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Ganoe LS, Brown JD, Lovallo MJ, Yabsley MJ, Garrett KB, Thompson AT, Poppenga RH, Ruder MG, Walter WD. Surveillance for diseases, pathogens, and toxicants of muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus) in Pennsylvania and surrounding regions. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0260987. [PMID: 34882733 PMCID: PMC8659318 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0260987] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2021] [Accepted: 11/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Using diagnostic data and contemporary sampling efforts, we conducted surveillance for a diversity of pathogens, toxicants, and diseases of muskrats (Ondatra zibethicus). Between 1977 and 2019, 26 diagnostic cases were examined from Kansas and throughout the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic, USA. We identified multiple causes of mortality in muskrats, but trauma (8/26), Tyzzer's disease (5/6), and cysticercosis (5/26) were the most common. We also conducted necropsies, during November 2018-January 2019 Pennsylvania muskrat trapping season, on 380 trapper-harvested muskrat carcasses after the pelt was removed. Tissue samples and exudate were tested for presence of or exposure to a suite of pathogens and contaminants. Gastrointestinal tracts were examined for helminths. Intestinal helminths were present in 39.2% of necropsied muskrats, with Hymenolepis spp. (62%) and echinostome spp. (44%) being the most common Molecular testing identified a low prevalence of infection with Clostridium piliforme in the feces and Sarcocystis spp. in the heart. We detected a low seroprevalence to Toxoplasma gondii (1/380). No muskrats were positive for Francisella tularensis or Babesia spp. Cysticercosis was detected in 20% (5/26) of diagnostic cases and 15% (57/380) of our trapper-harvested muskrats. Toxic concentrations of arsenic, cadmium, lead, or mercury were not detected in tested liver samples. Copper, molybdenum, and zinc concentrations were detected at acceptable levels comparative to previous studies. Parasite intensity and abundance were typical of historic reports; however, younger muskrats had higher intensity of infection than older muskrats which is contradictory to what has been previously reported. A diversity of pathogens and contaminants have been reported from muskrats, but the associated disease impacts are poorly understood. Our data are consistent with historic reports and highlight the wide range of parasites, pathogens and contaminants harbored by muskrats in Pennsylvania. The data collected are a critical component in assessing overall muskrat health and serve as a basis for understanding the impacts of disease on recent muskrat population declines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laken S. Ganoe
- Pennsylvania Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Justin D. Brown
- Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Matthew J. Lovallo
- Bureau of Wildlife Management, Pennsylvania Game Commission, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Michael J. Yabsley
- Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, United States of America
- Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Kayla B. Garrett
- Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, United States of America
- Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Alec T. Thompson
- Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Robert H. Poppenga
- California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory, University of California, Davis, California, United States of America
| | - Mark G. Ruder
- Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, United States of America
| | - W. David Walter
- U.S. Geological Survey, Pennsylvania Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, United States of America
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Aminikhah M, Forsman JT, Koskela E, Mappes T, Sane J, Ollgren J, Kivelä SM, Kallio ER. Rodent host population dynamics drive zoonotic Lyme Borreliosis and Orthohantavirus infections in humans in Northern Europe. Sci Rep 2021; 11:16128. [PMID: 34373474 PMCID: PMC8352996 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-95000-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2021] [Accepted: 07/19/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Zoonotic diseases, caused by pathogens transmitted between other vertebrate animals and humans, pose a major risk to human health. Rodents are important reservoir hosts for many zoonotic pathogens, and rodent population dynamics affect the infection dynamics of rodent-borne diseases, such as diseases caused by hantaviruses. However, the role of rodent population dynamics in determining the infection dynamics of rodent-associated tick-borne diseases, such as Lyme borreliosis (LB), caused by Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato bacteria, have gained limited attention in Northern Europe, despite the multiannual abundance fluctuations, the so-called vole cycles, that characterise rodent population dynamics in the region. Here, we quantify the associations between rodent abundance and LB human cases and Puumala Orthohantavirus (PUUV) infections by using two time series (25-year and 9-year) in Finland. Both bank vole (Myodes glareolus) abundance as well as LB and PUUV infection incidence in humans showed approximately 3-year cycles. Without vector transmitted PUUV infections followed the bank vole host abundance fluctuations with two-month time lag, whereas tick-transmitted LB was associated with bank vole abundance ca. 12 and 24 months earlier. However, the strength of association between LB incidence and bank vole abundance ca. 12 months before varied over the study years. This study highlights that the human risk to acquire rodent-borne pathogens, as well as rodent-associated tick-borne pathogens is associated with the vole cycles in Northern Fennoscandia, yet with complex time lags.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahdi Aminikhah
- Department of Ecology and Genetics, University of Oulu, PO Box 3000, 90014, Oulu, Finland.
| | - Jukka T Forsman
- Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), University of Oulu, Paavo Havaksen tie 3, 90014, Oulu, Finland
| | - Esa Koskela
- Department of Biological and Environmental Science, University of Jyväskylä, P.O. Box 35, 40014, Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - Tapio Mappes
- Department of Biological and Environmental Science, University of Jyväskylä, P.O. Box 35, 40014, Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - Jussi Sane
- Department of Health Security, National Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Jukka Ollgren
- Department of Health Security, National Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Sami M Kivelä
- Department of Ecology and Genetics, University of Oulu, PO Box 3000, 90014, Oulu, Finland
| | - Eva R Kallio
- Department of Biological and Environmental Science, University of Jyväskylä, P.O. Box 35, 40014, Jyväskylä, Finland.
