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Rosli MZ, Mohd-Taib FS, Khoo JJ, Chee HY, Wong YP, Shafie NJ, Mohamed NZ, AbuBakar S, Nor SM. A Multi-landscape Assessment of Leptospira Prevalence on a Diversity of Small Mammals. ECOHEALTH 2023; 20:208-224. [PMID: 37103759 DOI: 10.1007/s10393-023-01637-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2021] [Accepted: 03/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Leptospirosis is a major zoonotic disease, especially in the tropics, and rodents were known to be carriers of this bacterium. There was established information on Leptospira prevalence among animal reservoirs in human-dominated landscapes from previous literature. However, there was very little focus given comparing the prevalence of Leptospira in a wide range of habitats. An extensive sampling of small mammals from various landscapes was carried out, covering oil palm plantations, paddy fields, recreational forests, semi-urbans, and wet markets in Peninsular Malaysia. This study aims to determine the prevalence of pathogenic Leptospira in a diversity of small mammals across different landscapes. Cage-trapping was deployed for small mammals' trappings, and the kidneys of captured individuals were extracted, for screening of pathogenic Leptospira by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using LipL32 primer. Eight microhabitat parameters were measured at each study site. Out of 357 individuals captured, 21 (5.9%) were positive for pathogenic Leptospira of which recreational forest had the highest prevalence (8.8%) for landscape types, whereas Sundamys muelleri shows the highest prevalence (50%) among small mammals' species. Microhabitat analysis reveals that rubbish quantity (p < 0.05) significantly influenced the Leptospira prevalence among small mammals. Furthermore, nMDS analysis indicates that the presence of faeces, food waste, and exposure to humans in each landscape type also were linked with high prevalence of pathogenic Leptospira among the small mammals. This study supplements previous studies on pathogenic Leptospira prevalence across different landscape types, and the major microhabitat factors associated with Leptospira prevalence. This information is crucial for epidemiological surveillance and habitat management to curb the possibility of the disease outbreaks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Zahin Rosli
- Department of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600, Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Farah Shafawati Mohd-Taib
- Department of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600, Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia.
| | - Jing Jing Khoo
- Tropical Infectious Diseases Research and Education Centre, University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Hui Yee Chee
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400, Serdang, Malaysia
| | - Yien Ping Wong
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400, Serdang, Malaysia
| | - Nur Juliani Shafie
- School of Marine and Environmental Sciences, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030, Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia
| | - Nor Zalipah Mohamed
- School of Marine and Environmental Sciences, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030, Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia
| | - Sazaly AbuBakar
- Tropical Infectious Diseases Research and Education Centre, University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Shukor Md Nor
- Department of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600, Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia
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Perison PWD, Amran N, Adrus M, Anwarali Khan FA. Detection and molecular identification of blood parasites in rodents captured from urban areas of southern Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo. Vet Med Sci 2022; 8:2059-2066. [PMID: 35636429 PMCID: PMC9514480 DOI: 10.1002/vms3.849] [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] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Rodent species are well known for their potential as hosts and reservoirs for various zoonotic diseases. Studies on blood parasite infection in small mammals focused on urban cities in Peninsular Malaysia and have been conducted over the years. In contrast, there are information gaps related to molecular detection of blood parasites in urban areas of Sarawak that are associated with veterinary importance and zoonotic spillover potential. Increasing prevalence and transmission of blood parasite diseases is the most crucial public health issue, particularly in developing urban areas of Sarawak. Therefore, molecular identification studies were performed to determine and identify the blood parasites infecting rodents. METHODS A total of 40 rodent blood samples were analysed for blood parasite infection and a combined approach using polymerase chain reaction-based technique, and traditional microscopic examination (blood smear test) was conducted. 