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Schöbi N, Kourti M, Verhagen LM. Planetary Health: What You Need to Know as a Pediatric Infectious Diseases Doctor. Pediatr Infect Dis J 2024:00006454-990000000-01014. [PMID: 39264178 DOI: 10.1097/inf.0000000000004517] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/13/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Nina Schöbi
- From the Department of Paediatrics, Division of Paediatric Infectious Diseases, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Maria Kourti
- Third Department of Paediatrics, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki School of Medicine, Ippokration General Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Lilly M Verhagen
- Department of Paediatric Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Radboud Center for Infectious Diseases, Amalia Children's Hospital
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Laboratory of Medical Immunology, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
- Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa
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2
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Shartova N, Korennoy F, Zelikhina S, Mironova V, Wang L, Malkhazova S. Spatial and temporal patterns of haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) and the impact of environmental drivers in a border area of the Russian Far East. Zoonoses Public Health 2024; 71:489-502. [PMID: 38396153 DOI: 10.1111/zph.13118] [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: 07/05/2023] [Revised: 02/08/2024] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024]
Abstract
AIMS Haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) is a significant zoonotic disease transmitted by rodents. The distribution of HFRS in the European part of Russia has been studied quite well; however, much less is known about the endemic area in the Russian Far East. The mutual influence of the epidemic situation in the border regions and the possibility of cross-border transmission of infection remain poorly understood. This study aims to identify the spatiotemporal hot spots of the incidence and the impact of environmental drivers on the HFRS distribution in the Russian Far East. METHODS AND RESULTS A two-scale study design was performed. Kulldorf's spatial scan statistic was used to conduct spatiotemporal analysis at a regional scale from 2000 to 2020. In addition, an ecological niche model based on maximum entropy was applied to analyse the contribution of various factors and identify spatial favourability at the local scale. One spatiotemporal cluster that existed from 2002 to 2011 and located in the border area and one pure temporal cluster from 2004 to 2007 were revealed. The best suitability for orthohantavirus persistence was found along rivers, including those at the Chinese-Russian border, and was mainly explained by land cover, NDVI (as an indicator of vegetation density and greenness) and elevation. CONCLUSIONS Despite the stable incidence in recent years in, targeted prevention strategies are still needed due to the high potential for HRFS distribution in the southeast of the Russian Far East.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalia Shartova
- International Laboratory of Landscape Ecology, Higher School of Economics, Moscow, Russia
| | - Fedor Korennoy
- FGBI Federal Center for Animal Health (FGBI ARRIAH), mkr. Yurevets, Vladimir, Russia
| | | | - Varvara Mironova
- Faculty of Geography, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Li Wang
- Key Laboratory of Land Surface Pattern and Simulation, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
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3
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Mendoza H, López-Pérez AM, Rubio AV, Barrón-Rodríguez JJ, Mazari-Hiriart M, Pontifes PA, Dirzo R, Suzán G. Association between anthropization and rodent reservoirs of zoonotic pathogens in Northwestern Mexico. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0298976. [PMID: 38386681 PMCID: PMC10883555 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0298976] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2023] [Accepted: 02/01/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024] Open
Abstract
The world is facing a major pulse of ecological and social changes that may favor the risk of zoonotic outbreaks. Such risk facilitation may occur through the modification of the host's community diversity and structure, leading to an increase in pathogen reservoirs and the contact rate between these reservoirs and humans. Here, we examined whether anthropization alters the relative abundance and richness of zoonotic reservoir and non-reservoir rodents in three Socio-Ecological Systems. We hypothesized that anthropization increases the relative abundance and richness of rodent reservoirs while decreasing non-reservoir species. We first developed an Anthropization index based on 15 quantitative socio-ecological variables classified into five groups: 1) Vegetation type, 2) Urbanization degree, 3) Water quality, 4) Potential contaminant sources, and 5) Others. We then monitored rodent communities in three regions of Northwestern Mexico (Baja California, Chihuahua, and Sonora). A total of 683 rodents of 14 genera and 27 species were captured, nine of which have been identified as reservoirs of zoonotic pathogens (359 individuals, 53%). In all regions, we found that as anthropization increased, the relative abundance of reservoir rodents increased; in contrast, the relative abundance of non-reservoir rodents decreased. In Sonora, reservoir richness increased with increasing anthropization, while in Baja California and Chihuahua non-reservoir richness decreased as anthropization increased. We also found a significant positive relationship between the anthropization degree and the abundance of house mice (Mus musculus) and deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus), the most abundant reservoir species in the study. These findings support the hypothesis that reservoir species of zoonotic pathogens increase their abundance in disturbed environments, which may increase the risk of pathogen exposure to humans, while anthropization creates an environmental filtering that promotes the local extinction of non-reservoir species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hugo Mendoza
- Laboratorio de Ecología de Enfermedades y Una Salud, Departamento de Etología, Fauna Silvestre y Animales de Laboratorio, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, México
- Laboratorio Nacional de Ciencias de la Sostenibilidad, Instituto de Ecología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, México
| | - Andrés M. López-Pérez
- Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA, United States of America
- Red de Biología y Conservación de Vertebrados, Instituto de Ecología A.C., Xalapa, México
| | - André V. Rubio
- Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas Animales, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias y Pecuarias, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Julio J. Barrón-Rodríguez
- Laboratorio de Ecología de Enfermedades y Una Salud, Departamento de Etología, Fauna Silvestre y Animales de Laboratorio, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, México
| | - Marisa Mazari-Hiriart
- Laboratorio Nacional de Ciencias de la Sostenibilidad, Instituto de Ecología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, México
| | - Paulina A. Pontifes
- Laboratorio de Ecología de Enfermedades y Una Salud, Departamento de Etología, Fauna Silvestre y Animales de Laboratorio, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, México
- MIVEGEC Unit, IRD, CNRS, Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Rodolfo Dirzo
- Departments of Biology and Earth Systems Science, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States of America
| | - Gerardo Suzán
- Laboratorio de Ecología de Enfermedades y Una Salud, Departamento de Etología, Fauna Silvestre y Animales de Laboratorio, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, México
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4
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Bujnoch FM, Reil D, Drewes S, Rosenfeld UM, Ulrich RG, Jacob J, Imholt C. Small mammal community composition impacts bank vole (Clethrionomys glareolus) population dynamics and associated seroprevalence of Puumala orthohantavirus. Integr Zool 2024; 19:52-65. [PMID: 37899277 DOI: 10.1111/1749-4877.12782] [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] [Indexed: 10/31/2023]
Abstract
Rodents are important reservoirs for zoonotic pathogens that cause diseases in humans. Biodiversity is hypothesized to be closely related to pathogen prevalence through multiple direct and indirect pathways. For example, the presence of non-host species can reduce contact rates of the main reservoir host and thus reduce the risk of transmission ("dilution effect"). In addition, an overlap in ecological niches between two species could lead to increased interspecific competition, potentially limiting host densities and reducing density-dependent pathogen transmission processes. In this study, we investigated the relative impact of population-level regulation of direct and indirect drivers of the prevalence of Puumala orthohantavirus (PUUV) in bank voles (Clethrionomys glareolus) during years with high abundance. We compiled data on small mammal community composition from four regions in Germany between 2010 and 2013. Structural equation modeling revealed a strong seasonality in PUUV control mechanisms in bank voles. The abundance of shrews tended to have a negative relationship with host abundance, and host abundance positively influenced PUUV seroprevalence, while at the same time increasing the abundance of competing non-hosts like the wood mouse (Apodemus sylvaticus) and the yellow-necked field mouse (Apodemus flavicollis) were associated with reduced PUUV seroprevalence in the host. These results indicate that for PUUV in bank voles, dilution is associated with increased interspecific competition. Anthropogenic pressures leading to the decline of Apodemus spp. in a specific habitat could lead to the amplification of mechanisms promoting PUUV transmission within the host populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felicitas Maria Bujnoch
- Julius Kühn-Institute, Federal Research Centre for Cultivated Plants, Institute for Epidemiology and Pathogen Diagnostics, Rodent Research, Münster, Germany
- University of Münster, Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity, Münster, Germany
| | - Daniela Reil
- Julius Kühn-Institute, Federal Research Centre for Cultivated Plants, Institute for Epidemiology and Pathogen Diagnostics, Rodent Research, Münster, Germany
| | - Stephan Drewes
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Ulrike M Rosenfeld
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Rainer G Ulrich
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Jens Jacob
- Julius Kühn-Institute, Federal Research Centre for Cultivated Plants, Institute for Epidemiology and Pathogen Diagnostics, Rodent Research, Münster, Germany
| | - Christian Imholt
- Julius Kühn-Institute, Federal Research Centre for Cultivated Plants, Institute for Epidemiology and Pathogen Diagnostics, Rodent Research, Münster, Germany
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5
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Wang YXG, Voutilainen L, Aminikhah M, Helle H, Huitu O, Laakkonen J, Lindén A, Niemimaa J, Sane J, Sironen T, Vapalahti O, Henttonen H, Kallio ER. The impact of wildlife and environmental factors on hantavirus infection in the host and its translation into human risk. Proc Biol Sci 2023; 290:20222470. [PMID: 37040809 PMCID: PMC10089723 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2022.2470] [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: 08/12/2022] [Accepted: 03/13/2023] [Indexed: 04/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Identifying factors that drive infection dynamics in reservoir host populations is essential in understanding human risk from wildlife-originated zoonoses. We studied zoonotic Puumala orthohantavirus (PUUV) in the host, the bank vole (Myodes glareolus), populations in relation to the host population, rodent and predator community and environment-related factors and whether these processes are translated into human infection incidence. We used 5-year rodent trapping and bank vole PUUV serology data collected from 30 sites located in 24 municipalities in Finland. We found that PUUV seroprevalence in the host was negatively associated with the abundance of red foxes, but this process did not translate into human disease incidence, which showed no association with PUUV seroprevalence. The abundance of weasels, the proportion of juvenile bank voles in the host populations and rodent species diversity were negatively associated with the abundance index of PUUV positive bank voles, which, in turn, showed a positive association with human disease incidence. Our results suggest certain predators, a high proportion of young bank vole individuals, and a diverse rodent community, may reduce PUUV risk for humans through their negative impacts on the abundance of infected bank voles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingying X. G. Wang