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Orgeur M, Frigui W, Pawlik A, Clark S, Williams A, Ates LS, Ma L, Bouchier C, Parkhill J, Brodin P, Brosch R. Pathogenomic analyses of Mycobacterium microti, an ESX-1-deleted member of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex causing disease in various hosts. Microb Genom 2021; 7:000505. [PMID: 33529148 PMCID: PMC8208694 DOI: 10.1099/mgen.0.000505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2020] [Accepted: 12/16/2020] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Mycobacterium microti is an animal-adapted member of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC), which was originally isolated from voles, but has more recently also been isolated from other selected mammalian hosts, including occasionally from humans. Here, we have generated and analysed the complete genome sequences of five representative vole and clinical M. microti isolates using PacBio- and Illumina-based technologies, and have tested their virulence and vaccine potential in SCID (severe combined immune deficient) mouse and/or guinea pig infection models. We show that the clinical isolates studied here cluster separately in the phylogenetic tree from vole isolates and other clades from publicly available M. microti genome sequences. These data also confirm that the vole and clinical M. microti isolates were all lacking the specific RD1mic region, which in other tubercle bacilli encodes the ESX-1 type VII secretion system. Biochemical analysis further revealed marked phenotypic differences between isolates in type VII-mediated secretion of selected PE and PPE proteins, which in part were attributed to specific genetic polymorphisms. Infection experiments in the highly susceptible SCID mouse model showed that the clinical isolates were significantly more virulent than the tested vole isolates, but still much less virulent than the M. tuberculosis H37Rv control strain. The strong attenuation of the ATCC 35872 vole isolate in immunocompromised mice, even compared to the attenuated BCG (bacillus Calmette-Guérin) vaccine, and its historic use in human vaccine trials encouraged us to test this strain's vaccine potential in a guinea pig model, where it demonstrated similar protective efficacy as a BCG control, making it a strong candidate for vaccination of immunocompromised individuals in whom BCG vaccination is contra-indicated. Overall, we provide new insights into the genomic and phenotypic variabilities and particularities of members of an understudied clade of the MTBC, which all share a recent common ancestor that is characterized by the deletion of the RD1mic region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mickael Orgeur
- Institut Pasteur, Unit for Integrated Mycobacterial Pathogenomics, CNRS UMR 3525, Paris 75015, France
| | - Wafa Frigui
- Institut Pasteur, Unit for Integrated Mycobacterial Pathogenomics, CNRS UMR 3525, Paris 75015, France
| | - Alexandre Pawlik
- Institut Pasteur, Unit for Integrated Mycobacterial Pathogenomics, CNRS UMR 3525, Paris 75015, France
| | - Simon Clark
- Public Health England, Porton Down, Salisbury SP4 0JG, UK
| | - Ann Williams
- Public Health England, Porton Down, Salisbury SP4 0JG, UK
| | - Louis S. Ates
- Institut Pasteur, Unit for Integrated Mycobacterial Pathogenomics, CNRS UMR 3525, Paris 75015, France
- Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Department of Experimental Immunology, Amsterdam institute for Infection & Immunity, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Laurence Ma
- Institut Pasteur, Biomics, C2RT, Paris 75015, France
| | | | - Julian Parkhill
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton CB10 1SA, UK
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB3 0ES, UK
| | - Priscille Brodin
- CIIL - Center for Infection and Immunity of Lille, Université de Lille/CNRS UMR 9017/INSERM U1019/CHU Lille/Institut Pasteur de Lille, Lille 59000, France
| | - Roland Brosch
- Institut Pasteur, Unit for Integrated Mycobacterial Pathogenomics, CNRS UMR 3525, Paris 75015, France
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Liu J, Huang S, Li G, Zhao J, Lu W, Zhang Z. High housing density increases stress hormone- or disease-associated fecal microbiota in male Brandt's voles (Lasiopodomys brandtii). Horm Behav 2020; 126:104838. [PMID: 32791065 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2020.104838] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/25/2019] [Revised: 08/03/2020] [Accepted: 08/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Density-dependence is an important mechanism in the population regulation of small mammals. Stressors induced by high-density (e.g., crowding and aggression) can cause physiological and neurological disorders, and are hypothesized to be associated with alterations in gut microbiota, which may in turn reduce the fitness of animals by increasing stress- or disease-associated microbes. In this study, we examined the effects of housing density on the hormone levels, immunity, and composition of gut microbiota in male Brandt's voles (Lasiopodomys brandtii) by conducting two specific housing density experiments with or without physical contact between voles. Voles in high density groups exhibited higher serum corticosterone (CORT), serotonin (5-HT), and immunoglobulin G (IgG) levels, as well as higher testosterone (T) levels only in the experiment with physical contact. Meanwhile, high-density treatments induced significant changes in the composition of gut microbiota by increasing disease-associated microbes. The levels of hormones and immunity (i.e., CORT, 5-HT, and IgG) elevated by the high density treatment were significantly correlated with some specific microbes. These results imply that high-density-induced stress may shape the fitness of animals under natural conditions by altering their gut microbiota. Our study provides novel insights into the potential roles of gut microbiota in the density-dependent population regulation of small rodents as well as the potential mechanisms underlying psychological disorders in humans and animals under crowded conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; CAS Center for Excellence in Biotic Interactions, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Shuli Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; CAS Center for Excellence in Biotic Interactions, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Guoliang Li
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; CAS Center for Excellence in Biotic Interactions, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Jidong Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; CAS Center for Excellence in Biotic Interactions, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Wei Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; CAS Center for Excellence in Biotic Interactions, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Zhibin Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; CAS Center for Excellence in Biotic Interactions, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
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Ayral F, Kodjo A, Guédon G, Boué F, Richomme C. Muskrats are greater carriers of pathogenic Leptospira than coypus in ecosystems with temperate climates. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0228577. [PMID: 32074117 PMCID: PMC7029846 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0228577] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2019] [Accepted: 01/17/2020] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Knowledge on the possible sources of human leptospirosis, other than rats, is currently lacking. To assess the distribution pattern of exposure and infection by Leptospira serogroups in the two main semi-aquatic rodents of Western France, coypus (Myocastor coypus) and muskrats (Ondatra zibethicus), results of micro-agglutination testing and renal tissue PCR were used. In coypus, the apparent prevalence was 11% (n = 524, CI95% = [9% - 14%]), seroprevalence was 42% (n = 590, CI95% = [38% - 46%]), and the predominant serogroup was Australis (84%). In muskrats, the apparent prevalence was 33% (n = 274, CI95% = [27% - 39%]), seroprevalence was 57% (n = 305, CI95% = [52% - 63%]), and the predominant serogroup was Grippotyphosa (47%). Muskrats should therefore be considered an important source of Grippotyphosa infection in humans and domestic animals exposed in this part of France.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florence Ayral
- Université de Lyon, INRAE, VetAgro Sup, UsC 1233 RS2GP, Marcy-l’Etoile, France
| | - Angeli Kodjo
- Université de Lyon, INRAE, VetAgro Sup, UsC 1233 RS2GP, Marcy-l’Etoile, France
| | - Gérald Guédon
- FNLON (National federation for pest control), Angers, France
| | - Franck Boué
- Nancy Laboratory for Rabies and Wildlife, ANSES, Malzéville, France
| | - Céline Richomme
- Nancy Laboratory for Rabies and Wildlife, ANSES, Malzéville, France
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Rodríguez-Pastor R, Mougeot F, Vidal MD, Jado I, González-Martín-Niño RM, Escudero R, Luque-Larena JJ. Zoonotic Bacteria in Fleas Parasitizing Common Voles, Northwestern Spain. Emerg Infect Dis 2019; 25:1423-1425. [PMID: 31211940 PMCID: PMC6590758 DOI: 10.3201/eid2507.181646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
We detected Francisella tularensis and Bartonella spp. in fleas parasitizing common voles (Microtus arvalis) from northwestern Spain; mean prevalence was 6.1% for F. tularensis and 51% for Bartonella spp. Contrasted vector–host associations in the prevalence of these bacteria suggest that fleas have distinct roles in the transmission cycle of each pathogen in nature.