18s rRNA (Plasmodium spp.) and cytochrome b (Hepatocystis spp.) gene marker were used to identify the blood parasites. RESULTS Note that 67.5% (n = 27) blood samples were tested negative for blood parasites, while 32.5% (n = 13) blood samples collected were infected with at least one protozoan parasite. Out of 13 samples, 69.2% (n = 9) were detected with Hepatocystis sp., while 15.4% (n = 2) were positive with Hepatozoon ophisauri. Two individuals had multiple infections from both species. No Plasmodium spp. have been detected throughout this study using universal primer (targeted Plasmodium spp.); however, different parasite species which were H. ophisauri were detected. CONCLUSION Although there is no evidence of human infection from H. ophisauri and Hepatocystis sp. detected from the study, the data show the host species are heavily infected, and the information is essential for future prevention of zoonotic outbreaks and surveillance programmes. Therefore, it is suggested that the surveillance programmes should be incorporated in targeted areas with a high risk of disease emergence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Putri Wulan Dari Perison
- Animal Resource Science and Management ProgrammeFaculty of Resource Science and TechnologyUniversiti Malaysia SarawakKota SamarahanMalaysia
| | - Nurul‐Shafiqah Amran
- Animal Resource Science and Management ProgrammeFaculty of Resource Science and TechnologyUniversiti Malaysia SarawakKota SamarahanMalaysia
| | - Madinah Adrus
- Animal Resource Science and Management ProgrammeFaculty of Resource Science and TechnologyUniversiti Malaysia SarawakKota SamarahanMalaysia
| | - Faisal Ali Anwarali Khan
- Animal Resource Science and Management ProgrammeFaculty of Resource Science and TechnologyUniversiti Malaysia SarawakKota SamarahanMalaysia
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de Lima MF, Silvestre MDPSA, dos Santos EC, Martins LC, Quaresma JAS, de Barros BDCV, Silva MJA, Lima LNGC. The Presence of Mycobacterium leprae in Wild Rodents. Microorganisms 2022; 10:1114. [PMID: 35744632 PMCID: PMC9228809 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10061114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2022] [Revised: 05/20/2022] [Accepted: 05/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Leprosy is a chronic infection caused by Mycobacterium leprae. There is a lack of data regarding environmental reservoirs, which may represent a serious public health problem in Brazil, especially in the state of Pará, which occupies the fourth position in incidence of cases in the country. Previous studies report evidence of infection occurring among armadillos, mangabei monkeys, and chimpanzees. In the present study, wild animals were captured and tested for the presence of anti-PGL-1 antibodies and M. leprae DNA. Fieldwork was carried out from October to November of 2016 in the cities of Curionópolis and Canaã dos Carajás, southeast of Pará state. Small and medium-sized wild animals were captured using appropriate traps. A total of 15 animals were captured. Sera and viscera fragments were collected and tested by ELISA and PCR methods. The presence of M. leprae DNA was confirmed by sequencing of specific gyrase gene in three animals of two different species, including one Necromys lasiurus (liver sample) and two Proechimys roberti (kidney and liver samples). This unprecedented finding suggests that species other than those previously reported are responsible for maintaining M. leprae in nature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maxwell Furtado de Lima
- Bacteriology and Mycology Section, Evandro Chagas Institute (IEC), Ananindeua 67030-000, PA, Brazil; (M.F.d.L.); (M.d.P.S.A.S.); (E.C.d.S.); (M.J.A.S.)
| | | | - Everaldina Cordeiro dos Santos
- Bacteriology and Mycology Section, Evandro Chagas Institute (IEC), Ananindeua 67030-000, PA, Brazil; (M.F.d.L.); (M.d.P.S.A.S.); (E.C.d.S.); (M.J.A.S.)
| | - Lívia Caricio Martins
- Arbovirology and Hemorrhagic Fevers Section, Evandro Chagas Institute (IEC), Ananindeua 67030-000, PA, Brazil;
| | | | | | - Marcos Jessé Abrahão Silva
- Bacteriology and Mycology Section, Evandro Chagas Institute (IEC), Ananindeua 67030-000, PA, Brazil; (M.F.d.L.); (M.d.P.S.A.S.); (E.C.d.S.); (M.J.A.S.)
| | - Luana Nepomuceno Gondim Costa Lima
- Bacteriology and Mycology Section, Evandro Chagas Institute (IEC), Ananindeua 67030-000, PA, Brazil; (M.F.d.L.); (M.d.P.S.A.S.); (E.C.d.S.); (M.J.A.S.)