- Department of Biological and Environmental Science, University of Jyvaskyla, 40014 Jyvaskyla, Finland
| | - Liina Voutilainen
- Department of Health Security, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, 00271 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Mahdi Aminikhah
- Department of Ecology and Genetics, University of Oulu, 90014 Oulu, Finland
| | - Heikki Helle
- Department of Biological and Environmental Science, University of Jyvaskyla, 40014 Jyvaskyla, Finland
| | - Otso Huitu
- Wildlife Ecology Group, Natural Resources Institute Finland, 00790 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Juha Laakkonen
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Andreas Lindén
- Wildlife Ecology Group, Natural Resources Institute Finland, 00790 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Jukka Niemimaa
- Research infrastructure services, Natural Resources Institute Finland, 00790 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Jussi Sane
- Department of Health Security, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, 00271 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Tarja Sironen
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
- Department of Virology, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Olli Vapalahti
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
- Department of Virology, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
- Department of Virology, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, 00029 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Heikki Henttonen
- Wildlife Ecology Group, Natural Resources Institute Finland, 00790 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Eva R. Kallio
- Department of Biological and Environmental Science, University of Jyvaskyla, 40014 Jyvaskyla, Finland
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6
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Kazasidis O, Jacob J. Machine learning identifies straightforward early warning rules for human Puumala hantavirus outbreaks. Sci Rep 2023; 13:3585. [PMID: 36869118 PMCID: PMC9984366 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-30596-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2022] [Accepted: 02/27/2023] [Indexed: 03/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Human Puumala virus (PUUV) infections in Germany fluctuate multi-annually, following fluctuations of the bank vole population size. We applied a transformation to the annual incidence values and established a heuristic method to develop a straightforward robust model for the binary human infection risk at the district level. The classification model was powered by a machine-learning algorithm and achieved 85% sensitivity and 71% precision, despite using only three weather parameters from the previous years as inputs, namely the soil temperature in April of two years before and in September of the previous year, and the sunshine duration in September of two years before. Moreover, we introduced the PUUV Outbreak Index that quantifies the spatial synchrony of local PUUV-outbreaks, and applied it to the seven reported outbreaks in the period 2006-2021. Finally, we used the classification model to estimate the PUUV Outbreak Index, achieving 20% maximum uncertainty.
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Affiliation(s)
- Orestis Kazasidis
- Julius Kühn Institute (JKI) - Federal Research Centre for Cultivated Plants, Institute for Plant Protection in Horticulture and Forests / Institute for Epidemiology and Pathogen Diagnostics, Rodent Research, Toppheideweg 88, 48161, Münster, Germany.
| | - Jens Jacob
- Julius Kühn Institute (JKI) - Federal Research Centre for Cultivated Plants, Institute for Plant Protection in Horticulture and Forests / Institute for Epidemiology and Pathogen Diagnostics, Rodent Research, Toppheideweg 88, 48161, Münster, Germany
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7
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Sehgal A, Mehta S, Sahay K, Martynova E, Rizvanov A, Baranwal M, Chandy S, Khaiboullina S, Kabwe E, Davidyuk Y. Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome in Asia: History, Pathogenesis, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention. Viruses 2023; 15:v15020561. [PMID: 36851775 PMCID: PMC9966805 DOI: 10.3390/v15020561] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2022] [Revised: 01/30/2023] [Accepted: 02/16/2023] [Indexed: 02/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome (HFRS) is the most frequently diagnosed zoonosis in Asia. This zoonotic infection is the result of exposure to the virus-contaminated aerosols. Orthohantavirus infection may cause Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome (HRFS), a disease that is characterized by acute kidney injury and increased vascular permeability. Several species of orthohantaviruses were identified as causing infection, where Hantaan, Puumala, and Seoul viruses are most common. Orthohantaviruses are endemic to several Asian countries, such as China, South Korea, and Japan. Along with those countries, HFRS tops the list of zoonotic infections in the Far Eastern Federal District of Russia. Recently, orthohantavirus circulation was demonstrated in small mammals in Thailand and India, where orthohantavirus was not believed to be endemic. In this review, we summarized the current data on orthohantaviruses in Asia. We gave the synopsis of the history and diversity of orthohantaviruses in Asia. We also described the clinical presentation and current understanding of the pathogenesis of orthohantavirus infection. Additionally, conventional and novel approaches for preventing and treating orthohantavirus infection are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayushi Sehgal
- Department of Biotechnology, Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology, Patiala 147004, India
| | - Sanya Mehta
- Department of Biotechnology, Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology, Patiala 147004, India
| | - Kritika Sahay
- Department of Biotechnology, Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology, Patiala 147004, India
| | - Ekaterina Martynova
- OpenLab “Gene and Cell Technologies”, Institute of Fundamental Medicine and Biology, Kazan Federal University, Kazan 420008, Russia
| | - Albert Rizvanov
- OpenLab “Gene and Cell Technologies”, Institute of Fundamental Medicine and Biology, Kazan Federal University, Kazan 420008, Russia
| | - Manoj Baranwal
- Department of Biotechnology, Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology, Patiala 147004, India
| | - Sara Chandy
- Childs Trust Medical Research Foundation, Kanchi Kamakoti Childs Trust Hospital, Chennai 600034, India
| | - Svetlana Khaiboullina
- OpenLab “Gene and Cell Technologies”, Institute of Fundamental Medicine and Biology, Kazan Federal University, Kazan 420008, Russia
| | - Emmanuel Kabwe
- OpenLab “Gene and Cell Technologies”, Institute of Fundamental Medicine and Biology, Kazan Federal University, Kazan 420008, Russia
- Kazan Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology, Kazan 420012, Russia
| | - Yuriy Davidyuk
- OpenLab “Gene and Cell Technologies”, Institute of Fundamental Medicine and Biology, Kazan Federal University, Kazan 420008, Russia
- Correspondence:
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8
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Shaw CL, Kennedy DA. Developing an empirical model for spillover and emergence: Orsay virus host range in Caenorhabditis. Proc Biol Sci 2022; 289:20221165. [PMID: 36126684 PMCID: PMC9489279 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2022.1165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2022] [Accepted: 08/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
A lack of tractable experimental systems in which to test hypotheses about the ecological and evolutionary drivers of disease spillover and emergence has limited our understanding of these processes. Here we introduce a promising system: Caenorhabditis hosts and Orsay virus, a positive-sense single-stranded RNA virus that naturally infects C. elegans. We assayed species across the Caenorhabditis tree and found Orsay virus susceptibility in 21 of 84 wild strains belonging to 14 of 44 species. Confirming patterns documented in other systems, we detected effects of host phylogeny on susceptibility. We then tested whether susceptible strains were capable of transmitting Orsay virus by transplanting exposed hosts and determining whether they transmitted infection to conspecifics during serial passage. We found no evidence of transmission in 10 strains (virus undetectable after passaging in all replicates), evidence of low-level transmission in 5 strains (virus lost between passage 1 and 5 in at least one replicate) and evidence of sustained transmission in 6 strains (including all three experimental C. elegans strains) in at least one replicate. Transmission was strongly associated with viral amplification in exposed populations. Variation in Orsay virus susceptibility and transmission among Caenorhabditis strains suggests that the system could be powerful for studying spillover and emergence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clara L. Shaw
- Department of Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - David A. Kennedy
- Department of Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
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9
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Pérez‐Umphrey AA, Jonsson CB, Bonisoli‐Alquati A, Snider AM, Stouffer PC, Taylor SS. Sex and habitat drive hantavirus prevalence in marsh rice rat populations impacted by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Ecosphere 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.3929] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Anna A. Pérez‐Umphrey
- School of Renewable Natural Resources Louisiana State University and AgCenter Baton Rouge Louisiana USA
| | - Colleen B. Jonsson
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Biochemistry College of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, University of Tennessee Memphis Tennessee USA
| | - Andrea Bonisoli‐Alquati
- School of Renewable Natural Resources Louisiana State University and AgCenter Baton Rouge Louisiana USA
- Department of Biological Sciences California State Polytechnic University, Pomona Pomona California USA
| | - Allison M. Snider
- School of Renewable Natural Resources Louisiana State University and AgCenter Baton Rouge Louisiana USA
| | - Philip C. Stouffer
- School of Renewable Natural Resources Louisiana State University and AgCenter Baton Rouge Louisiana USA
| | - Sabrina S. Taylor
- School of Renewable Natural Resources Louisiana State University and AgCenter Baton Rouge Louisiana USA
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10
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Griffiths J, Yeo HL, Yap G, Mailepessov D, Johansson P, Low HT, Siew CC, Lam P, Ng LC. Survey of rodent-borne pathogens in Singapore reveals the circulation of Leptospira spp., Seoul hantavirus, and Rickettsia typhi. Sci Rep 2022; 12:2692. [PMID: 35177639 PMCID: PMC8854382 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-03954-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2021] [Accepted: 12/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Rodents living alongside humans increases the probability of encounter and also the transmission of rodent-borne diseases. Singapore’s cosmopolitan urban landscape provides a perfect setting to study the prevalence of four rodent-borne pathogens: Seoul hantavirus (SEOV), Leptospira species, Rickettsia typhi and Yersinia pestis, and identify the potential risk factors which may influence rodent density and transmission of rodent-borne diseases. A total of 1143 rodents were trapped from 10 unique landscape structures throughout Singapore. Real-time quantitative Polymerase Chain Reactions were used to detect pathogenic and intermediate Leptospira spp. and Yersinia pestis, whereas the seroprevalence of SEOV and R. typhi were analysed by Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay and Immunofluorescence Assay respectively. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the association between prevalence of infection in rodent reservoirs and risk factors. Most of the rodents were caught in public residential developments (62.2%). Among the tested rodents, 42.4% were infected with Leptospira spp., while 35.5% and 32.2% were seropositive for SEOV and R. typhi respectively, whereas Yersinia pestis was not detected. Furthermore, risk factors including habitat, species, gender, and weight of rodents, influenced prevalence of infection to a varying extent. This study highlights the presence of Leptospira spp., SEOV and R. typhi in Singapore’s rodent population, suggesting the need for effective rodent management and sanitation strategies to prevent further circulation and transmission to humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jane Griffiths
- Environmental Health Institute, National Environment Agency, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Hui Ling Yeo
- Environmental Health Institute, National Environment Agency, Singapore, Singapore.