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Cherry CC, Kwit NA, Ohms RE, Hammesfahr AM, Pappert R, Petersen JM, Nelson CA, Buttke DE. Tularemia ( Francisella tularensis) in a Black-Tailed Prairie Dog ( Cynomys ludovicianus) Colony. J Wildl Dis 2019; 55:944-946. [PMID: 30920904] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Tularemia is a bacterial zoonosis caused by Francisella tularensis. We conducted a serosurvey of black-tailed prairie dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus) in Devils Tower National Monument, Wyoming, US, following an epizootic in voles ( Microtus spp.) due to F. tularensis. Only 1 of 44 (2%) sampled prairie dogs was seropositive for F. tularensis, providing evidence of survival and potentially limited spread among free-ranging prairie dogs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cara C Cherry
- Epidemic Intelligence Service, Division of Scientific Education and Professional Development, Center for Surveillance, Epidemiology, and Laboratory Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road NE, Atlanta, Georgia 30333, USA
- Wildlife Health Branch, Biological Resources Division, National Park Service, 1201 Oakridge Drive, Fort Collins, Colorado 80525, USA
| | - Natalie A Kwit
- Epidemic Intelligence Service, Division of Scientific Education and Professional Development, Center for Surveillance, Epidemiology, and Laboratory Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road NE, Atlanta, Georgia 30333, USA
- Bacterial Diseases Branch, Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 3156 Rampart Road, Fort Collins, Colorado 80521, USA
| | - Rene E Ohms
- Devils Tower National Monument, National Park Service, PO Box 10, Devils Tower, Wyoming 82714, USA
| | - Amy M Hammesfahr
- Devils Tower National Monument, National Park Service, PO Box 10, Devils Tower, Wyoming 82714, USA
| | - Ryan Pappert
- Bacterial Diseases Branch, Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 3156 Rampart Road, Fort Collins, Colorado 80521, USA
| | - Jeannine M Petersen
- Bacterial Diseases Branch, Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 3156 Rampart Road, Fort Collins, Colorado 80521, USA
| | - Christina A Nelson
- Bacterial Diseases Branch, Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 3156 Rampart Road, Fort Collins, Colorado 80521, USA
| | - Danielle E Buttke
- Wildlife Health Branch, Biological Resources Division, National Park Service, 1201 Oakridge Drive, Fort Collins, Colorado 80525, USA
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Gomez-Chamorro A, Battilotti F, Cayol C, Mappes T, Koskela E, Boulanger N, Genné D, Sarr A, Voordouw MJ. Susceptibility to infection with Borrelia afzelii and TLR2 polymorphism in a wild reservoir host. Sci Rep 2019; 9:6711. [PMID: 31040326 PMCID: PMC6491475 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-43160-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2018] [Accepted: 04/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The study of polymorphic immune genes in host populations is critical for understanding genetic variation in susceptibility to pathogens. Controlled infection experiments are necessary to separate variation in the probability of exposure from genetic variation in susceptibility to infection, but such experiments are rare for wild vertebrate reservoir hosts and their zoonotic pathogens. The bank vole (Myodes glareolus) is an important reservoir host of Borrelia afzelii, a tick-borne spirochete that causes Lyme disease. Bank vole populations are polymorphic for Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2), an innate immune receptor that recognizes bacterial lipoproteins. To test whether the TLR2 polymorphism influences variation in the susceptibility to infection with B. afzelii, we challenged pathogen-free, lab-born individuals of known TLR2 genotype with B. afzelii-infected ticks. We measured the spirochete load in tissues of the bank voles. The susceptibility to infection with B. afzelii following an infected tick bite was very high (95%) and did not differ between TLR2 genotypes. The TLR2 polymorphism also had no effect on the spirochete abundance in the tissues of the bank voles. Under the laboratory conditions of our study, we did not find that the TLR2 polymorphism in bank voles influenced variation in the susceptibility to B. afzelii infection.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Claire Cayol
- Department of Biological and Environmental Science, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - Tapio Mappes
- Department of Biological and Environmental Science, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - Esa Koskela
- Department of Biological and Environmental Science, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - Nathalie Boulanger
- Facultés de Médecine et de Pharmacie, Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Dolores Genné
- Institut de Biologie, Université de Neuchâtel, Neuchâtel, Switzerland
| | - Anouk Sarr
- Institut de Biologie, Université de Neuchâtel, Neuchâtel, Switzerland
| | - Maarten Jeroen Voordouw
- Institut de Biologie, Université de Neuchâtel, Neuchâtel, Switzerland.
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada.
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Waldrop SG, Sriranganathan N. Intracellular invasion and survival of Brucella neotomae, another possible zoonotic Brucella species. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0213601. [PMID: 30943213 PMCID: PMC6447175 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0213601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2018] [Accepted: 02/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
In 1967, Brucella neotomae was first isolated from Neotoma lepida, the dessert wood rat, in Utah. With little infection data since its discovery, the zoonotic potential of this Brucella species is largely unknown. Recent reports of isolation from human cerebrospinal fluid, along with current literature suggest that B. neotomae has the ability to infect various hosts and cell types. In this report we extend the knowledge of B. neotomae ATCC 23459’s intracellular invasion and survival abilities to a variety of cell lines through gentamicin protection assays. Some of the phagocytic and epithelial cell lines from various mammalian species represent characteristics of some cell types that could be encountered by Brucella in potential hosts. It was found that B. neotomae ATCC 23459 exhibits generally lower intracellular bacterial CFUs compared to the mouse-passaged strain of B. neotomae ATCC 23459, B. suis 1330, and B. abortus 2308. Ultimately, these observations provide a small piece of the puzzle in the investigation of the breadth of B. neotomae’s pathogenic potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven Grant Waldrop
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia, United States of America
| | - Nammalwar Sriranganathan
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Lavrinienko A, Tukalenko E, Mappes T, Watts PC. Skin and gut microbiomes of a wild mammal respond to different environmental cues. Microbiome 2018; 6:209. [PMID: 30477569 PMCID: PMC6258405 DOI: 10.1186/s40168-018-0595-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2018] [Accepted: 11/14/2018] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Animal skin and gut microbiomes are important components of host fitness. However, the processes that shape the microbiomes of wildlife are poorly understood, particularly with regard to exposure to environmental contaminants. We used 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing to quantify how exposure to radionuclides impacts the skin and gut microbiota of a small mammal, the bank vole Myodes glareolus, inhabiting areas within and outside the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone (CEZ), Ukraine. RESULTS Skin microbiomes of male bank voles were more diverse than females. However, the most pronounced differences in skin microbiomes occurred at a larger spatial scale, with higher alpha diversity in the skin microbiomes of bank voles from areas within the CEZ, whether contaminated by radionuclides or not, than in the skin microbiomes of animals from uncontaminated locations outside the CEZ, near Kyiv. Similarly, irrespective of the level of radionuclide contamination, skin microbiome communities (beta diversity) showed greater similarities within the CEZ, than to the areas near Kyiv. Hence, bank vole skin microbiome communities are structured more by geography than the level of soil radionuclides. This pattern presents a contrast with bank vole gut microbiota, where microbiomes could be strikingly similar among distant (~ 80 km of separation), uncontaminated locations, and where differences in microbiome community structure were associated with the level of radioactivity. We also found that the level of (dis)similarity between the skin and gut microbiome communities from the same individuals was contingent on the potential for exposure to radionuclides. CONCLUSIONS Bank vole skin and gut microbiomes have distinct responses to similar environmental cues and thus are structured at different spatial scales. Our study shows how exposure to environmental pollution can affect the relationship between a mammalian host's skin and gut microbial communities, potentially homogenising the microbiomes in habitats affected by pollution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anton Lavrinienko
- Department of Ecology and Genetics, University of Oulu, 90570 Oulu, Finland
| | - Eugene Tukalenko
- Department of Ecology and Genetics, University of Oulu, 90570 Oulu, Finland
- Institute of Biology and Medicine, Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Kyiv, 03022 Ukraine
| | - Tapio Mappes
- Department of Biological and Environmental Science, University of Jyväskylä, 40014 Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - Phillip C. Watts
- Department of Ecology and Genetics, University of Oulu, 90570 Oulu, Finland
- Department of Biological and Environmental Science, University of Jyväskylä, 40014 Jyväskylä, Finland
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Cayol C, Giermek A, Gomez-Chamorro A, Hytönen J, Kallio ER, Mappes T, Salo J, Voordouw MJ, Koskela E. Borrelia afzelii alters reproductive success in a rodent host. Proc Biol Sci 2018; 285:20181056. [PMID: 30068677 PMCID: PMC6111163 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2018.1056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2018] [Accepted: 07/09/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The impact of a pathogen on the fitness and behaviour of its natural host depends upon the host-parasite relationship in a given set of environmental conditions. Here, we experimentally investigated the effects of Borrelia afzelii, one of the aetiological agents of Lyme disease in humans, on the fitness of its natural rodent host, the bank vole (Myodes glareolus), in semi-natural conditions with two contrasting host population densities. Our results show that B. afzelii can modify the reproductive success and spacing behaviour of its rodent host, whereas host survival was not affected. Infection impaired the breeding probability of large bank voles. Reproduction was hastened in infected females without alteration of the offspring size at birth. At low density, infected males produced fewer offspring, fertilized fewer females and had lower mobility than uninfected individuals. Meanwhile, the infection did not affect the proportion of offspring produced or the proportion of mating partner in female bank voles. Our study is the first to show that B. afzelii infection alters the reproductive success of the natural host. The effects observed could reflect the sickness behaviour due to the infection or they could be a consequence of a manipulation of the host behaviour by the bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claire Cayol