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Farid DS, Sallam NH, Eldein AMS, Soliman ES. Cross-sectional seasonal prevalence and relative risk of ectoparasitic infestations of rodents in North Sinai, Egypt. Vet World 2021; 14:2996-3006. [PMID: 35017849 PMCID: PMC8743766 DOI: 10.14202/vetworld.2021.2996-3006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2021] [Accepted: 10/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Background and Aim: Rodents are ubiquitous animals that host ectoparasites and transmit zoonotic diseases. We conducted a cross-sectional study on the seasonal variation, period prevalence (Pp), and relative risk of ectoparasitic infestations in rodents collected in North Sinai, Egypt, from September 2019 to August 2020. Materials and Methods: We captured 380 rodents during the study period. Rodents were euthanized to perform species identification, and 2930 external parasites were collected and identified using light microscopic examination with systemic keys depending on morphological characters. Results: Rattus norvegicus (brown rat), Rattus rattus frugivorus (white-bellied rat), Rattus rattus alexandrines (gray-bellied rat), and Mus musculusdomesticus (house mouse) were captured at the highest frequencies during summer (n=186), followed by spring (n=84), fall (n=71), and winter (n=39), with a higher proportion of males captured in all seasons. Analysis of the infestation Pp revealed highly significant increases (p<0.01) in ectoparasites during the winter. Temperature, humidity, and dew point were significantly (p<0.01) correlated with the numbers of captured and infested rodents. Parasitological examinations showed the higher risks of flea (Echidnophaga gallinacea, Xenopsylla cheopis, and Leptopsylla segnis) and lice (Hoplopleura hirsuta, Hoplopleura ocanthopus, Hoplopleura oenomydis, and Polyplax spinulosa) infestations during winter and mite (Laelaps nuttalli, Dermanyssus gallinae, Ornithonyssus bacoti, and Myobia musculi) infestations during summer. Conclusion: We conclude that ectoparasitic infestation prevalence and risk varies with predominating macroclimatic conditions. Strict preventive and biosecurity measures should be applied to combat rodent-related problems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Doaa S. Farid
- Department of Environmental Protection, Faculty of Environmental Agricultural Sciences, Arish University, Arish 45516, Egypt
| | - Nahla H. Sallam
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Suez Canal University, Ismailia 41522, Egypt
| | - Ahmed M. Salah Eldein
- Department of Wildlife and Zoo, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Suez Canal University, Ismailia 41522, Egypt
| | - Essam S. Soliman
- Animal, Poultry, and Environmental Hygiene Division, Department of Animal Hygiene, Zoonosis, and Animal Behavior, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Suez Canal University, Ismailia 41522, Egypt
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Fischhoff IR, Castellanos AA, Rodrigues JPGLM, Varsani A, Han BA. Predicting the zoonotic capacity of mammals to transmit SARS-CoV-2. Proc Biol Sci 2021; 288:20211651. [PMID: 34784766 PMCID: PMC8596006 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2021.1651] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2021] [Accepted: 10/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Back and forth transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) between humans and animals will establish wild reservoirs of virus that endanger long-term efforts to control COVID-19 in people and to protect vulnerable animal populations. Better targeting surveillance and laboratory experiments to validate zoonotic potential requires predicting high-risk host species. A major bottleneck to this effort is the few species with available sequences for angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 receptor, a key receptor required for viral cell entry. We overcome this bottleneck by combining species' ecological and biological traits with three-dimensional modelling of host-virus protein-protein interactions using machine learning. This approach enables predictions about the zoonotic capacity of SARS-CoV-2 for greater than 5000 mammals-an order of magnitude more species than previously possible. Our predictions are strongly corroborated by in vivo studies. The predicted zoonotic capacity and proximity to humans suggest enhanced transmission risk from several common mammals, and priority areas of geographic overlap between these species and global COVID-19 hotspots. With molecular data available for only a small fraction of potential animal hosts, linking data across biological scales offers a conceptual advance that may expand our predictive modelling capacity for zoonotic viruses with similarly unknown host ranges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilya R. Fischhoff
- Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, Box AB Millbrook, NY 12545, USA
| | | | | | - Arvind Varsani
- The Biodesign Center for Fundamental and Applied Microbiomics, Center for Evolution and Medicine, School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA
- Structural Biology Research Unit, Department of Integrative Biomedical Sciences, University of Cape Town, 7700 Cape Town, Rondebosch, South Africa
| | - Barbara A. Han
- Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, Box AB Millbrook, NY 12545, USA