| | - Grace Yap
- Environmental Health Institute, National Environment Agency, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Diyar Mailepessov
- Environmental Health Institute, National Environment Agency, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Patrik Johansson
- Defence Medical and Environmental Research Institute, DSO National Laboratories, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Hwee Teng Low
- Defence Medical and Environmental Research Institute, DSO National Laboratories, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Chern-Chiang Siew
- Defence Medical and Environmental Research Institute, DSO National Laboratories, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Patrick Lam
- SAF Biodefence Centre, Force Medical Protection Command, HQ Medical Corps, Singapore Armed Forces, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Lee Ching Ng
- Environmental Health Institute, National Environment Agency, Singapore, Singapore.
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11
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Meheretu Y, Granberg Å, Berhane G, Khalil H, Lwande OW, Mitiku M, Welegerima K, de Bellocq JG, Bryja J, Abreha H, Leirs H, Ecke F, Evander M. Prevalence of Orthohantavirus-Reactive Antibodies in Humans and Peri-Domestic Rodents in Northern Ethiopia. Viruses 2021; 13:1054. [PMID: 34199600 PMCID: PMC8226976 DOI: 10.3390/v13061054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [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: 03/29/2021] [Revised: 05/28/2021] [Accepted: 05/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
In 2012, Tigray orthohantavirus was discovered in Ethiopia, but its seasonal infection in small mammals, and whether it poses a risk to humans was unknown. The occurrence of small mammals, rodents and shrews, in human inhabitations in northern Ethiopia is affected by season and presence of stone bunds. We sampled small mammals in two seasons from low- and high-density stone bund fields adjacent to houses and community-protected semi-natural habitats in Atsbi and Hagere Selam, where Tigray orthohantavirus was first discovered. We collected blood samples from both small mammals and residents using filter paper. The presence of orthohantavirus-reactive antibodies in blood was then analyzed using immunofluorescence assay (human samples) and enzyme linked immunosorbent assays (small mammal samples) with Puumala orthohantavirus as antigen. Viral RNA was detected by RT-PCR using small mammal blood samples. Total orthohantavirus prevalence (antibodies or virus RNA) in the small mammals was 3.37%. The positive animals were three Stenocephalemys albipes rats (prevalence in this species = 13.04%). The low prevalence made it impossible to determine whether season and stone bunds were associated with orthohantavirus prevalence in the small mammals. In humans, we report the first detection of orthohantavirus-reactive IgG antibodies in Ethiopia (seroprevalence = 5.26%). S. albipes lives in close proximity to humans, likely increasing the risk of zoonotic transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yonas Meheretu
- Department of Biology, Mekelle University, Mekelle P.O. Box 3102, Ethiopia; (G.B.); (K.W.)
- Institute of Mountain Research & Development, Mekelle University, Mekelle P.O. Box 231, Ethiopia
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, 603 65 Brno, Czech Republic; (J.G.d.B.); (J.B.)
| | - Åsa Granberg
- Department of Epidemiology and Global Health, Umeå University, 901 85 Umeå, Sweden;
| | - Gebregiorgis Berhane
- Department of Biology, Mekelle University, Mekelle P.O. Box 3102, Ethiopia; (G.B.); (K.W.)
| | - Hussein Khalil
- Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Environmental Studies, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 901 83 Umeå, Sweden; (H.K.); (F.E.)
| | - Olivia Wesula Lwande
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Virology, Umeå University, 901 85 Umeå, Sweden; (O.W.L.); (M.E.)
| | - Mengistu Mitiku
- College Health Sciences, Mekelle University, Mekelle P.O. Box 231, Ethiopia; (M.M.); (H.A.)
| | - Kiros Welegerima
- Department of Biology, Mekelle University, Mekelle P.O. Box 3102, Ethiopia; (G.B.); (K.W.)
| | - Joëlle Goüy de Bellocq
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, 603 65 Brno, Czech Republic; (J.G.d.B.); (J.B.)
- Department of Zoology and Fisheries, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, 165 21 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Josef Bryja
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, 603 65 Brno, Czech Republic; (J.G.d.B.); (J.B.)
| | - Hagos Abreha
- College Health Sciences, Mekelle University, Mekelle P.O. Box 231, Ethiopia; (M.M.); (H.A.)
| | - Herwig Leirs
- Evolutionary Ecology Group, University of Antwerp, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium;
| | - Frauke Ecke
- Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Environmental Studies, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 901 83 Umeå, Sweden; (H.K.); (F.E.)
| | - Magnus Evander
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Virology, Umeå University, 901 85 Umeå, Sweden; (O.W.L.); (M.E.)
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12
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Mull N, Jackson R, Sironen T, Forbes KM. Ecology of Neglected Rodent-Borne American Orthohantaviruses. Pathogens 2020; 9:E325. [PMID: 32357540 PMCID: PMC7281597 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens9050325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2020] [Revised: 04/23/2020] [Accepted: 04/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The number of documented American orthohantaviruses has increased significantly over recent decades, but most fundamental research has remained focused on just two of them: Andes virus (ANDV) and Sin Nombre virus (SNV). The majority of American orthohantaviruses are known to cause disease in humans, and most of these pathogenic strains were not described prior to human cases, indicating the importance of understanding all members of the virus clade. In this review, we summarize information on the ecology of under-studied rodent-borne American orthohantaviruses to form general conclusions and highlight important gaps in knowledge. Information regarding the presence and genetic diversity of many orthohantaviruses throughout the distributional range of their hosts is minimal and would significantly benefit from virus isolations to indicate a reservoir role. Additionally, few studies have investigated the mechanisms underlying transmission routes and factors affecting the environmental persistence of orthohantaviruses, limiting our understanding of factors driving prevalence fluctuations. As landscapes continue to change, host ranges and human exposure to orthohantaviruses likely will as well. Research on the ecology of neglected orthohantaviruses is necessary for understanding both current and future threats to human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathaniel Mull
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USA; (R.J.); (K.M.F.)
| | - Reilly Jackson
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USA; (R.J.); (K.M.F.)
| | - Tarja Sironen
- Department of Virology, University of Helsinki, 00290 Helsinki, Finland;
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, University of Helsinki, 00790 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Kristian M. Forbes
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USA; (R.J.); (K.M.F.)