- Department of Biological and Environmental Science, University of Jyväskylä, PO Box 35, 40014, Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - Anna Giermek
- Institute of Environmental Sciences, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7, 30-387 Cracow, Poland
| | - Andrea Gomez-Chamorro
- Institut de Biologie, Laboratoire d'Ecologie et Evolution des Parasites, Université de Neuchâtel, Rue Emile-Argand 11, CH-2000 Neuchâtel, Switzerland
| | - Jukka Hytönen
- Institute of Biomedicine, University of Turku, Kiinamyllynkatu 13, 20520, Turku, Finland
| | - Eva Riikka Kallio
- Department of Biological and Environmental Science, University of Jyväskylä, PO Box 35, 40014, Jyväskylä, Finland
- Department of Ecology and Genetics, University of Oulu, PO Box 3000, 90014, Oulu, Finland
| | - Tapio Mappes
- Department of Biological and Environmental Science, University of Jyväskylä, PO Box 35, 40014, Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - Jemiina Salo
- Institute of Biomedicine, University of Turku, Kiinamyllynkatu 13, 20520, Turku, Finland
| | - Maarten Jeroen Voordouw
- Institut de Biologie, Laboratoire d'Ecologie et Evolution des Parasites, Université de Neuchâtel, Rue Emile-Argand 11, CH-2000 Neuchâtel, Switzerland
| | - Esa Koskela
- Department of Biological and Environmental Science, University of Jyväskylä, PO Box 35, 40014, Jyväskylä, Finland
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12
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Estrada-Peña A, Cabezas-Cruz A, Pollet T, Vayssier-Taussat M, Cosson JF. High Throughput Sequencing and Network Analysis Disentangle the Microbial Communities of Ticks and Hosts Within and Between Ecosystems. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2018; 8:236. [PMID: 30038903 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2018.0023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2018] [Accepted: 06/19/2018] [Indexed: 05/25/2023] Open
Abstract
We aimed to develop a framework, based on graph theory, to capture the ecological meaning behind pure pair comparisons of microbiome-derived data. As a proof of concept, we applied the framework to analyze the co-occurrence of bacteria in either Ixodes ricinus ticks or the spleen of one of their main hosts, the vole Myodes glareolus. As a secondary lymphoid organ, the spleen acts as a filter of blood and represents well the exposure to microorganisms circulating in the blood; including those acquired and transmitted by ticks during feeding. The microbiome of 301 and 269 individual tick and vole samples, respectively, were analyzed using next generation sequencing (NGS) of 16S rRNA. To assess the effect of habitat on ecological communities of bacteria associated to ticks and voles, two different biotopes were included in the study, forest, and ecotone. An innovative approach of NGS data analysis combining network analysis and phylogenies of co-occuring of bacteria was used to study associations between bacteria in individual samples. Of the 126 bacterial genera found in ticks and voles, 62% were shared by both species. Communities of co-occurring bacteria were always more phylogenetically diverse in ticks than in voles. Interestingly, ~80% of bacterial phylogenetic diversity was found in ~20% of ticks. This pattern was not observed in vole-associated bacteria. Results revealed that the microbiome of I. ricinus is only slightly related to that of M. glareolus and that the biotope plays the most important role in shaping the bacterial communities of either ticks or voles. The analysis of the phylogenetic signal of the network indexes across the 16S rRNA-derived tree of bacteria suggests that the microbiome of both ticks and voles has high phylogenetic diversity and that closest bacterial genera do not co-occur. This study shows that network analysis is a promising tool to unravel complex microbial communities associated to arthropod vectors and vertebrate hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Alejandro Cabezas-Cruz
- UMR BIPAR, INRA, ANSES, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, Université Paris-Est, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Thomas Pollet
- UMR BIPAR, INRA, ANSES, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, Université Paris-Est, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Muriel Vayssier-Taussat
- UMR BIPAR, INRA, ANSES, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, Université Paris-Est, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Jean-François Cosson
- UMR BIPAR, INRA, ANSES, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, Université Paris-Est, Maisons-Alfort, France
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13
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Estrada-Peña A, Cabezas-Cruz A, Pollet T, Vayssier-Taussat M, Cosson JF. High Throughput Sequencing and Network Analysis Disentangle the Microbial Communities of Ticks and Hosts Within and Between Ecosystems. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2018; 8:236. [PMID: 30038903 PMCID: PMC6046413 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2018.00236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2018] [Accepted: 06/19/2018] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
We aimed to develop a framework, based on graph theory, to capture the ecological meaning behind pure pair comparisons of microbiome-derived data. As a proof of concept, we applied the framework to analyze the co-occurrence of bacteria in either Ixodes ricinus ticks or the spleen of one of their main hosts, the vole Myodes glareolus. As a secondary lymphoid organ, the spleen acts as a filter of blood and represents well the exposure to microorganisms circulating in the blood; including those acquired and transmitted by ticks during feeding. The microbiome of 301 and 269 individual tick and vole samples, respectively, were analyzed using next generation sequencing (NGS) of 16S rRNA. To assess the effect of habitat on ecological communities of bacteria associated to ticks and voles, two different biotopes were included in the study, forest, and ecotone. An innovative approach of NGS data analysis combining network analysis and phylogenies of co-occuring of bacteria was used to study associations between bacteria in individual samples. Of the 126 bacterial genera found in ticks and voles, 62% were shared by both species. Communities of co-occurring bacteria were always more phylogenetically diverse in ticks than in voles. Interestingly, ~80% of bacterial phylogenetic diversity was found in ~20% of ticks. This pattern was not observed in vole-associated bacteria. Results revealed that the microbiome of I. ricinus is only slightly related to that of M. glareolus and that the biotope plays the most important role in shaping the bacterial communities of either ticks or voles. The analysis of the phylogenetic signal of the network indexes across the 16S rRNA-derived tree of bacteria suggests that the microbiome of both ticks and voles has high phylogenetic diversity and that closest bacterial genera do not co-occur. This study shows that network analysis is a promising tool to unravel complex microbial communities associated to arthropod vectors and vertebrate hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Alejandro Cabezas-Cruz
- UMR BIPAR, INRA, ANSES, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, Université Paris-Est, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Thomas Pollet
- UMR BIPAR, INRA, ANSES, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, Université Paris-Est, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Muriel Vayssier-Taussat
- UMR BIPAR, INRA, ANSES, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, Université Paris-Est, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Jean-François Cosson
- UMR BIPAR, INRA, ANSES, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, Université Paris-Est, Maisons-Alfort, France
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14
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Zhang XY, Sukhchuluun G, Bo TB, Chi QS, Yang JJ, Chen B, Zhang L, Wang DH. Huddling remodels gut microbiota to reduce energy requirements in a small mammal species during cold exposure. Microbiome 2018; 6:103. [PMID: 29884232 PMCID: PMC5994089 DOI: 10.1186/s40168-018-0473-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2017] [Accepted: 04/09/2018] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Huddling is highly evolved as a cooperative behavioral strategy for social mammals to maximize their fitness in harsh environments. Huddling behavior can change psychological and physiological responses. The coevolution of mammals with their microbial communities confers fitness benefits to both partners. The gut microbiome is a key regulator of host immune and metabolic functions. We hypothesized that huddling behavior altered energetics and thermoregulation by shaping caecal microbiota in small herbivores. Brandt's voles (Lasiopodomys brandtii) were maintained in a group (huddling) or as individuals (separated) and were exposed to warm (23 ± 1 °C) and cold (4 ± 1 °C) air temperatures (Ta). RESULTS Voles exposed to cold Ta had higher energy intake, resting metabolic rate (RMR) and nonshivering thermogenesis (NST) than voles exposed to warm Ta. Huddling voles had lower RMR and NST than separated voles in cold. In addition, huddling voles had a higher surface body temperature (Tsurface), but lower core body temperature (Tcore) than separated voles, suggesting a lower set-point of Tcore in huddling voles. Both cold and huddling induced a marked variation in caecal bacterial composition, which was associated with the lower Tcore. Huddling voles had a higher α and β-diversity, abundance of Lachnospiraceae and Veillonellaceae, but lower abundance of Cyanobacteria, Tenericutes, TM7, Comamonadaceae, and Sinobacteraceae than separated voles. Huddling or cold resulted in higher concentrations of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), particularly acetic acid and butyric acid when compared to their counterparts. Transplantation of caecal microbiota from cold-separated voles but not from cold-huddling voles induced significant increases in energy intake and RMR compared to that from warm-separated voles. CONCLUSIONS These findings demonstrate that the remodeling of gut microbiota, which is associated with a reduction in host Tcore, mediates cold- and huddling-induced energy intake and thermoregulation and therefore orchestrates host metabolic and thermal homeostasis. It highlights the coevolutionary mechanism of host huddling and gut microbiota in thermoregulation and energy saving for winter survival in endotherms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xue-Ying Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Gansukh Sukhchuluun
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Ting-Bei Bo
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Qing-Sheng Chi
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Jun-Jie Yang
- College of Life Science, Shandong Normal University, Ji'nan, 250014, China
| | - Bin Chen
- College of Life Science, Shandong Normal University, Ji'nan, 250014, China
| | - Lei Zhang
- College of Life Science, Shandong Normal University, Ji'nan, 250014, China
- Microbiome Research Center, Shandong Institutes for Food and Drug Control, Ji'nan, 250101, China
| | - De-Hua Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China.
