacteria in enzootic cycles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ewa Gajda
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Genetics and Microbiology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Wrocław, Przybyszewskiego 63/77 Str, 51-148 Wrocław, Poland
| | - Joanna Hildebrand
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Genetics and Microbiology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Wrocław, Przybyszewskiego 63/77 Str, 51-148 Wrocław, Poland
| | - Hein Sprong
- Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and Environment, Antonie van Leeuwenhoeklaan 9, 3721 MA Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | - Katarzyna Buńkowska-Gawlik
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Genetics and Microbiology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Wrocław, Przybyszewskiego 63/77 Str, 51-148 Wrocław, Poland
| | - Agnieszka Perec-Matysiak
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Genetics and Microbiology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Wrocław, Przybyszewskiego 63/77 Str, 51-148 Wrocław, Poland
| | - Elena Claudia Coipan
- Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and Environment, Antonie van Leeuwenhoeklaan 9, 3721 MA Bilthoven, The Netherlands
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Zoonotic pathogens in Atlantic Forest wild rodents in Brazil: Bartonella and Coxiella infections. Acta Trop 2017; 168:64-73. [PMID: 28077317 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2017.01.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2016] [Revised: 01/04/2017] [Accepted: 01/06/2017] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Zoonotic pathogens comprise a significant and increasing fraction of all emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases that plague humans. Identifying host species is one of the keys to controlling emerging infectious diseases. From March 2007 until April 2012, we collected a total of 131 wild rodents in eight municipalities of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. We investigated these rodents for infection with Coxiella burnetii, Bartonella spp. and Rickettsia spp. In total, 22.1% (29/131) of the rodents were infected by at least one pathogen; co-infection was detected in 1.5% (2/131) of rodents. Coxiella burnetii was detected in 4.6% (6/131) of the wild animals, 17.6% of the rodents harbored Bartonella spp. No cases of Rickettsia were identified. Bartonella doshiae and Bartonella vinsonii were the species found on the wild mammals. This report is the first to note C. burnetii, B. doshiae and B. vinsonii natural infections in Atlantic Forest wild rodents in Brazil. Our work highlights the potential risk of transmission to humans, since most of the infected specimens belong to generalist species that live near human dwellings.
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Obiegala A, Albrecht C, Dafalla M, Drewes S, Oltersdorf C, Turni H, Imholt C, Jacob J, Wagner-Wiening C, Ulrich RG, Pfeffer M. Leptospira spp. in Small Mammals from Areas with Low and High Human Hantavirus Incidences in South-West Germany. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2017; 17:312-318. [PMID: 28332927 DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2016.2036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Leptospirosis is caused by Leptospira spp. and is considered the most widespread zoonotic disease worldwide. It mimics nephropathia epidemica in humans, a disease mainly caused by Puumala hantavirus (PUUV). Small mammals are reservoirs for Leptospira spp. and PUUV. Seewis virus (SWSV) is a shrew-borne hantavirus with unknown pathogenicity. The objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence for Leptospira spp. and the frequency of Leptospira-hantavirus co-infections in small mammals collected at locations with high and low incidences in humans. MATERIALS AND METHODS In 2012 and 2013, 736 small mammals belonging to seven species (Apodemus flavicollis, Microtus agrestis, Microtus arvalis, Myodes glareolus, Sorex araneus, S. coronatus, and S. minutus) were collected at four high incidence sites (H1-H4) and four low (L1-L4) incidence sites for PUUV infection in humans. Kidney-derived DNA samples were tested for Leptospira spp. by real-time PCR targeting the lipl 32 gene and further analyzed by duplex PCR targeting the flaB and the secY genes. For the detection of Seewis virus, lung-derived DNA was tested via RT-PCR targeting the nucleocapsid gene. RESULTS Altogether, 42 of the 736 small mammals including 27 of 660 bank voles and 11 of 66 shrews, were positive for Leptospira spp., while Sorex spp. (14.7%) showed significantly higher prevalences compared to bank voles (4.1%). Detected Leptospira spp. were pathogenic species other than L. kirschneri. Significantly more Leptospira-positive bank voles were found at H sites than at L sites. Altogether 22.2% of positive bank voles were infected with PUUV. Double infection of PUUV and Leptospira spp. occurrence in bank voles is 1.86 times (OR = 1.86; 95% CI: 0.72-4.73) more likely than infections with each pathogen separately. DISCUSSION Leptospira- positive bank voles are focally positively associated with PUUV infection in bank voles and with human hantavirus cases. It should be considered that shrews may serve as Leptospira spp. reservoirs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Obiegala