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13
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Madai M, Németh V, Oldal M, Horváth G, Herczeg R, Kelemen K, Kemenesi G, Jakab F. Temporal Dynamics of Two Pathogenic Hantaviruses Among Rodents in Hungary. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2020; 20:212-221. [PMID: 31821117 DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2019.2438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Hantaviruses are worldwide pathogens, which often cause serious or even fatal diseases in humans. Hosts are predominantly in the form of rodents and soricomorphs; however, bats are also described as an important reservoir. In Hungary, representatives of two human pathogenic species of the genus Orthohantavirus are present: the Dobrava-Belgrade orthohantavirus and Puumala orthohantavirus. In Hungarian forests, the dominant rodent species are Apodemus flavicollis, Apodemus agrarius, Apodemus sylvaticus, and Myodes glareolus, all of which are natural reservoirs comprising different hantaviruses. The aim of the study was to survey the prevalence of hantaviruses among rodent populations and examine the potential relationship regarding population densities, years, sex, and seroprevalence. Rodents were trapped at 13 sampling plots in a forest reserve located in the Mecsek Mountain range, Hungary, from March to October between 2011 and 2014. Rodent serum samples were tested for IgG antibodies against Dobrava-Belgrade virus and Puumala virus by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using a recombinant nucleocapsid protein. During the 4-year sampling period, 2491 specimens were tested and 254 (10.2%) proved seropositive for orthohantaviruses. In 2011, the seroprevalence among Apodemus spp. and M. glareolus was 17.2% (114/661) and 3.9% (3/77), respectively, although this rate had reversed itself in 2014. Seropositivity was substantiated in 18.4% (12/65) of Myodes voles, while only 3.6% (13/359) of the tested Apodemus rodents were found to be IgG positive. Seroconversion was observed in 58 cases, while seroreversion was only detected in 3 individual cases. A significant difference among the number of infected males and females was identified in the first 2 years of our study. Winter survival with respect to rodents was not negatively affected due to the hantavirus infection. Hantavirus seroprevalence was not directly influenced by host abundance. Consequently, we assume that high rodent density alone does not lead to an increased risk of hantavirus infection among the rodent host population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mónika Madai
- Virological Research Group, BSL-4 Laboratory, Szentágothai Research Centre, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
- Faculty of Sciences, Institute of Biology, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Viktória Németh
- Virological Research Group, BSL-4 Laboratory, Szentágothai Research Centre, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
- Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Oncodermatology, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Miklós Oldal
- Virological Research Group, BSL-4 Laboratory, Szentágothai Research Centre, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Győző Horváth
- Faculty of Sciences, Institute of Biology, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Róbert Herczeg
- Bioinformatics Research Group, Szentágothai Research Centre, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Krisztina Kelemen
- Faculty of Sciences, Institute of Biology, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Gábor Kemenesi
- Virological Research Group, BSL-4 Laboratory, Szentágothai Research Centre, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
- Faculty of Sciences, Institute of Biology, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Ferenc Jakab
- Virological Research Group, BSL-4 Laboratory, Szentágothai Research Centre, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
- Faculty of Sciences, Institute of Biology, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
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14
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Mendoza H, Rubio AV, García-Peña GE, Suzán G, Simonetti JA. Does land-use change increase the abundance of zoonotic reservoirs? Rodents say yes. EUR J WILDLIFE RES 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s10344-019-1344-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
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15
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Rubio AV, Fredes F, Simonetti JA. Exotic Pinus radiata Plantations do not Increase Andes Hantavirus Prevalence in Rodents. ECOHEALTH 2019; 16:659-670. [PMID: 31654278 DOI: 10.1007/s10393-019-01443-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2018] [Accepted: 08/21/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Andes south virus (ANDV) is the etiologic agent of hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome (HCPS) in Chile and southern Argentina. Farm and forestry workers have been identified as a group at high risk of acquiring HCPS caused by ANDV due to their close exposure to rodents or their secretions in rural areas. Therefore, investigation on the effect of landscape composition on ANDV in wild rodents becomes relevant for disease prevention and control. In this study, we analyzed the influence of Monterey pine (Pinus radiata) plantations, an important monoculture in the global forest industry, on small mammal assemblage and on ANDV seroprevalence and abundance of seropositive rodents from central Chile. Small mammals were sampled seasonally during 2 years in native forests, adult pine plantations and young pine plantations. A total of 1630 samples from seven rodent species were analyzed for antibody detection. ANDV seroprevalence and abundance of seropositive rodents were significantly higher in the native forest compared to pine plantations. Furthermore, Monterey pine plantations decrease the abundance and relative abundance of Oligoryzomys longicaudatus (the principal reservoir of ANDV) and do not change sex ratio and distribution of age classes of this rodent species, which are variables that are important for ANDV transmission. Our findings indicate that Monterey pine plantations would not pose a higher risk of human exposure to ANDV compared to the temperate native forest. Our results can be useful for hantavirus risks assessment in human-dominated areas where ANDV is endemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- André V Rubio
- Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas Animales, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias y Pecuarias, Universidad de Chile, Av. Santa Rosa 11735, Santiago, Chile.
| | - Fernando Fredes
- Departamento de Medicina Preventiva Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias y Pecuarias, Universidad de Chile, Av. Santa Rosa 11735, Santiago, Chile
| | - Javier A Simonetti
- Departamento de Ciencias Ecológicas, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, Casilla 653, Santiago, Chile
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16
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Khalil H, Ecke F, Evander M, Bucht G, Hörnfeldt B. Population Dynamics of Bank Voles Predicts Human Puumala Hantavirus Risk. ECOHEALTH 2019; 16:545-557. [PMID: 31309365 PMCID: PMC6858908 DOI: 10.1007/s10393-019-01424-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2016] [Revised: 05/15/2019] [Accepted: 05/15/2019] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Predicting risk of zoonotic diseases, i.e., diseases shared by humans and animals, is often complicated by the population ecology of wildlife host(s). We here demonstrate how ecological knowledge of a disease system can be used for early prediction of human risk using Puumala hantavirus (PUUV) in bank voles (Myodes glareolus), which causes Nephropathia epidemica (NE) in humans, as a model system. Bank vole populations at northern latitudes exhibit multiannual fluctuations in density and spatial distribution, a phenomenon that has been studied extensively. Nevertheless, existing studies predict NE incidence only a few months before an outbreak. We used a time series on cyclic bank vole population density (1972-2013), their PUUV infection rates (1979-1986; 2003-2013), and NE incidence in Sweden (1990-2013). Depending on the relationship between vole density and infection prevalence (proportion of infected animals), either overall density of bank voles or the density of infected bank voles may be used to predict seasonal NE incidence. The density and spatial distribution of voles at density minima of a population cycle contribute to the early warning of NE risk later at its cyclic peak. When bank voles remain relatively widespread in the landscape during cyclic minima, PUUV can spread from a high baseline during a cycle, culminating in high prevalence in bank voles and potentially high NE risk during peak densities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hussein Khalil
- Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Environmental Studies, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 901 83, Umeå, Sweden.
| | - Frauke Ecke
- Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Environmental Studies, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 901 83, Umeå, Sweden
- Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, P.O. Box 7050, 750 07, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Magnus Evander
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Virology, Umeå University, 901 85, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Göran Bucht
- Swedish Defense Research Agency, CBRN Defence and Security, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Birger Hörnfeldt
- Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Environmental Studies, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 901 83, Umeå, Sweden
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17
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Girling SJ, Goodman G, Burr P, Pizzi R, Naylor A, Cole G, Brown D, Fraser M, Rosell FN, Schwab G, Elliott M, Campbell-Palmer R. Evidence of Leptospira species and their significance during reintroduction of Eurasian beavers ( Castor fiber) to Great Britain. Vet Rec 2019; 185:482. [PMID: 31467063 DOI: 10.1136/vr.105429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2019] [Revised: 06/25/2019] [Accepted: 07/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
The Scottish Beaver Trial (SBT) reintroduced the Eurasian beaver (Castor fiber) in 2009 using wild-caught Norwegian beavers. This included a six-month prerelease quarantine in Devon, England. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and government guidelines for health screening were followed, including testing for Leptospira species. Unlicensed beavers, from Germany, were also identified in Scotland (Tayside) and Devon (later forming the River Otter Beaver Trial (ROBT)) and were health-screened under licence. Due to positive Leptospira species results and lack of prerelease screening in ROBT and Tayside, beavers from Germany and Norway (range sources) were screened. One hundred and fifty-six samples from 151 beavers were analysed by Leptospira species quantitative PCR (qPCR) (n=73 kidney (postmortem)/urine samples (antemortem)) or microscopic agglutination test (MAT, Leptospira pools 1-6) (n=83 serum samples). No beavers from Norway (95 per cent confidence interval (CI) 0-5.6 per cent, n=52), Tayside or SBT postrelease (95 per cent CI 0-4.6 per cent, n=63) tested positive. Seven beavers from Germany and Devon were positive. This gives an overall 9.3 per cent (95 per cent CI 5.2-15.1 per cent) exposure level, of which 4.6 per cent (95 per cent CI 1.9-9.3 per cent) suggested infection on a positive qPCR (n=1) or MAT titre of at least 1/400 (n=6), although none had abnormal physical, biochemical or haematological changes. This study suggests that Leptospira species infection in wild Eurasian beavers occurs at a low level, has no sex bias and does not appear to cause significant morbidity or mortality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon J Girling
- Veterinary Department, Living Collections, Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Gidona Goodman
- Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | | | - Romain Pizzi
- Veterinary Department, Living Collections, Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Adam Naylor
- Veterinary Department, Living Collections, Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Georgina Cole
- Veterinary Department, Living Collections, Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Donna Brown
- Veterinary Department, Living Collections, Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, Edinburgh, UK
| | | | - Frank Narve Rosell
- Department of Natural Sciences and Environmental Health, University of South-Eastern Norway, Bø, Norway
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18