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China.
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15
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Rodríguez-Pastor R, Escudero R, Vidal D, Mougeot F, Arroyo B, Lambin X, Vila-Coro AM, Rodríguez-Moreno I, Anda P, Luque-Larena JJ. Density-Dependent Prevalence of Francisella tularensis in Fluctuating Vole Populations, Northwestern Spain. Emerg Infect Dis 2018; 23:1377-1379. [PMID: 28726608 PMCID: PMC5547778 DOI: 10.3201/eid2308.161194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Tularemia in humans in northwestern Spain is associated with increases in vole populations. Prevalence of infection with Francisella tularensis in common voles increased to 33% during a vole population fluctuation. This finding confirms that voles are spillover agents for zoonotic outbreaks. Ecologic interactions associated with tularemia prevention should be considered.
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16
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Hacker GM, Brown RN, Fedorova N, Girard YA, Higley M, Clueit B, Lane RS. Spatial clustering of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato within populations of Allen's chipmunks and dusky-footed woodrats in northwestern California. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0195586. [PMID: 29634745 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0195586] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2017] [Accepted: 03/26/2018] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The ecology of Lyme borreliosis is complex in northwestern California, with several potential reservoir hosts, tick vectors, and genospecies of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato. The primary objective of this study was to determine the fine-scale spatial distribution of different genospecies in four rodent species, the California ground squirrel (Otospermophilus beecheyi), northern flying squirrel (Glaucomys sabrinus), dusky-footed woodrat (Neotoma fuscipes), and Allen's chipmunk (Neotamias senex). Rodents were live-trapped between June 2004 and May 2005 at the Hoopa Valley Tribal Reservation (HVTR) in Humboldt County, California. Ear-punch biopsies obtained from each rodent were tested by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequencing analysis. The programs ArcGIS and SaTScan were used to examine the spatial distribution of genospecies. Multinomial log-linear models were used to model habitat and host-specific characteristics and their effect on the presence of each borrelial genospecies. The Akaike information criterion (AICc) was used to compare models and determine model fit. Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto was primarily associated with chipmunks and B. bissettiae largely with woodrats. The top model included the variables "host species", "month", and "elevation" (weight = 0.84). Spatial clustering of B. bissettiae was detected in the northwestern section of the HVTR, whereas B. burgdorferi sensu stricto was clustered in the southeastern section. We conclude that the spatial distribution of these borreliae are driven at least in part by host species, time-of-year, and elevation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gregory M Hacker
- Department of Natural Resources, Humboldt State University, Arcata, California, United States of America
| | - Richard N Brown
- Department of Natural Resources, Humboldt State University, Arcata, California, United States of America
| | - Natalia Fedorova
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management, University of California, Berkeley, California, United States of America
| | - Yvette A Girard
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management, University of California, Berkeley, California, United States of America
| | - Mark Higley
- Hoopa Tribal Forestry, Hoopa Valley Tribal Reservation, Hoopa, California, United States of America
| | - Bernadette Clueit
- Department of Natural Resources, Humboldt State University, Arcata, California, United States of America
| | - Robert S Lane
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management, University of California, Berkeley, California, United States of America
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17
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Abstract
We examined the fecal microbiota of female prairie voles. This species is socially and, likely, sexually monogamous, and thus serves as a valuable model in which to examine the interaction between the microbiota-gut-brain axis and social behavior. At present, little is known about the gastrointestinal microbiota of prairie voles; therefore, we performed a first characterization of the fecal microbiota using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. Semiconductor sequencing technology on an Ion Torrent PGM platform was used to assess the composition of fecal microbiotas from twelve female prairie voles. Following quality filtering, 1,017,756 sequencing reads were classified from phylum to genus level. At the phylum level, Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, and Saccharibacteria were the predominant taxa, while the Bacteriodales, Erysipelotrichaceae, Ruminococcaceae, and Lachnospiraceae contributed the most dominant microbial groups and genera. Microbial community membership was most similar between vole sibling pairs, but consideration of taxon abundances weakened these associations. The interdependence of host factors such as genetics and behavior with the gastrointestinal microbiota is likely to be particularly pronounced in prairie voles. Our pilot characterization of the prairie vole intestinal microbiota revealed a microbial community composition remarkably consistent with the monogastric alimentary system of these rodents and their diet rich in complex plant carbohydrates. The highly social nature of these animals poses specific challenges to microbiome analyses that nonetheless are valuable for advancing research on the microbiota-gut-brain-behavior axis. Our study provides an important basis for future microbiome research in this emerging model organism for studying social behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- J. Thomas Curtis
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences, Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States of America
| | - Senait Assefa
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences, Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States of America
| | - Amie Francis
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences, Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States of America
| | - Gerwald A. Köhler
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences, Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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18
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Suárez-Esquivel M, Ruiz-Villalobos N, Jiménez-Rojas C, Barquero-Calvo E, Chacón-Díaz C, Víquez-Ruiz E, Rojas-Campos N, Baker KS, Oviedo-Sánchez G, Amuy E, Chaves-Olarte E, Thomson NR, Moreno E, Guzmán-Verri C. Brucella neotomae Infection in Humans, Costa Rica. Emerg Infect Dis 2018; 23:997-1000. [PMID: 28518028 PMCID: PMC5443450 DOI: 10.3201/eid2306.162018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Several species of Brucella are known to be zoonotic, but B. neotomae infection has been thought to be limited to wood rats. In 2008 and 2011, however, B. neotomae was isolated from cerebrospinal fluid of 2 men with neurobrucellosis. The nonzoonotic status of B. neotomae should be reassessed.
