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Ghafar A, Alghamdi SQ, Alanazi AD, Qousain SMZ, Ijaz M, Naeem M, Ali M, Muqaddas H, Khan A, Iqbal F. Molecular prevalence of vector borne bacterial pathogens in the blood samples of wild rodent species trapped from Saudi Arabia. Comp Immunol Microbiol Infect Dis 2024; 106:102129. [PMID: 38335834 DOI: 10.1016/j.cimid.2024.102129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2023] [Revised: 01/10/2024] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024]
Abstract
Order Rodentia is the most speciose among mammals and the members of this order are known to host more than 60 zoonotic diseases and rodents are a potential health threat to humans. This study was designed to report the molecular prevalence and phylogenetic evaluation of various blood borne bacterial pathogens (Anaplasma ovis, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Anaplasma marginale and Bartonella spp.) in the blood samples of four wild rodent species [Meriones rex (N = 27), Acomys dimidiatus (N = 18), Myomys yemeni (N = 6) and Rattus rattus (N = 3)] that were trapped during August till October 2020 from Al Makhwah governorate in Saudi Arabia. Results revealed by 9/54 (16.6%) rodents amplified Msp4 gene and 2/54 (3.7%) rodents amplified rpoB gene of Anaplasma ovis and Bartonella spp. respectively. Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Anaplasma marginale were not detected among enrolled rodent species. Meriones rex was the most highly infected rodent species. DNA sequencing and BLAST analysis confirmed the presence of Anaplasma ovis and the Bartonella koehlerae in rodent blood samples. Phylogenetic analysis of both pathogens showed that Saudi isolates were clustered together and were closely related to isolates that were reported from worldwide countries. Risk factor analysis revealed that prevalence of both bacterial pathogens was not restricted to a particular rodent species or a rodent sex (P > 0.05). In conclusion, we are reporting for the very first time that Saudi rodents are infected with Anaplasma ovis and rodents can be infected with Bartonella koehlerae. Similar studies at large scale are recommended in all those areas of Saudi Arabia that are unexplored for the incidence and prevalence of bacterial pathogens among the rodents that are living near human dwellings in order to prevent bacterial infections in local people as well as in livestock.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdul Ghafar
- Institute of Zoology, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan 60800, Pakistan
| | - Samia Q Alghamdi
- College of Science, Al Baha University, Alaqiq, Al Baha Province 65779-77388, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdullah D Alanazi
- Departmentof Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science and Humanities, Shaqra University, P.O. Box 1040, Ad-Dawadimi 11911, Saudi Arabia
| | | | - Maryam Ijaz
- Institute of Zoology, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan 60800, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Naeem
- Institute of Zoology, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan 60800, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Ali
- Institute of Zoology, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan 60800, Pakistan
| | - Hira Muqaddas
- Department of Zoology, The Women University Multan, 60800, Pakistan.
| | - Adil Khan
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Bacha Khan University, Charsadda 24420, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.
| | - Furhan Iqbal
- Institute of Zoology, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan 60800, Pakistan.
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Balčiauskas L, Stirkė V, Garbaras A, Balčiauskienė L. Shrews Under-Represented in Fruit Farms and Homesteads. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:ani13061028. [PMID: 36978569 PMCID: PMC10044566 DOI: 10.3390/ani13061028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2023] [Revised: 03/01/2023] [Accepted: 03/10/2023] [Indexed: 03/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Shrews are a less studied group of small mammals than rodents. Between 2018 and 2022, we surveyed 23 sites in Lithuania, including natural and anthropogenic habitats, with the aim to assess the proportion of Soricidae in small mammal communities and their diet based on stable isotope analysis. The average representation of Soricidae was 3.1%, about half the long-term average in other habitats in the country. The highest proportions were in meadows and farmsteads, at 4.9% and 5.0% respectively. Shrews were not trapped on farms or in young orchards, and their relative abundance was very low in intensively managed orchards (0.006 individuals per 100 trap days). Neomys fodiens and N. anomalus were unexpectedly found in homesteads, including in outbuildings. Sorex araneus and S. minutus had similar diets. The trophic carbon/nitrogen discrimination factor between invertebrates and shrew hair was 2.74‰/3.98‰ for S. araneus, 1.90‰/3.78‰ for S. minutus in the orchards. The diet of N. fodiens and N. anomalus at the homesteads requires further investigation. We propose that the under-abundance of shrews may be due to contamination by plant protection products and a lack of invertebrates under intensive agricultural practices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linas Balčiauskas
- Nature Research Centre, Akademijos 2, 08412 Vilnius, Lithuania
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +370-685-34141
| | | | - Andrius Garbaras
- General Jonas Žemaitis Military Academy of Lithuania, Šilo str. 5A, 10322 Vilnius, Lithuania
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