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Jarquín-Díaz VH, Balard A, Jost J, Kraft J, Dikmen MN, Kvičerová J, Heitlinger E. Detection and quantification of house mouse Eimeria at the species level - Challenges and solutions for the assessment of coccidia in wildlife. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR PARASITOLOGY-PARASITES AND WILDLIFE 2019; 10:29-40. [PMID: 31360634 PMCID: PMC6637263 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2019.07.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2019] [Revised: 07/08/2019] [Accepted: 07/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Detection and quantification of coccidia in studies of wildlife can be challenging. Therefore, prevalence of coccidia is often not assessed at the parasite species level in non-livestock animals. Parasite species – specific prevalences are especially important when studying evolutionary questions in wild populations. We tested whether increased host population density increases prevalence of individual Eimeria species at the farm level, as predicted by epidemiological theory. We studied free-living commensal populations of the house mouse (Mus musculus) in Germany, and established a strategy to detect and quantify Eimeria infections. We show that a novel diagnostic primer targeting the apicoplast genome (Ap5) and coprological assessment after flotation provide complementary detection results increasing sensitivity. Genotyping PCRs confirm detection in a subset of samples and cross-validation of different PCR markers does not indicate bias towards a particular parasite species in genotyping. We were able to detect double infections and to determine the preferred niche of each parasite species along the distal-proximal axis of the intestine. Parasite genotyping from tissue samples provides additional indication for the absence of species bias in genotyping amplifications. Three Eimeria species were found infecting house mice at different prevalences: Eimeria ferrisi (16.7%; 95% CI 13.2–20.7), E. falciformis (4.2%; 95% CI 2.6–6.8) and E. vermiformis (1.9%; 95% CI 0.9–3.8). We also find that mice in dense populations are more likely to be infected with E. falciformis and E. ferrisi. We provide methods for the assessment of prevalences of coccidia at the species level in rodent systems. We show and discuss how such data can help to test hypotheses in ecology, evolution and epidemiology on a species level. Flotation and PCR provide complementary results for Eimeria detection in house mice. Genotyping PCRs confirm detections. E. ferrisi, E. falciformis, and E. vermiformis infect natural populations of M. musculus. Double infections and preferentially infected tissues could be identified using qPCR. Potential virulence prevalence trade-off for Eimeria of house mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Víctor Hugo Jarquín-Díaz
- Department of Molecular Parasitology, Institute for Biology, Humboldt University Berlin (HU), Philippstr. 13, Haus 14, 10115, Berlin, Germany.,Research Group Ecology and Evolution of Molecular Parasite-Host Interactions, Leibniz-Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (IZW), Im Forschungsverbund Berlin e.V. Alfred-Kowalke-Straße 17, 10315, Berlin, Germany
| | - Alice Balard
- Department of Molecular Parasitology, Institute for Biology, Humboldt University Berlin (HU), Philippstr. 13, Haus 14, 10115, Berlin, Germany.,Research Group Ecology and Evolution of Molecular Parasite-Host Interactions, Leibniz-Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (IZW), Im Forschungsverbund Berlin e.V. Alfred-Kowalke-Straße 17, 10315, Berlin, Germany
| | - Jenny Jost
- Department of Molecular Parasitology, Institute for Biology, Humboldt University Berlin (HU), Philippstr. 13, Haus 14, 10115, Berlin, Germany
| | - Julia Kraft
- Department of Molecular Parasitology, Institute for Biology, Humboldt University Berlin (HU), Philippstr. 13, Haus 14, 10115, Berlin, Germany
| | - Mert Naci Dikmen
- Department of Molecular Parasitology, Institute for Biology, Humboldt University Berlin (HU), Philippstr. 13, Haus 14, 10115, Berlin, Germany
| | - Jana Kvičerová
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Branišovská 1760, 370 05, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Emanuel Heitlinger
- Department of Molecular Parasitology, Institute for Biology, Humboldt University Berlin (HU), Philippstr. 13, Haus 14, 10115, Berlin, Germany.,Research Group Ecology and Evolution of Molecular Parasite-Host Interactions, Leibniz-Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (IZW), Im Forschungsverbund Berlin e.V. Alfred-Kowalke-Straße 17, 10315, Berlin, Germany
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19
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Giery ST, Layman CA. Ecological Consequences Of Sexually Selected Traits: An Eco-Evolutionary Perspective. QUARTERLY REVIEW OF BIOLOGY 2019. [DOI: 10.1086/702341] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
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20
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Girling SJ, McElhinney LM, Fraser MA, Gow D, Pizzi R, Naylor A, Cole G, Brown D, Rosell F, Schwab G, Campbell-Palmer R. Absence of hantavirus in water voles and Eurasian beavers in Britain. Vet Rec 2019; 184:253. [DOI: 10.1136/vr.105246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2018] [Accepted: 01/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Lorraine M McElhinney
- Wildlife Zoonoses and Vector Borne Disease Research Group; Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA); New Haw UK
| | | | | | - Romain Pizzi
- Veterinary Department; Royal Zoological Society of Scotland; Edinburgh UK
| | - Adam Naylor
- Veterinary Department; Royal Zoological Society of Scotland; Edinburgh UK
| | - Georgina Cole
- Veterinary Department; Royal Zoological Society of Scotland; Edinburgh UK
| | - Donna Brown
- Veterinary Department; Royal Zoological Society of Scotland; Edinburgh UK
| | - Frank Rosell
- Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Department of Environmental Health Studies; Telemark University College; Bø Norway
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21
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Warner BM, Stein DR, Griffin BD, Tierney K, Leung A, Sloan A, Kobasa D, Poliquin G, Kobinger GP, Safronetz D. Development and Characterization of a Sin Nombre Virus Transmission Model in Peromyscus maniculatus. Viruses 2019; 11:v11020183. [PMID: 30795592 PMCID: PMC6409794 DOI: 10.3390/v11020183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2019] [Revised: 02/12/2019] [Accepted: 02/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
In North America, Sin Nombre virus (SNV) is the main cause of hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome (HCPS), a severe respiratory disease with a fatality rate of 35–40%. SNV is a zoonotic pathogen carried by deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus), and few studies have been performed examining its transmission in deer mouse populations. Studying SNV and other hantaviruses can be difficult due to the need to propagate the virus in vivo for subsequent experiments. We show that when compared with standard intramuscular infection, the intraperitoneal infection of deer mice can be as effective in producing SNV stocks with a high viral RNA copy number, and this method of infection provides a more reproducible infection model. Furthermore, the age and sex of the infected deer mice have little effect on viral replication and shedding. We also describe a reliable model of direct experimental SNV transmission. We examined the transmission of SNV between deer mice and found that direct contact between deer mice is the main driver of SNV transmission rather than exposure to contaminated excreta/secreta, which is thought to be the main driver of transmission of the virus to humans. Furthermore, increases in heat shock responses or testosterone levels in SNV-infected deer mice do not increase the replication, shedding, or rate of transmission. Here, we have demonstrated a model for the transmission of SNV between deer mice, the natural rodent reservoir for the virus. The use of this model will have important implications for further examining SNV transmission and in developing strategies for the prevention of SNV infection in deer mouse populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bryce M Warner
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0J9, Canada.
| | - Derek R Stein
- Zoonotic Diseases and Special Pathogens, National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, MB R3E3R2, Canada.
| | - Bryan D Griffin
- Zoonotic Diseases and Special Pathogens, National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, MB R3E3R2, Canada.
| | - Kevin Tierney
- Zoonotic Diseases and Special Pathogens, National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, MB R3E3R2, Canada.
| | - Anders Leung
- Zoonotic Diseases and Special Pathogens, National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, MB R3E3R2, Canada.
| | - Angela Sloan
- Zoonotic Diseases and Special Pathogens, National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, MB R3E3R2, Canada.
| | - Darwyn Kobasa
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0J9, Canada.
- Zoonotic Diseases and Special Pathogens, National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, MB R3E3R2, Canada.
| | - Guillaume Poliquin
- Zoonotic Diseases and Special Pathogens, National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, MB R3E3R2, Canada.
| | - Gary P Kobinger
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0J9, Canada.
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
- Centre de Recherche en Infectiologie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Québec, Université Laval, Quebec City, QC G1V 0A6 Canada.
| | - David Safronetz
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0J9, Canada.
- Zoonotic Diseases and Special Pathogens, National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, MB R3E3R2, Canada.
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22
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Tian H, Stenseth NC. The ecological dynamics of hantavirus diseases: From environmental variability to disease prevention largely based on data from China. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2019; 13:e0006901. [PMID: 30789905 PMCID: PMC6383869 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0006901] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Hantaviruses can cause hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) in the Americas and hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) in Eurasia. In recent decades, repeated outbreaks of hantavirus disease have led to public concern and have created a global public health burden. Hantavirus spillover from natural hosts into human populations could be considered an ecological process, in which environmental forces, behavioral determinants of exposure, and dynamics at the human–animal interface affect human susceptibility and the epidemiology of the disease. In this review, we summarize the progress made in understanding hantavirus epidemiology and rodent reservoir population biology. We mainly focus on three species of rodent hosts with longitudinal studies of sufficient scale: the striped field mouse (Apodemus agrarius, the main reservoir host for Hantaan virus [HTNV], which causes HFRS) in Asia, the deer mouse (Peromyscus maniculatus, the main reservoir host for Sin Nombre virus [SNV], which causes HPS) in North America, and the bank vole (Myodes glareolus, the main reservoir host for Puumala virus [PUUV], which causes HFRS) in Europe. Moreover, we discuss the influence of ecological factors on human hantavirus disease outbreaks and provide an overview of research perspectives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huaiyu Tian
- State Key Laboratory of Remote Sensing Science, College of Global Change and Earth System Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
- * E-mail: (HT); (NCS)
| | - Nils Chr. Stenseth
- Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Synthesis (CEES), Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, Blindern, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Earth System Science, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- * E-mail: (HT); (NCS)
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23
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Guterres A, de Oliveira RC, Fernandes J, Maia RM, Teixeira BR, Oliveira FCG, Bonvicino CR, D'Andrea PS, Schrago CG, de Lemos ERS. Co-circulation of Araraquara and Juquitiba Hantavirus in Brazilian Cerrado. MICROBIAL ECOLOGY 2018; 75:783-789. [PMID: 28856421 DOI: 10.1007/s00248-017-1061-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2017] [Accepted: 08/22/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome is an emerging serious disease in the Americas, transmitted from wild rodents to humans through inhalation of aerosol containing virus. Herein, we characterized two distinct hantaviruses circulating in rodent species form Central Plateau, Midwestern region of Brazil in the Cerrado (savanna-like) biome, an area characterized by small trees and grasses adapted to climates with long dry periods. In this study, we identified the co-circulation of the Araraquara virus and a possible new lineage of the Juquitiba virus (JUQV) in Oligoryzomys nigripes. The implications of co-circulation are still unknown, but it can be the key for increasing viral diversity or emergence of new species through spillover or host switching events leading to co-infection and consequently recombination or reassortment between different virus species. Phylogenetic analyses based on the complete S segment indicated that, alongside with Oligoryzomys mattogrossae rodents, O. nigripes species could also have a whole as JUQV reservoir in the Cerrado biome. Although these rodents' species are common in the Cerrado biome, they are not abundant demonstrating how complex and different hantavirus enzootic cycles can be in this particular biome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandro Guterres
- Laboratório de Hantaviroses e Rickettsioses, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Pavilhão Helio e Peggy Pereira - 1° Pav. Sala B115, Av. Brasil 4365, Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 21045-900, Brazil.