- 1 Institute of Animal Hygiene and Veterinary Public Health, University of Leipzig , Leipzig, Germany
| | - Christoph Albrecht
- 1 Institute of Animal Hygiene and Veterinary Public Health, University of Leipzig , Leipzig, Germany
| | - Maysaa Dafalla
- 2 Institute for Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health , Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Stephan Drewes
- 2 Institute for Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health , Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Carolin Oltersdorf
- 1 Institute of Animal Hygiene and Veterinary Public Health, University of Leipzig , Leipzig, Germany
| | | | - Christian Imholt
- 4 Institute for Plant Protection in Horticulture and Forests, Julius Kühn-Institute , Federal Research Centre for Cultivated Plants, Vertebrate Research, Münster, Germany
| | - Jens Jacob
- 4 Institute for Plant Protection in Horticulture and Forests, Julius Kühn-Institute , Federal Research Centre for Cultivated Plants, Vertebrate Research, Münster, Germany
| | | | - Rainer G Ulrich
- 2 Institute for Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health , Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Martin Pfeffer
- 1 Institute of Animal Hygiene and Veterinary Public Health, University of Leipzig , Leipzig, Germany
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Heuser E, Fischer S, Ryll R, Mayer-Scholl A, Hoffmann D, Spahr C, Imholt C, Alfa DM, Fröhlich A, Lüschow D, Johne R, Ehlers B, Essbauer S, Nöckler K, Ulrich RG. Survey for zoonotic pathogens in Norway rat populations from Europe. PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE 2017; 73:341-348. [PMID: 27299665 DOI: 10.1002/ps.4339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2015] [Revised: 06/08/2016] [Accepted: 06/09/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Norway rat Rattus norvegicus is an important reservoir of various zoonotic pathogens, such as cowpox virus and Leptospira, but also for agents of no or unknown zoonotic potential. We describe a survey of 426 Norway rats originating from five European countries and different habitats for Leptospira spp., rickettsiae, orthopoxvirus (OPV), avian metapneumovirus subtypes A and B (aMPV) and rat polyomavirus (rat PyV). RESULTS Leptospira DNA was detected in 60 out of 420 (14.3%) rats, and Rickettsia DNA was found in three out of 369 (0.8%) rats investigated. PCR-based typing resulted in the identification of L. interrogans sequence type 17, which corresponds to the serogroup Icterohaemorrhagiae, and Rickettsia helvetica respectively. Rat PyV DNA was detected in 103 out of 421 (24.5%) rats. OPV DNA and aMPV RNA were detected in none of the rats, but OPV-specific antibodies were detected in three out of 388 (0.8%) rats. The frequency of single Leptospira and rat PyV infections and coinfections was, independent of sex, greater for adults compared with juveniles/subadults and greater at rural sites compared with urban areas. CONCLUSIONS Study results indicate a broad geographical distribution of Leptospira DNA in rats within Europe, underlining the need to investigate further the potential mechanisms leading to increased prevalence in rural habitats and to assess the relevance to public health. In contrast, rickettsia and OPV infections rarely occurred in wild rat populations. The potential influence of rat PyV on the susceptibility to infections with other pathogens should be investigated in future studies. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa Heuser
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Institute for Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Stefan Fischer
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Institute for Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - René Ryll
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Institute for Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | | | - Donata Hoffmann
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Institute of Diagnostic Virology, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Carina Spahr
- Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Berlin, Germany
| | - Christian Imholt
- Julius Kühn-Institute, Federal Research Centre for Cultivated Plants, Institute for Plant Protection in Horticulture and Forestry, Vertebrate Research, Münster, Germany
| | - Dewi Murni Alfa