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19
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Hamšíková Z, Coipan C, Mahríková L, Minichová L, Sprong H, Kazimírová M. Borrelia miyamotoi and Co-Infection with Borrelia afzelii in Ixodes ricinus Ticks and Rodents from Slovakia. Microb Ecol 2017; 73:1000-1008. [PMID: 27995301 DOI: 10.1007/s00248-016-0918-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2016] [Accepted: 12/12/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Borrelia miyamotoi causes relapsing fever in humans. The occurrence of this spirochete has been reported in Ixodes ricinus and wildlife, but there are still gaps in the knowledge of its eco-epidemiology and public health impact. In the current study, questing I. ricinus (nymphs and adults) and skin biopsies from rodents captured in Slovakia were screened for the presence of B. miyamotoi and Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. DNA. The prevalence of B. miyamotoi and B. burgdorferi s.l. in questing ticks was 1.7 and 16.9%, respectively. B. miyamotoi was detected in Apodemus flavicollis (9.3%) and Myodes glareolus (4.4%). In contrast, B. burgdorferi s.l. was identified in 11.9% of rodents, with the highest prevalence in Microtus arvalis (68.4%) and a lower prevalence in Apodemus spp. (8.4%) and M. glareolus (12.4%). Borrelia afzelii was the prevailing genospecies infecting questing I. ricinus (37.9%) and rodents (72.2%). Co-infections of B. miyamotoi and B. burgdorferi s.l. were found in 24.1 and 9.3% of the questing ticks and rodents, respectively, whereas the proportion of ticks and rodents co-infected with B. miyamotoi and B. afzelii was 6.9 and 7.0%, respectively. The results suggest that B. miyamotoi and B. afzelii share amplifying hosts. The sequences of the B. miyamotoi glpQ gene fragment from our study showed a high degree of identity with sequences of the gene amplified from ticks and human patients in Europe. The results seem to suggest that humans in Slovakia are at risk of contracting tick-borne relapsing fever, and in some cases together with Lyme borreliosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zuzana Hamšíková
- Slovak Academy of Sciences, Institute of Zoology, Dúbravská cesta 9, 84506, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Claudia Coipan
- Laboratory for Zoonoses and Environmental Microbiology, National Institute for Public Health and Environment, 9 Antonie van Leeuwenhoeklaan, P.O. Box 1, Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | - Lenka Mahríková
- Slovak Academy of Sciences, Institute of Zoology, Dúbravská cesta 9, 84506, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Lenka Minichová
- Biomedical Research Center, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Institute of Virology, Dúbravská cesta 9, 84505, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Hein Sprong
- Laboratory for Zoonoses and Environmental Microbiology, National Institute for Public Health and Environment, 9 Antonie van Leeuwenhoeklaan, P.O. Box 1, Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | - Mária Kazimírová
- Slovak Academy of Sciences, Institute of Zoology, Dúbravská cesta 9, 84506, Bratislava, Slovakia.
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20
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van Duijvendijk G, van Andel W, Fonville M, Gort G, Hovius JW, Sprong H, Takken W. A Borrelia afzelii Infection Increases Larval Tick Burden on Myodes glareolus (Rodentia: Cricetidae) and Nymphal Body Weight of Ixodes ricinus (Acari: Ixodidae). J Med Entomol 2017; 54:422-428. [PMID: 27694145 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjw157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2016] [Accepted: 08/25/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Several microorganisms have been shown to manipulate their host or vector to enhance their own transmission. Here we examined whether an infection with Borrelia afzelii affects its transmission between its bank vole (Myodes glareolus, Schreber, 1780) host and tick vector. Captive-bred bank voles were inoculated with B. afzelii or control medium, after which host preference of Ixodes ricinus L. nymphs was determined in a Y-tube olfactometer. Thereafter, infected and uninfected bank voles were placed in a semifield arena containing questing larvae to measure larval tick attachment. Engorged larvae were collected from these bank voles, molted into nymphs, weighed, and analyzed for infection by PCR.Nymphs were attracted to the odors of a bank vole compared to ambient air and preferred the odors of an infected bank vole over that of an uninfected bank vole. In the semifield arena, infected male bank voles had greater larval tick burdens then uninfected males, while similar larval tick burdens were observed on females regardless of infection status. Nymphal ticks that acquired a B. afzelii infection had higher body weight than nymphs that did not acquire an infection regardless of the infection status of the vole. These results show that a B. afzelii infection in bank voles increases larval tick burden and that a B. afzelii infection in larvae increases nymphal body weight. This finding provides novel ecological insights into the enzootic cycle of B. afzelii.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gilian van Duijvendijk
- Laboratory of Entomology, Wageningen University, PO box 16, 6700 AA, Wageningen, The Netherlands (; ; ; )
| | - Wouter van Andel
- Laboratory of Entomology, Wageningen University, PO box 16, 6700 AA, Wageningen, The Netherlands (; ; ; )
| | - Manoj Fonville
- Laboratory for Zoonosis and Environmental Microbiology, National Institute for Public Health and Environment (RIVM), P.O. Box 1, 3720 BA Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | - Gerrit Gort
- Mathematical and Statistical Methods, Wageningen University, PO box 16, 6700 AA, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Joppe W Hovius
- Center for Experimental and Molecular Medicine, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Hein Sprong
- Laboratory of Entomology, Wageningen University, PO box 16, 6700 AA, Wageningen, The Netherlands (; ; ; )
- Laboratory for Zoonosis and Environmental Microbiology, National Institute for Public Health and Environment (RIVM), P.O. Box 1, 3720 BA Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | - Willem Takken
- Laboratory of Entomology, Wageningen University, PO box 16, 6700 AA, Wageningen, The Netherlands (; ; ; )
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21
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Ushakov AV. [THE ENVIRONMENTAL BASES AND MECHANISM FOR NATURAL OPISTHORCHIASIS FOCUS PULSATION IN THE COMBINED FOCUS OF OPISTHORCHIASIS AND TULAREMIA]. Med Parazitol (Mosk) 2015:10-15. [PMID: 26152031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
A cyclic change in the epizootic activity of a tularemia activity underlies the mechanism of natural opisthorchiasis focus pulsation in the combined focus of opisthorchiasis and tularemia in the ecosystem of the Konda River. This is due to mass breeding and depression in the water vole (Arvicola terrestris) population. The mass breeding is predetermined by high population reproduction constants. The rodents' potential fecundity occurs with the high capacity of lands, which is caused by the hydrological regime of rivers. The size depression is predetermined by the epizootics of tularemia. The water vole is a host of the pathogens of opisthorchiasis and tularemia. So the mass rodent breeding in the combined infection and invasion focus causes an increase in the number of real invasion sources. The epizootic of tularemia is responsible for elimination of these invasion sources and for decreases in the flow of invasion material, the infection rate of Codiella and hence the amount of their produced cercarae, the extensive and intensive indicators of fish contamination, and the intensity of an epizootic process in the opisthorchiasis focus.