- Departamento de Genética, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
| | - Renata Carvalho de Oliveira
- Laboratório de Hantaviroses e Rickettsioses, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Pavilhão Helio e Peggy Pereira - 1° Pav. Sala B115, Av. Brasil 4365, Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 21045-900, Brazil
| | - Jorlan Fernandes
- Laboratório de Hantaviroses e Rickettsioses, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Pavilhão Helio e Peggy Pereira - 1° Pav. Sala B115, Av. Brasil 4365, Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 21045-900, Brazil
| | - Renata Malachini Maia
- Laboratório de Hantaviroses e Rickettsioses, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Pavilhão Helio e Peggy Pereira - 1° Pav. Sala B115, Av. Brasil 4365, Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 21045-900, Brazil
| | - Bernardo Rodrigues Teixeira
- Laboratorio de Biologia e Parasitologia de Mamíferos Silvestres Reservatórios, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | | | - Cibele Rodrigues Bonvicino
- Laboratorio de Biologia e Parasitologia de Mamíferos Silvestres Reservatórios, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
- Instituto Nacional do Câncer - INCA, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Paulo Sergio D'Andrea
- Laboratorio de Biologia e Parasitologia de Mamíferos Silvestres Reservatórios, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Carlos Guerra Schrago
- Departamento de Genética, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Elba Regina Sampaio de Lemos
- Laboratório de Hantaviroses e Rickettsioses, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Pavilhão Helio e Peggy Pereira - 1° Pav. Sala B115, Av. Brasil 4365, Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 21045-900, Brazil.
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Is species richness driving intra- and interspecific interactions and temporal activity overlap of a hantavirus host? An experimental test. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0188060. [PMID: 29141047 PMCID: PMC5687724 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0188060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2017] [Accepted: 10/31/2017] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
High species diversity of the potential animal host community for a zoonotic pathogen may reduce pathogen transmission among the most competent host, a phenomenon called the “dilution effect”, but the mechanisms driving this effect have been little studied. One proposed mechanism is “encounter reduction” where host species of low-competency decrease contact rates between infected and susceptible competent hosts, especially in directly transmitted diseases. We conducted an experiment in outdoor enclosures in northwestern Mexico where we manipulated rodent assemblages to assess the effect of species richness on the frequency of intra- and interspecific interactions and activity patterns of a hantavirus reservoir host (North American deermouse; Peromyscus maniculatus). Trials consisted of three treatments of rodent assemblages that differed in species richness, but had equal abundance of deermice; treatment 1 consisted of only deermice, treatment 2 included deermice and one non-competent host species, and treatment 3 included two non-competent host species in addition to deermice. To measure interactions and temporal activity, we strategically deployed foraging stations and infrared cameras. We did not find differences in the frequency of intraspecific interactions of deermice among treatments, but there were significantly more interspecific interactions between deermouse and non-competent hosts in treatment 2 than treatment 3, which is explained by the identity of the non-competent host species. In addition, there were differences in activity patterns between rodent species, and also between deermice from treatment 1 and treatment 2. These results indicate that at least at a small-scale analysis, the co-occurrence with other species in the study area does not influence the frequency of intraspecific interactions of deermice, and that deermice may be changing their activity patterns to avoid a particular non-competent host species (Dipodomys merriami). In conclusion, in this deermouse-hantavirus system a potential dilution effect would not be through intraspecific encounter reduction in the most competent hantavirus host. To identify variables of host assemblages that can influence pathogen transmission, we highlight the need to address the identity of species and the composition of assemblages, not only host species richness or diversity.
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Forbes KM, Sironen T, Plyusnin A. Hantavirus maintenance and transmission in reservoir host populations. Curr Opin Virol 2017; 28:1-6. [PMID: 29024905 DOI: 10.1016/j.coviro.2017.09.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2017] [Revised: 09/19/2017] [Accepted: 09/20/2017] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Hantaviruses are primarily hosted by mammalian species of the orders Rodentia, Eulipotyphla and Chiroptera. Spillover to humans is common, and understanding hantavirus maintenance and transmission in reservoir host populations is important for efforts to curtail human disease. Recent field research challenges traditional phases of virus shedding kinetics derived from laboratory rodent infection experiments. Organ infection sites in non-rodent hosts suggest similar transmission routes to rodents, but require direct assessment. Further advances have also been made in understanding virus persistence (and fadeouts) in fluctuating host populations, as well as occupational, recreational and environmental risk factors associated with spillover to humans. However, despite relevance for both intra-species and inter-species transmission, our understanding of the longevity of hantaviruses in natural environments remains limited.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristian M Forbes
- Department of Virology, University of Helsinki, Haartmaninkatu 3, Helsinki FI-00290, Finland; Centre for Infectious Disease Dynamics and Department of Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, Millennium Science Complex, State College, PA 16802, United States.
| | - Tarja Sironen
- Department of Virology, University of Helsinki, Haartmaninkatu 3, Helsinki FI-00290, Finland; Department of Veterinary Biosciences, University of Helsinki, Agnes Sjöbergin katu 2, Helsinki FI-00014, Finland
| | - Alexander Plyusnin
- Department of Virology, University of Helsinki, Haartmaninkatu 3, Helsinki FI-00290, Finland
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Prist PR, D Andrea PS, Metzger JP. Landscape, Climate and Hantavirus Cardiopulmonary Syndrome Outbreaks. ECOHEALTH 2017; 14:614-629. [PMID: 28620680 DOI: 10.1007/s10393-017-1255-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2016] [Revised: 04/26/2017] [Accepted: 05/10/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
We performed a literature review in order to improve our understanding of how landscape and climate drivers affect HCPS outbreaks. Anthropogenic landscape changes such as forest loss, fragmentation and agricultural land uses are related with a boost in hantavirus reservoir species abundance and hantavirus prevalence in tropical areas, increasing HCPS risk. Additionally, higher precipitation, especially in arid regions, favors an increase in vegetational biomass, which augments the resources for reservoir rodents, also increasing HCPS risk. Although these relationships were observed, few studies described it so far, and the ones that did it are concentrated in few places. To guide future research on this issue, we build a conceptual model relating landscape and climate variables with HCPS outbreaks and identified research opportunities. We point out the need for studies addressing the effects of landscape configuration, temperature and the interaction between climate and landscape variables. Critical landscape thresholds are also highly relevant, once HCPS risk transmission can increase rapidly above a certain degree of landscape degradation. These studies could be relevant to implement preventive measures, creating landscapes that can mitigate disease spread risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paula Ribeiro Prist
- Department of Ecology, Bioscience Institute, University of São Paulo, Rua do Matão, 321, travessa 14, São Paulo, SP, 05508-900, Brazil.