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Institute for Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Andreas Fröhlich
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Institute of Epidemiology, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Dörte Lüschow
- Freie Universität Berlin, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Institute of Poultry Diseases, Berlin, Germany
| | - Reimar Johne
- Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Berlin, Germany
| | | | | | | | - Rainer G Ulrich
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Institute for Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
- German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), partner site Hamburg-Luebeck-Borstel-Insel Riems, Germany
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Norek A, Janda L, Žákovská A. DNA-based identification and OspC serotyping in cultures of Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. isolated from ticks collected in the Moravia (Czech Republic). JOURNAL OF VECTOR ECOLOGY : JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR VECTOR ECOLOGY 2016; 41:172-178. [PMID: 27232140 DOI: 10.1111/jvec.12209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2016] [Accepted: 03/26/2016] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Two different genetic loci, flaB and ospC, were employed to assign genospecies and OspC phylogenetic type to 18 strains isolated from ticks collected in Pisárky, a suburban park in the city of Brno, Czech Republic. The RFLP analysis revealed three different genospecies (B. afzelii, B. garinii, and B. valaisiana). Three samples from the collection contained more than one genospecies. In the other 15 strains, nucleotide sequences of flaB and ospC were determined. The following phylogenetic analysis assigned 12 isolates to genospecies B. garinii and three to B. afzelii. These isolates were further subdivided into seven distinct ospC groups. The most related OspC types were G2, G4, and G5 (B. garinii) and A3 and A8 (B. afzelii).
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam Norek
- Department of Animal Physiology and Immunology, Institute of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kamenice 753/5, 62500, Brno, Czech Republic.
- CEITEC - Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Kamenice 753/5, 62500, Brno, Czech Republic.
| | - Lubomír Janda
- CEITEC - Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Kamenice 753/5, 62500, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Alena Žákovská
- Department of Animal Physiology and Immunology, Institute of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kamenice 753/5, 62500, Brno, Czech Republic
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Obiegala A, Woll D, Karnath C, Silaghi C, Schex S, Eßbauer S, Pfeffer M. Prevalence and Genotype Allocation of Pathogenic Leptospira Species in Small Mammals from Various Habitat Types in Germany. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2016; 10:e0004501. [PMID: 27015596 PMCID: PMC4807814 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0004501] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2015] [Accepted: 02/08/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Small mammals serve as most important reservoirs for Leptospira spp., the causative agents of Leptospirosis, which is one of the most neglected and widespread zoonotic diseases worldwide. The knowledge about Leptospira spp. occurring in small mammals from Germany is scarce. Thus, this study's objectives were to investigate the occurrence of Leptospira spp. and the inherent sequence types in small mammals from three different study sites: a forest in southern Germany (site B1); a National Park in south-eastern Germany (site B2) and a renaturalised area, in eastern Germany (site S) where small mammals were captured. DNA was extracted from kidneys of small mammals and tested for Leptospira spp. by real-time PCR. Positive samples were further analysed by duplex and conventional PCRs. For 14 positive samples, multi locus sequence typing (MLST) was performed. Altogether, 1213 small mammals were captured: 216 at site B1, 456 at site B2 and 541 at site S belonging to following species: Sorex (S.) araneus, S. coronatus, Apodemus (A.) flavicollis, Myodes glareolus, Microtus (Mi.) arvalis, Crocidura russula, Arvicola terrestris, A. agrarius, Mustela nivalis, Talpa europaea, and Mi. agrestis. DNA of Leptospira spp. was detected in 6% of all small mammals. At site B1, 25 small mammals (11.6%), at site B2, 15 small mammals (3.3%) and at site S, 33 small mammals (6.1%) were positive for Leptospira spp. Overall, 54 of the positive samples were further determined as L. kirschneri, nine as L. interrogans and four as L. borgpetersenii while five real-time PCR-positive samples could not be further determined by conventional PCR. MLST results revealed focal occurrence of L. interrogans and L. kirschneri sequence type (ST) 117 while L. kirschneri ST 110 was present in small mammals at all three sites. Further, this study provides evidence for a particular host association of L. borgpetersenii to mice of the genus Apodemus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Obiegala