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Rossow H, Forbes KM, Tarkka E, Kinnunen PM, Hemmilä H, Huitu O, Nikkari S, Henttonen H, Kipar A, Vapalahti O. Experimental Infection of voles with Francisella tularensis indicates their amplification role in tularemia outbreaks. PLoS One 2014; 9:e108864. [PMID: 25271640 PMCID: PMC4182746 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0108864] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2014] [Accepted: 08/26/2014] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Tularemia outbreaks in humans have been linked to fluctuations in rodent population density, but the mode of bacterial maintenance in nature is unclear. Here we report on an experiment to investigate the pathogenesis of Francisella tularensis infection in wild rodents, and thereby assess their potential to spread the bacterium. We infected 20 field voles (Microtus agrestis) and 12 bank voles (Myodes glareolus) with a strain of F. tularensis ssp. holarctica isolated from a human patient. Upon euthanasia or death, voles were necropsied and specimens collected for histological assessment and identification of bacteria by immunohistology and PCR. Bacterial excretion and a rapid lethal clinical course with pathological changes consistent with bacteremia and tissue necrosis were observed in infected animals. The results support a role for voles as an amplification host of F. tularensis, as excreta and, in particular, carcasses with high bacterial burden could serve as a source for environmental contamination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heidi Rossow
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Kristian M. Forbes
- Department of Biological and Environmental Science, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland
- Finnish Forest Research Institute, Vantaa, Finland
| | - Eveliina Tarkka
- Division of Clinical Microbiology, Helsinki University Hospital Laboratory (HUSLAB), Helsinki, Finland
| | - Paula M. Kinnunen
- Centre for Biothreat Preparedness, Centre for Military Medicine, Finnish Defence Forces, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Heidi Hemmilä
- Centre for Biothreat Preparedness, Centre for Military Medicine, Finnish Defence Forces, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Otso Huitu
- Finnish Forest Research Institute, Vantaa, Finland
| | - Simo Nikkari
- Centre for Biothreat Preparedness, Centre for Military Medicine, Finnish Defence Forces, Helsinki, Finland
| | | | - Anja Kipar
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Finnish Centre for Laboratory Animal Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- School of Veterinary Science and Department of Infection Biology, Institute of Global Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Olli Vapalahti
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Division of Clinical Microbiology, Helsinki University Hospital Laboratory (HUSLAB), Helsinki, Finland
- Department of Virology, Haartman Institute, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
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23
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Bajer A, Welc-Falęciak R, Bednarska M, Alsarraf M, Behnke-Borowczyk J, Siński E, Behnke JM. Long-term spatiotemporal stability and dynamic changes in the haemoparasite community of bank voles (Myodes glareolus) in NE Poland. Microb Ecol 2014; 68:196-211. [PMID: 24604428 PMCID: PMC4103999 DOI: 10.1007/s00248-014-0390-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2013] [Accepted: 02/06/2014] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
Long-term field studies on parasite communities are rare but provide a powerful insight into the ecological and evolutionary processes shaping host-parasite interactions. The aim of our study was to identify the principal factors regulating long-term trends in the haemoparasite communities of bank voles, and to this end, we sampled three semi-isolated populations of bank voles (n = 880) in 1999, 2002, 2006 and 2010 in the Mazury lake district region of NE Poland. Overall, 90.8 % of the bank voles harboured at least one of the species of haemoparasites studied. Whilst overall prevalence (all species combined) did not vary significantly between the surveys, different temporal changes were detected among voles in each of the three sites. In voles from Urwitałt, prevalence increased consistently with successive surveys, whereas in Tałty, the peak years were 2002 and 2006, and in Pilchy, prevalence oscillated without a clear pattern. Across the study, bank voles harboured a mean of 1.75 ± 0.034 haemoparasite species, and species richness remained stable with no significant between-year fluctuations or trends. However, each of the five constituent species/genera showed a different pattern of spatio-temporal changes. The overall prevalence of Babesia microti was 4.9 %, but this varied significantly between years peaking in 2006 and declining again by 2010. For Bartonella spp., overall prevalence was 38.7 %, and this varied with year of study, but the temporal pattern of changes differed among the three sites. The overall prevalence of Haemobartonella (Mycoplasma) was 68.3 % with an increase in prevalence with year of study in all three sites. Hepatozoon erhardovae had an overall prevalence of 46.8 % but showed a marked reduction with each successive year of the study, and this was consistent in all three sites. The overall prevalence of Trypanosoma evotomys was 15.4 % varying significantly between sites, but showing temporal stability. While overall prevalence of all haemoparasites combined and species richness remained stable over the period of study, among the five haemoparasites, the pattern of spatiotemporal changes in prevalence and abundance of infections differed depending on parasite species. For some genera, host age was shown to play an important role, but a significant effect of host sex was found only for Haemobartonella spp.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Bajer
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Zoology, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, 1 Miecznikowa Street, 02-096, Warsaw, Poland,
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Schmidt S, Essbauer SS, Mayer-Scholl A, Poppert S, Schmidt-Chanasit J, Klempa B, Henning K, Schares G, Groschup MH, Spitzenberger F, Richter D, Heckel G, Ulrich RG. Multiple infections of rodents with zoonotic pathogens in Austria. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2014; 14:467-75. [PMID: 24915446 PMCID: PMC4098071 DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2013.1504] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Rodents are important reservoirs for a large number of zoonotic pathogens. We examined the occurrence of 11 viral, bacterial, and parasitic agents in rodent populations in Austria, including three different hantaviruses, lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus, orthopox virus, Leptospira spp., Borrelia spp., Rickettsia spp., Bartonella spp., Coxiella burnetii, and Toxoplasma gondii. In 2008, 110 rodents of four species (40 Clethrionomys glareolus, 29 Apodemus flavicollis, 26 Apodemus sylvaticus, and 15 Microtus arvalis) were trapped at two rural sites in Lower Austria. Chest cavity fluid and samples of lung, spleen, kidney, liver, brain, and ear pinna skin were collected. We screened selected tissue samples for hantaviruses, lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus, orthopox viruses, Leptospira, Borrelia, Rickettsia, Bartonella spp., C. burnetii, and T. gondii by RT-PCR/PCR and detected nucleic acids of Tula hantavirus, Leptospira spp., Borrelia afzelii, Rickettsia spp., and different Bartonella species. Serological investigations were performed for hantaviruses, lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus, orthopox viruses, and Rickettsia spp. Here, Dobrava-Belgrade hantavirus-, Tula hantavirus-, lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus-, orthopox virus-, and rickettsia-specific antibodies were demonstrated. Puumala hantavirus, C. burnetii, and T. gondii were neither detected by RT-PCR/PCR nor by serological methods. In addition, multiple infections with up to three pathogens were shown in nine animals of three rodent species from different trapping sites. In conclusion, these results show that rodents in Austria may host multiple zoonotic pathogens. Our observation raises important questions regarding the interactions of different pathogens in the host, the countermeasures of the host's immune system, the impact of the host-pathogen interaction on the fitness of the host, and the spread of infectious agents among wild rodents and from those to other animals or humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabrina Schmidt
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Institute for Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Greifswald–Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Sandra S. Essbauer
- Bundeswehr Institute of Microbiology, Department of Virology & Rickettsiology, Munich, Germany
| | | | - Sven Poppert
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Jonas Schmidt-Chanasit
- Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, WHO Collaborating Centre for Arbovirus and Hemorrhagic Fever Reference and Research, Hamburg, Germany and German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), partner site Hamburg-Luebeck-Borstel, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Boris Klempa
- Institute of Virology, Slovak Academy of Science, Bratislava, Slovakia, and Institute of Virology, Charité Medical School, Berlin, Germany
| | - Klaus Henning
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Institute of Bacterial Infections and Zoonoses, Jena, Germany
| | - Gereon Schares
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Institute of Epidemiology, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Martin H. Groschup
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Institute for Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Greifswald–Insel Riems, Germany
| | | | - Dania Richter
- Environmental Systems Analysis, Institute of Geoecology, Technical University of Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Gerald Heckel
- Computational and Molecular Population Genetics (CMPG), Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Bern and Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Genopode, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Rainer G. Ulrich