| | - Paulo Sérgio D Andrea
- Department of Tropical Medicine, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Jean Paul Metzger
- Department of Ecology, Bioscience Institute, University of São Paulo, Rua do Matão, 321, travessa 14, São Paulo, SP, 05508-900, Brazil
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Prist PR, Uriarte M, Fernandes K, Metzger JP. Climate change and sugarcane expansion increase Hantavirus infection risk. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2017; 11:e0005705. [PMID: 28727744 PMCID: PMC5519001 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0005705] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2017] [Accepted: 06/12/2017] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Hantavirus Cardiopulmonary Syndrome (HCPS) is a disease caused by Hantavirus, which is highly virulent for humans. High temperatures and conversion of native vegetation to agriculture, particularly sugarcane cultivation can alter abundance of rodent generalist species that serve as the principal reservoir host for HCPS, but our understanding of the compound effects of land use and climate on HCPS incidence remains limited, particularly in tropical regions. Here we rely on a Bayesian model to fill this research gap and to predict the effects of sugarcane expansion and expected changes in temperature on Hantavirus infection risk in the state of São Paulo, Brazil. The sugarcane expansion scenario was based on historical data between 2000 and 2010 combined with an agro-environment zoning guideline for the sugar and ethanol industry. Future evolution of temperature anomalies was derived using 32 general circulation models from scenarios RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 (Representative greenhouse gases Concentration Pathways adopted by IPCC). Currently, the state of São Paulo has an average Hantavirus risk of 1.3%, with 6% of the 645 municipalities of the state being classified as high risk (HCPS risk ≥ 5%). Our results indicate that sugarcane expansion alone will increase average HCPS risk to 1.5%, placing 20% more people at HCPS risk. Temperature anomalies alone increase HCPS risk even more (1.6% for RCP4.5 and 1.7%, for RCP8.5), and place 31% and 34% more people at risk. Combined sugarcane and temperature increases led to the same predictions as scenarios that only included temperature. Our results demonstrate that climate change effects are likely to be more severe than those from sugarcane expansion. Forecasting disease is critical for the timely and efficient planning of operational control programs that can address the expected effects of sugarcane expansion and climate change on HCPS infection risk. The predicted spatial location of HCPS infection risks obtained here can be used to prioritize management actions and develop educational campaigns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paula Ribeiro Prist
- Department of Ecology, Bioscience Institute, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
- * E-mail:
| | - María Uriarte
- Department of Ecology, Evolution & Environmental Biology, Columbia University, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Katia Fernandes
- International Research Institute for Climate and Society; Earth Institute; Columbia University, Palisades, New York, United States of America
| | - Jean Paul Metzger
- Department of Ecology, Bioscience Institute, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
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28
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Ecke F, Angeler DG, Magnusson M, Khalil H, Hörnfeldt B. Dampening of population cycles in voles affects small mammal community structure, decreases diversity, and increases prevalence of a zoonotic disease. Ecol Evol 2017; 7:5331-5342. [PMID: 28770071 PMCID: PMC5528244 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.3074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2017] [Revised: 04/23/2017] [Accepted: 04/26/2017] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Long-term decline and depression of density in cyclic small rodents is a recent widespread phenomenon. These observed changes at the population level might have cascading effects at the ecosystem level. Here, we assessed relationships between changing boreal landscapes and biodiversity changes of small mammal communities. We also inferred potential effects of observed community changes for increased transmission risk of Puumala virus (PUUV) spread, causing the zoonotic disease nephropatica epidemica in humans. Analyses were based on long-term (1971-2013) monitoring data of shrews and voles representing 58 time series in northern Sweden. We calculated richness, diversity, and evenness at alpha, beta, and gamma level, partitioned beta diversity into turnover (species replacement) and nestedness (species addition/removal), used similarity percentages (SIMPER) analysis to assess community structure, and calculated the cumulated number of PUUV-infected bank voles and average PUUV prevalence (percentage of infected bank voles) per vole cycle. Alpha, beta, and gamma richness and diversity of voles, but not shrews, showed long-term trends that varied spatially. The observed patterns were associated with an increase in community contribution of bank vole (Myodes glareolus), a decrease of gray-sided vole (M. rufocanus) and field vole (Microtus agrestis) and a hump-shaped variation in contribution of common shrew (Sorex araneus). Long-term biodiversity changes were largely related to changes in forest landscape structure. Number of PUUV-infected bank voles in spring was negatively related to beta and gamma diversity, and positively related to turnover of shrews (replaced by voles) and to community contribution of bank voles. The latter was also positively related to average PUUV prevalence in spring. We showed that long-term changes in the boreal landscape contributed to explain the decrease in biodiversity and the change in structure of small mammal communities. In addition, our results suggest decrease in small mammal diversity to have knock-on effects on dynamics of infectious diseases among small mammals with potential implications for disease transmission to humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frauke Ecke
- Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Environmental StudiesSwedish University of Agricultural SciencesUmeåSweden
| | - David G. Angeler
- Department of Aquatic Sciences and AssessmentSwedish University of Agricultural SciencesUppsalaSweden
| | - Magnus Magnusson
- Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Environmental StudiesSwedish University of Agricultural SciencesUmeåSweden
| | - Hussein Khalil
- Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Environmental StudiesSwedish University of Agricultural SciencesUmeåSweden
| | - Birger Hörnfeldt
- Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Environmental StudiesSwedish University of Agricultural SciencesUmeåSweden
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29
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Expansion of spatial and host range ofPuumalavirus in Sweden: an increasing threat for humans? Epidemiol Infect 2017; 145:1642-1648. [DOI: 10.1017/s0950268817000346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
SUMMARYHantaviruses are globally distributed and cause severe human disease.Puumalahantavirus (PUUV) is the most common species in Northern Europe, and the only hantavirus confirmed to circulate in Sweden, restricted to the northern regions of the country. In this study, we aimed to further add to the natural ecology of PUUV in Sweden by investigating prevalence, and spatial and host species infection patterns. Specifically, we wanted to ascertain whether PUUV was present in the natural reservoir, the bank vole (Myodes glareolus) further south than Dalälven river, in south-central Sweden, and whether PUUV can be detected in other rodent species in addition to the natural reservoir. In total, 559 animals were collected at Grimsö (59°43′N; 15°28′E), Sala (59°55′N; 16°36′E) and Bogesund (59°24′N; 18°14′E) in south-central Sweden between May 2013 and November 2014. PUUV ELISA-reactive antibodies were found both in 2013 (22/295) and in 2014 (18/264), and nine samples were confirmed as PUUV-specific by focus reduction neutralization test. Most of the PUUV-specific samples were from the natural host, the bank vole, but also from other rodent hosts, indicating viral spill-over. Finally, we showed that PUUV is present in more highly populated central Sweden.
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30
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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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31
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Granter SR, Ostfeld RS, Milner DA. Where the Wild Things Aren't: Loss of Biodiversity, Emerging Infectious Diseases, and Implications for Diagnosticians. Am J Clin Pathol 2016; 146:644-646. [PMID: 27940425 DOI: 10.1093/ajcp/aqw197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Scott R Granter
- From the Department of Pathology, The Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA
| | | | - Danny A Milner
- the American Society for Clinical Pathology, Chicago, IL
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32
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Khalil H, Ecke F, Evander M, Magnusson M, Hörnfeldt B. Declining ecosystem health and the dilution effect. Sci Rep 2016; 6:31314. [PMID: 27499001 PMCID: PMC4976314 DOI: 10.1038/srep31314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2016] [Accepted: 07/18/2016] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The “dilution effect” implies that where species vary in susceptibility to infection by a pathogen, higher diversity often leads to lower infection prevalence in hosts. For directly transmitted pathogens, non-host species may “dilute” infection directly (1) and indirectly (2). Competitors and predators may (1) alter host behavior to reduce pathogen transmission or (2) reduce host density. In a well-studied system, we tested the dilution of the zoonotic Puumala hantavirus (PUUV) in bank voles (Myodes glareolus) by two competitors and a predator. Our study was based on long-term PUUV infection data (2003–2013) in northern Sweden. The field vole (Microtus agrestis) and the common shrew (Sorex araneus) are bank vole competitors and Tengmalm’s owl (Aegolius funereus) is a main predator of bank voles. Infection probability in bank voles decreased when common shrew density increased, suggesting that common shrews reduced PUUV transmission. Field voles suppressed bank vole density in meadows and clear-cuts and indirectly diluted PUUV infection. Further, Tengmalm’s owl decline in 1980–2013 may have contributed to higher PUUV infection rates in bank voles in 2003–2013 compared to 1979–1986. Our study provides further evidence for dilution effect and suggests that owls may have an important role in reducing disease risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hussein Khalil
- Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Environmental Studies, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Skogmarksgränd, SE-901 83 Umeå, Sweden
| | - Frauke Ecke
- Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Environmental Studies, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Skogmarksgränd, SE-901 83 Umeå, Sweden.,Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Gerda Nilssons väg 5, SE-756 51 Uppsala Sweden
| | - Magnus Evander
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Virology, Umeå University, SE-901 85 Umeå, Sweden
| | - Magnus Magnusson
- Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Environmental Studies, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Skogmarksgränd, SE-901 83 Umeå, Sweden
| | - Birger Hörnfeldt
- Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Environmental Studies, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Skogmarksgränd, SE-901 83 Umeå, Sweden
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33
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Monchatre-Leroy E, Crespin L, Boué F, Marianneau P, Calavas D, Hénaux V. Spatial and Temporal Epidemiology of Nephropathia Epidemica Incidence and Hantavirus Seroprevalence in Rodent Hosts: Identification of the Main Environmental Factors in Europe. Transbound Emerg Dis 2016; 64:1210-1228. [PMID: 26996739 DOI: 10.1111/tbed.12494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2015] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
In Europe, the increasing number of nephropathia epidemica (NE) infections in humans, caused by Puumala virus carried by bank voles (Myodes glareolus), has triggered studies of environmental factors driving these infections. NE infections have been shown to occur in specific geographical areas characterized by environmental factors that influence the distribution and dynamics of host populations and virus persistence in the soil. Here, we review the influence of environmental conditions (including climate factors, food availability and habitat conditions) with respect to incidence in humans and seroprevalence in rodents, considering both direct and indirect transmission pathways. For each type of environmental factor, results and discrepancies between studies are presented and examined in the light of biological hypotheses. Overall, food availability and temperature appear to be the main drivers of host seroprevalence and NE incidence, but data quality and statistical approaches varied greatly among studies. We highlight the issues that now need to be addressed and suggest improvements for study design in regard to the current knowledge on hantavirus epidemiology.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - L Crespin
- INRA, UR346 d'Epidémiologie Animale, F63122 Saint Genès Champanelle, Université de Lyon, Lyon, France.,Université Lyon 1, Lyon, France.,CNRS, UMR5558, Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive, Villeurbanne, France
| | - F Boué
- Laboratoire de la rage et de la faune sauvage, ANSES, Nancy, France
| | - P Marianneau
- Unité de virologie, Laboratoire de Lyon, ANSES, Lyon, France
| | - D Calavas
- Unité d'épidémiologie, Laboratoire de Lyon, ANSES, Lyon, France
| | - V Hénaux
- Unité d'épidémiologie, Laboratoire de Lyon, ANSES, Lyon, France
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Abstract
Biodiversity often serves to reduce zoonotic pathogens, such that prevalence is lower in communities of greater diversity. This phenomenon is termed the dilution effect, and although it has been reported for several pathogens (e.g. Sin Nombre virus, SNV), the mechanism is largely unknown. We investigated a putative mechanism, by testing the hypothesis that higher biodiversity alters behaviours important in pathogen transmission. Using deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus) and SNV as our host-pathogen system, and a novel surveillance system, we compared host behaviours between high- and low-diversity communities. Behaviours were observed on foraging trays equipped with infrared cameras and passive integrated transponder (PIT) tag readers. Deer mice inhabiting the more diverse site spent less time in behaviours related to SNV transmission compared to deer mice from the less diverse site. The differences were attributed to the composition of behavioural phenotypes ('bold' versus 'shy') on the sites. Bold deer mice were 4.6 times more numerous on the less diverse site and three times more likely to be infected with SNV than shy deer mice. Our findings suggest that biodiversity affects pathogen transmission by altering the presence of different behavioural phenotypes. These findings have implications for human health and conservation.