- Comparative Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
- Institute of Animal Hygiene and Veterinary Public Health, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
- * E-mail:
| | - Dietlinde Woll
- Institute of Animal Hygiene and Veterinary Public Health, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Carolin Karnath
- Institute of Animal Hygiene and Veterinary Public Health, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Cornelia Silaghi
- Comparative Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Susanne Schex
- Department of Virology and Rickettsiology, Bundeswehr Institute of Microbiology, Munich, Germany
| | - Sandra Eßbauer
- Department of Virology and Rickettsiology, Bundeswehr Institute of Microbiology, Munich, Germany
| | - Martin Pfeffer
- Institute of Animal Hygiene and Veterinary Public Health, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
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Schmidt S, Saxenhofer M, Drewes S, Schlegel M, Wanka KM, Frank R, Klimpel S, von Blanckenhagen F, Maaz D, Herden C, Freise J, Wolf R, Stubbe M, Borkenhagen P, Ansorge H, Eccard JA, Lang J, Jourdain E, Jacob J, Marianneau P, Heckel G, Ulrich RG. High genetic structuring of Tula hantavirus. Arch Virol 2016; 161:1135-49. [PMID: 26831932 DOI: 10.1007/s00705-016-2762-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2015] [Accepted: 01/14/2016] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Tula virus (TULV) is a vole-associated hantavirus with low or no pathogenicity to humans. In the present study, 686 common voles (Microtus arvalis), 249 field voles (Microtus agrestis) and 30 water voles (Arvicola spec.) were collected at 79 sites in Germany, Luxembourg and France and screened by RT-PCR and TULV-IgG ELISA. TULV-specific RNA and/or antibodies were detected at 43 of the sites, demonstrating a geographically widespread distribution of the virus in the studied area. The TULV prevalence in common voles (16.7 %) was higher than that in field voles (9.2 %) and water voles (10.0 %). Time series data at ten trapping sites showed evidence of a lasting presence of TULV RNA within common vole populations for up to 34 months, although usually at low prevalence. Phylogenetic analysis demonstrated a strong genetic structuring of TULV sequences according to geography and independent of the rodent species, confirming the common vole as the preferential host, with spillover infections to co-occurring field and water voles. TULV phylogenetic clades showed a general association with evolutionary lineages in the common vole as assessed by mitochondrial DNA sequences on a large geographical scale, but with local-scale discrepancies in the contact areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabrina Schmidt
- Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, OIE Collaborating Centre for Zoonoses in Europe, Institute for Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Suedufer 10, 17493, Greifswald, Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Moritz Saxenhofer
- Computational and Molecular Population Genetics (CMPG), Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Bern, 3012, Bern, Switzerland.,Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Genopode, 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Stephan Drewes
- Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, OIE Collaborating Centre for Zoonoses in Europe, Institute for Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Suedufer 10, 17493, Greifswald, Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Mathias Schlegel
- Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, OIE Collaborating Centre for Zoonoses in Europe, Institute for Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Suedufer 10, 17493, Greifswald, Insel Riems, Germany.,Seramun Diagnostica GmbH, 15754, Heidesee, Germany
| | - Konrad M Wanka
- Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, OIE Collaborating Centre for Zoonoses in Europe, Institute for Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Suedufer 10, 17493, Greifswald, Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Raphael Frank
- Goethe-University, Institute of Ecology, Evolution and Diversity, Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre, Senckenberg Gesellschaft für Naturforschung, 60438, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Sven Klimpel
- Goethe-University, Institute of Ecology, Evolution and Diversity, Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre, Senckenberg Gesellschaft für Naturforschung, 60438, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | | | - Denny Maaz