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Fischhoff IR, Castellanos AA, Rodrigues JP, Varsani A, Han BA. Predicting the zoonotic capacity of mammals to transmit SARS-CoV-2. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2021:2021.02.18.431844. [PMID: 33619481 PMCID: PMC7899445 DOI: 10.1101/2021.02.18.431844] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Back and forth transmission of SARS-CoV-2 between humans and animals may lead to wild reservoirs of virus that can endanger efforts toward long-term control of COVID-19 in people, and protecting vulnerable animal populations that are particularly susceptible to lethal disease. Predicting high risk host species is key to targeting field surveillance and lab experiments that validate host zoonotic potential. A major bottleneck to predicting animal hosts is the small number of species with available molecular information about the structure of ACE2, a key cellular receptor required for viral cell entry. We overcome this bottleneck by combining species' ecological and biological traits with 3D modeling of virus and host cell protein interactions using machine learning methods. This approach enables predictions about the zoonotic capacity of SARS-CoV-2 for over 5,000 mammals - an order of magnitude more species than previously possible. The high accuracy predictions achieved by this approach are strongly corroborated by in vivo empirical studies. We identify numerous common mammal species whose predicted zoonotic capacity and close proximity to humans may further enhance the risk of spillover and spillback transmission of SARS-CoV-2. Our results reveal high priority areas of geographic overlap between global COVID-19 hotspots and potential new mammal hosts of SARS-CoV-2. With molecular sequence data available for only a small fraction of potential host species, predictive modeling integrating data across multiple biological scales offers a conceptual advance that may expand our predictive capacity for zoonotic viruses with similarly unknown and potentially broad host ranges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilya R. Fischhoff
- Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies. Box AB Millbrook, NY 12545, USA
| | | | - João P.G.L.M. Rodrigues
- Department of Structural Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Arvind Varsani
- The Biodesign Center for Fundamental and Applied Microbiomics, Center for Evolution and Medicine, School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA
- Structural Biology Research Unit, Department of Integrative Biomedical Sciences, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, 7700, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Barbara A. Han
- Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies. Box AB Millbrook, NY 12545, USA
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Zana B, Kemenesi G, Buzás D, Csorba G, Görföl T, Khan FAA, Tahir NFDA, Zeghbib S, Madai M, Papp H, Földes F, Urbán P, Herczeg R, Tóth GE, Jakab F. Molecular Identification of a Novel Hantavirus in Malaysian Bronze Tube-Nosed Bats ( Murina aenea). Viruses 2019; 11:v11100887. [PMID: 31546677 PMCID: PMC6832519 DOI: 10.3390/v11100887] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [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: 07/31/2019] [Revised: 09/18/2019] [Accepted: 09/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
In the past ten years, several novel hantaviruses were discovered in shrews, moles, and bats, suggesting the dispersal of hantaviruses in many animal taxa other than rodents during their evolution. Interestingly, the coevolutionary analyses of most recent studies have raised the possibility that nonrodents may have served as the primordial mammalian host and harboured the ancestors of rodent-borne hantaviruses as well. The aim of our study was to investigate the presence of hantaviruses in bat lung tissue homogenates originally collected for taxonomic purposes in Malaysia in 2015. Hantavirus-specific nested RT-PCR screening of 116 samples targeting the L segment of the virus has revealed the positivity of two lung tissue homogenates originating from two individuals, a female and a male of the Murina aenea bat species collected at the same site and sampling occasion. Nanopore sequencing of hantavirus positive samples resulted in partial genomic data from S, M, and L genome segments. The obtained results indicate molecular evidence for hantaviruses in the M. aenea bat species. Sequence analysis of the PCR amplicon and partial genome segments suggests that the identified virus may represent a novel species in the Mobatvirus genus within the Hantaviridae family. Our results provide additional genomic data to help extend our knowledge about the evolution of these viruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brigitta Zana
- Szentágothai Research Centre, Virological Research Group Pécs Hungary, University of Pécs, 7624 Pécs, Hungary.
- Institute of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Pécs, 7622 Pécs, Hungary.
| | - Gábor Kemenesi
- Szentágothai Research Centre, Virological Research Group Pécs Hungary, University of Pécs, 7624 Pécs, Hungary.
- Institute of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Pécs, 7622 Pécs, Hungary.
| | - Dóra Buzás
- Szentágothai Research Centre, Virological Research Group Pécs Hungary, University of Pécs, 7624 Pécs, Hungary.
| | - Gábor Csorba
- Department of Zoology, Hungarian Natural History Museum, 1083 Budapest, Hungary.
| | - Tamás Görföl
- Department of Zoology, Hungarian Natural History Museum, 1083 Budapest, Hungary.
| | - Faisal Ali Anwarali Khan
- Faculty of Resource Science and Technology, UniversitiMalaysia Sarawak, Kota Samarahan 94300, Malaysia.
| | | | - Safia Zeghbib
- Szentágothai Research Centre, Virological Research Group Pécs Hungary, University of Pécs, 7624 Pécs, Hungary.
| | - Mónika Madai
- Szentágothai Research Centre, Virological Research Group Pécs Hungary, University of Pécs, 7624 Pécs, Hungary.
| | - Henrietta Papp
- Szentágothai Research Centre, Virological Research Group Pécs Hungary, University of Pécs, 7624 Pécs, Hungary.
- Institute of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Pécs, 7622 Pécs, Hungary.
| | - Fanni Földes
- Szentágothai Research Centre, Virological Research Group Pécs Hungary, University of Pécs, 7624 Pécs, Hungary.
- Institute of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Pécs, 7622 Pécs, Hungary.
| | - Péter Urbán
- Institute of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Pécs, 7622 Pécs, Hungary.
- Microbial Biotechnology Research Group, Szentágothai Research Centre, University of Pécs, 7624 Pécs, Hungary.
| | - Róbert Herczeg
- Szentágothai Research Centre, Bioinformatics Core Facility, Bioinformatics Research Group, University of Pécs, 7624 Pécs, Hungary.
| | - Gábor Endre Tóth
- Szentágothai Research Centre, Virological Research Group Pécs Hungary, University of Pécs, 7624 Pécs, Hungary.
- Institute of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Pécs, 7622 Pécs, Hungary.
| | - Ferenc Jakab
- Szentágothai Research Centre, Virological Research Group Pécs Hungary, University of Pécs, 7624 Pécs, Hungary.
- Institute of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Pécs, 7622 Pécs, Hungary.
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