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Rubio AV, Vigueras-Galván AL, Schountz T, Moreno-Torres K, List R, Sarmiento-Silva RE, Ávila-Flores R, Suzán G. Abundance of hantavirus hosts in a landscape with black-tailed prairie dog colonies in northwestern Mexico. Mamm Biol 2015. [DOI: 10.1016/j.mambio.2015.06.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
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Johnson PTJ, Ostfeld RS, Keesing F. Frontiers in research on biodiversity and disease. Ecol Lett 2015; 18:1119-33. [PMID: 26261049 PMCID: PMC4860816 DOI: 10.1111/ele.12479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 153] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2015] [Revised: 04/09/2015] [Accepted: 06/23/2015] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Global losses of biodiversity have galvanised efforts to understand how changes to communities affect ecological processes, including transmission of infectious pathogens. Here, we review recent research on diversity-disease relationships and identify future priorities. Growing evidence from experimental, observational and modelling studies indicates that biodiversity changes alter infection for a range of pathogens and through diverse mechanisms. Drawing upon lessons from the community ecology of free-living organisms, we illustrate how recent advances from biodiversity research generally can provide necessary theoretical foundations, inform experimental designs, and guide future research at the interface between infectious disease risk and changing ecological communities. Dilution effects are expected when ecological communities are nested and interactions between the pathogen and the most competent host group(s) persist or increase as biodiversity declines. To move beyond polarising debates about the generality of diversity effects and develop a predictive framework, we emphasise the need to identify how the effects of diversity vary with temporal and spatial scale, to explore how realistic patterns of community assembly affect transmission, and to use experimental studies to consider mechanisms beyond simple changes in host richness, including shifts in trophic structure, functional diversity and symbiont composition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pieter T. J. Johnson
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309, USA
| | | | - Felicia Keesing
- Biology Program, Bard College, Annandale-on-Hudson, NY 12504, USA
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Maroli M, Vadell MV, Iglesias A, Padula PJ, Gómez Villafañe IE. Daily Movements and Microhabitat Selection of Hantavirus Reservoirs and Other Sigmodontinae Rodent Species that Inhabit a Protected Natural Area of Argentina. ECOHEALTH 2015; 12:421-431. [PMID: 26063039 DOI: 10.1007/s10393-015-1038-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2014] [Revised: 05/04/2015] [Accepted: 05/07/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Abundance, distribution, movement patterns, and habitat selection of a reservoir species influence the dispersal of zoonotic pathogens, and hence, the risk for humans. Movements and microhabitat use of rodent species, and their potential role in the transmission of hantavirus were studied in Otamendi Natural Reserve, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Movement estimators and qualitative characteristics of rodent paths were determined by means of a spool and line device method. Sampling was conducted during November and December 2011, and March, April, June, October, and December 2012. Forty-six Oxymycterus rufus, 41 Akodon azarae, 10 Scapteromys aquaticus and 5 Oligoryzomys flavescens were captured. Movement patterns and distances varied according to sex, habitat type, reproductive season, and body size among species. O. flavescens, reservoir of the etiologic agent of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome in the region, moved short distances, had the most linear paths and did not share paths with other species. A. azarae had an intermediate linearity index, its movements were longer in the highland grassland than in the lowland marsh and the salty grassland, and larger individuals traveled longer distances. O. rufus had the most tortuous paths and the males moved more during the non-breeding season. S. aquaticus movements were associated with habitat type with longer distances traveled in the lowland marsh than in the salty grassland. Hantavirus antibodies were detected in 20% of A. azarae and were not detected in any other species. Seropositive individuals were captured during the breeding season and 85% of them were males. A. azarae moved randomly and shared paths with all the other species, which could promote hantavirus spillover events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Malena Maroli
- Centro de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia de Tecnología a la Producción (CICyTTP), CONICET, Dr. Matteri y España, s/n, E3105BWA, Diamante, Entre Ríos, Argentina
| | - María Victoria Vadell
- Laboratorio de Ecología de Poblaciones, Departamento de Ecología, Genética y Evolución, Instituto IEGEBA (CONICET-UBA), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Intendente Güiraldes 2160 - Ciudad Universitaria, C1428EGA, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Ayelén Iglesias
- Departamento de Virologia, Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Infecciosas, ANLIS "Dr. C. G. Malbrán", Av.Velez Sarsfield 563, C1282AFF, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Paula Julieta Padula
- Departamento de Virologia, Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Infecciosas, ANLIS "Dr. C. G. Malbrán", Av.Velez Sarsfield 563, C1282AFF, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Isabel Elisa Gómez Villafañe
- Laboratorio de Ecología de Poblaciones, Departamento de Ecología, Genética y Evolución, Instituto IEGEBA (CONICET-UBA), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Intendente Güiraldes 2160 - Ciudad Universitaria, C1428EGA, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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Magnusson M, Ecke F, Khalil H, Olsson G, Evander M, Niklasson B, Hörnfeldt B. Spatial and temporal variation of hantavirus bank vole infection in managed forest landscapes. Ecosphere 2015. [DOI: 10.1890/es15-00039.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
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Reil D, Imholt C, Eccard JA, Jacob J. Beech Fructification and Bank Vole Population Dynamics--Combined Analyses of Promoters of Human Puumala Virus Infections in Germany. PLoS One 2015. [PMID: 26214509 PMCID: PMC4516252 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0134124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The transmission of wildlife zoonoses to humans depends, amongst others, on complex interactions of host population ecology and pathogen dynamics within host populations. In Europe, the Puumala virus (PUUV) causes nephropathia epidemica in humans. In this study we investigated complex interrelations within the epidemic system of PUUV and its rodent host, the bank vole (Myodes glareolus). We suggest that beech fructification and bank vole abundance are both decisive factors affecting human PUUV infections. While rodent host dynamics are expected to be directly linked to human PUUV infections, beech fructification is a rather indirect predictor by serving as food source for PUUV rodent hosts. Furthermore, we examined the dependence of bank vole abundance on beech fructification. We analysed a 12-year (2001-2012) time series of the parameters: beech fructification (as food resource for the PUUV host), bank vole abundance and human incidences from 7 Federal States of Germany. For the first time, we could show the direct interrelation between these three parameters involved in human PUUV epidemics and we were able to demonstrate on a large scale that human PUUV infections are highly correlated with bank vole abundance in the present year, as well as beech fructification in the previous year. By using beech fructification and bank vole abundance as predictors in one model we significantly improved the degree of explanation of human PUUV incidence. Federal State was included as random factor because human PUUV incidence varies considerably among states. Surprisingly, the effect of rodent abundance on human PUUV infections is less strong compared to the indirect effect of beech fructification. Our findings are useful to facilitate the development of predictive models for host population dynamics and the related PUUV infection risk for humans and can be used for plant protection and human health protection purposes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Reil
- Julius Kühn-Institute, Federal Research Centre for Cultivated Plants, Institute for Plant Protection in Horticulture and Forests, Vertebrate Research, Muenster, Germany
- University of Potsdam, Institute of Biochemistry and Biology, Animal Ecology, Potsdam, Germany
- * E-mail:
| | - Christian Imholt
- Julius Kühn-Institute, Federal Research Centre for Cultivated Plants, Institute for Plant Protection in Horticulture and Forests, Vertebrate Research, Muenster, Germany
| | - Jana Anja Eccard
- University of Potsdam, Institute of Biochemistry and Biology, Animal Ecology, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Jens Jacob
- Julius Kühn-Institute, Federal Research Centre for Cultivated Plants, Institute for Plant Protection in Horticulture and Forests, Vertebrate Research, Muenster, Germany
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