- Institute for Parasitology and Tropical Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, 14163, Berlin, Germany
| | - Christiane Herden
- Institute for Veterinary Pathology, Justus-Liebig-Universität Gießen, 35392, Gießen, Germany
| | - Jona Freise
- Task-Force Veterinärwesen, Fachbereich Schädlingsbekämpfung, Niedersächsisches Landesamt für Verbraucherschutz und Lebensmittelsicherheit, 26133, Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Ronny Wolf
- Institute for Biology, University of Leipzig, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Michael Stubbe
- Institute of Zoology, Martin-Luther-University Halle, 06099, Halle, Germany
| | - Peter Borkenhagen
- Säugetierkundliche Arbeitsgemeinschaft Schleswig-Holstein, 24253, Probsteierhagen, Germany
| | - Hermann Ansorge
- Senckenberg Museum of Natural History, 02826, Görlitz, Germany
| | - Jana A Eccard
- Institute for Biochemistry and Biology, Animal Ecology, University of Potsdam, 14469, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Johannes Lang
- Institut für Tierökologie und Naturbildung, Hauptstraße 30, 35321, Gonterskirchen, Germany
| | - Elsa Jourdain
- INRA, French National Institute for Agricultural Research, UR0346 Animal Epidemiology Unit, Saint-Genès Champanelle, France
| | - Jens Jacob
- Federal Research Centre for Cultivated Plants, Institute for Plant Protection in Horticulture and Forestry, Vertebrate Research, Julius Kühn-Institute, 48161, Münster, Germany
| | - Philippe Marianneau
- Virology Unit, Laboratory of Lyon, French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety (ANSES), 69364, Lyon, France
| | - Gerald Heckel
- Computational and Molecular Population Genetics (CMPG), Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Bern, 3012, Bern, Switzerland.,Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Genopode, 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Rainer G Ulrich
- Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, OIE Collaborating Centre for Zoonoses in Europe, Institute for Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Suedufer 10, 17493, Greifswald, Insel Riems, Germany.
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Multi-trophic interactions driving the transmission cycle of Borrelia afzelii between Ixodes ricinus and rodents: a review. Parasit Vectors 2015; 8:643. [PMID: 26684199 PMCID: PMC4684625 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-015-1257-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2015] [Accepted: 12/10/2015] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The tick Ixodes ricinus is the main vector of the spirochaete Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, the causal agent of Lyme borreliosis, in the western Palearctic. Rodents are the reservoir host of B. afzelii, which can be transmitted to I. ricinus larvae during a blood meal. The infected engorged larvae moult into infected nymphs, which can transmit the spirochaetes to rodents and humans. Interestingly, even though only about 1 % of the larvae develop into a borreliae-infected nymph, the enzootic borreliae lifecycle can persist. The development from larva to infected nymph is a key aspect in this lifecycle, influencing the density of infected nymphs and thereby Lyme borreliosis risk. The density of infected nymphs varies temporally and geographically and is influenced by multi-trophic (tick-host-borreliae) interactions. For example, blood feeding success of ticks and spirochaete transmission success differ between rodent species and host-finding success appears to be affected by a B. afzelii infection in both the rodent and the tick. In this paper, we review the major interactions between I. ricinus, rodents and B. afzelii that influence this development, with the aim to elucidate the critical factors that determine the epidemiological risk of Lyme borreliosis. The effects of the tick, rodent and B. afzelii on larval host finding, larval blood feeding, spirochaete transmission from rodent to larva and development from larva to nymph are discussed. Nymphal host finding, nymphal blood feeding and spirochaete transmission from nymph to rodent are the final steps to complete the enzootic B. afzelii lifecycle and are included in the review. It is concluded that rodent density, rodent infection prevalence, and tick burden are the major factors affecting the development from larva to infected nymph and that these interact with each other. We suggest that the B. afzelii lifecycle is dependent on the aggregation of ticks among rodents, which is manipulated by the pathogen itself. Better understanding of the processes involved in the development and aggregation of ticks results in more precise estimates of the density of infected nymphs, and hence predictions of Lyme borreliosis risk.
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