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Institute for Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Greifswald–Insel Riems, Germany
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Dai RX, Wei BQ, Li CX, Xiong HM, Yang XY, Fan W, Qi MY, Jin J, Wei RJ, Feng JP, Jin X, Wang ZY. [The pathogenic ecology research on plague in Qinghai plateau]. Zhonghua Yu Fang Yi Xue Za Zhi 2013; 47:1083-1088. [PMID: 24529264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To study the pathogenic ecology characteristics of plague in Qinghai plateau. METHODS Applied molecular biology techniques, conventional technologies and geographic information system (GIS) to study phenotypic traits, plasmid spectrum, genotype, infected host and media spectrum etc.of 952 Yersinia pestis strains in Qinghai plateau plague foci, which were separated from different host and media in different regions during 1954 to 2012. RESULTS The ecotypes of these strains were Qingzang plateau (91.49%, 871/952),Qilian mountain (6.41%, 61/952) and Microtus fuscus (1.26%, 12/952).83.6% (796/952) of these strains contained all the 4 virulence factors (Fr1, Pesticin1,Virulence antigen, and Pigmentation), 93.26% (367/392) were velogenic strains confirmed by virulence test.725 Yersinia pestis strains were separated from Qinghai plateau plague foci carried 9 kinds of plasmid, among which 713 strains from Marmot himalayan plague foci carried 9 kinds of plasmid, the Mr were 6×10(6), 7×10(6), 23×10(6), 27×10(6), 30×10(6), 45×10(6), 52×10(6), 65×10(6) and 92×10(6) respectively. 12 Yersinia pestis strains were separated from Microtus fuscus plague foci carried only 3 kinds of plasmid, the Mr were 6×10(6), 45×10(6), 65×10(6). Meanwhile, the strains carrying large plasmid (52×10(6), 65×10(6) and 92×10(6)) were only distributed in particular geographical location, which had the category property. The research also confirmed that 841 Yersinia pestis strains from two kinds of plague foci in Qinghai plateau had 11 genomovars. The strains of Marmot himalayan plague foci were given priority to genomovar 5 and 8, amounted to 611 strains, genomovar 8 accounted for 56.00% (471/841), genomovar 5 accounted for 23.07% (194/841). Besides, 3 new genomovars, including new 1(62 strains), new 2(52 strains), new 3(48 strains) were newly founded, and 12 strains of Microtus fuscus plague foci were genomovar 14. CONCLUSION The main host and media of Qinghai plateau plague foci directly affected the spatial distribution regularities of plague epidemic and the pathogens characteristics, meanwhile the polymorphism of plague ecological geographic landscape leds to the complexity of Yersinia pestis' genotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui-xia Dai
- Plague Prevention and Control Department, Qinghai Institute for Endemic Diseases Prevention and Control, Xining 811602, China
| | - Bai-qing Wei
- Plague Prevention and Control Department, Qinghai Institute for Endemic Diseases Prevention and Control, Xining 811602, China
| | - Cun-xiang Li
- Plague Prevention and Control Department, Qinghai Institute for Endemic Diseases Prevention and Control, Xining 811602, China
| | - Hao-ming Xiong
- Plague Prevention and Control Department, Qinghai Institute for Endemic Diseases Prevention and Control, Xining 811602, China
| | - Xiao-yan Yang
- Plague Prevention and Control Department, Qinghai Institute for Endemic Diseases Prevention and Control, Xining 811602, China
| | - Wei Fan
- Plague Prevention and Control Department, Qinghai Institute for Endemic Diseases Prevention and Control, Xining 811602, China
| | - Mei-ying Qi
- Plague Prevention and Control Department, Qinghai Institute for Endemic Diseases Prevention and Control, Xining 811602, China
| | - Juan Jin
- Plague Prevention and Control Department, Qinghai Institute for Endemic Diseases Prevention and Control, Xining 811602, China
| | - Rong-jie Wei
- Plague Prevention and Control Department, Qinghai Institute for Endemic Diseases Prevention and Control, Xining 811602, China
| | - Jian-ping Feng
- Plague Prevention and Control Department, Qinghai Institute for Endemic Diseases Prevention and Control, Xining 811602, China
| | - Xing Jin
- Plague Prevention and Control Department, Qinghai Institute for Endemic Diseases Prevention and Control, Xining 811602, China
| | - Zu-yun Wang
- Plague Prevention and Control Department, Qinghai Institute for Endemic Diseases Prevention and Control, Xining 811602, China. wangzuyun2006 @163.com
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26
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Shen XN, Xia LX, Hai R, Liang Y, Xu DL, Cai H, Wang YM, Zheng X, Wang YH, Zhang ZK, Wei JC, Fu XP, Zhang EM, Zhang HJ, Yu DZ. Screening of genes with unique mutations of microtus. Biomed Environ Sci 2013; 26:778-781. [PMID: 24099614 DOI: 10.3967/0895-3988.2013.09.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2012] [Accepted: 03/17/2013] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Xiao Na Shen
- State Key Laboratory for Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 102206, China
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27
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Podobedova IS, Meshcheriakova IS, Demidova TN, Kormilitsyna MI, Mikhaĭlova TV, Baraniuk VV. [Monitoring the natural foci of tularemia on Wrangel Island]. Med Parazitol (Mosk) 2013:40-44. [PMID: 25924284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Long-term annual monitoring of the natural foci of tularemia was first made on Wrangel Island. The objects of the investigation were pellets of birds-myophages, blood samples from rodents, and excrements from carnivorous mammals. A total of 2626 biological samples were examined in the period 2002 to 2011. A serological test was ascertained to be the most effective method for the detection of tularemia epizooties; polymerase chain reaction should be used as an additional technique to examine blood samples, as well as rodent tubular bone debris taken from the pellets. Tularemia epizooties were registered in the populations of two species of lemmings every year, except in 2003. An intensive diffuse tularemia epizooty was first detected in this area, which emerged in 2019, peaked by spring 2011, and covered most of the island. The antigen of tularemia pathogen was identified in 43.46% of the samples under examination,which is a high quantitative indicator of the intensity of an epizootic process. The fact that positive samples are annually found in the same areas of the island suggests that the causative agent is steadily and long preserved in the parasitic system. The availability of stable and active natural tularemia foci on Wrangel Island calls for preventive measures, particularly vaccination of risk groups coming to the island to conduct researches.
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28
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Vaumourin E, Gasqui P, Buffet JP, Chapuis JL, Pisanu B, Ferquel E, Vayssier-Taussat M, Vourc'h G. A probabilistic model in cross-sectional studies for identifying interactions between two persistent vector-borne pathogens in reservoir populations. PLoS One 2013; 8:e66167. [PMID: 23840418 PMCID: PMC3688727 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0066167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2013] [Accepted: 05/03/2013] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In natural populations, individuals are infected more often by several pathogens than by just one. In such a context, pathogens can interact. This interaction could modify the probability of infection by subsequent pathogens. Identifying when pathogen associations correspond to biological interactions is a challenge in cross-sectional studies where the sequence of infection cannot be demonstrated. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS Here we modelled the probability of an individual being infected by one and then another pathogen, using a probabilistic model and maximum likelihood statistics. Our model was developed to apply to cross-sectional data, vector-borne and persistent pathogens, and to take into account confounding factors. Our modelling approach was more powerful than the commonly used Chi-square test of independence. Our model was applied to detect potential interaction between Borrelia afzelii and Bartonella spp. that infected a bank vole population at 11% and 57% respectively. No interaction was identified. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE The modelling approach we proposed is powerful and can identify the direction of potential interaction. Such an approach can be adapted to other types of pathogens, such as non-persistents. The model can be used to identify when co-occurrence patterns correspond to pathogen interactions, which will contribute to understanding how organism communities are assembled and structured. In the long term, the model's capacity to better identify pathogen interactions will improve understanding of infectious risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elise Vaumourin
- INRA, UR346 Epidémiologie Animale, Saint Genès Champanelle, France.
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Marsot M, Chapuis JL, Gasqui P, Dozières A, Masséglia S, Pisanu B, Ferquel E, Vourc’h G. Introduced Siberian chipmunks (Tamias sibiricus barberi) contribute more to lyme borreliosis risk than native reservoir rodents. PLoS One 2013; 8:e55377. [PMID: 23383170 PMCID: PMC3561227 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0055377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2012] [Accepted: 12/21/2012] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The variation of the composition in species of host communities can modify the risk of disease transmission. In particular, the introduction of a new host species can increase health threats by adding a new reservoir and/or by amplifying the circulation of either exotic or native pathogens. Lyme borreliosis is a multi-host vector-borne disease caused by bacteria belonging to the Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato complex. It is transmitted by the bite of hard ticks, especially Ixodes ricinus in Europe. Previous studies showed that the Siberian chipmunk, Tamias sibiricus barberi, an introduced ground squirrel in the Forest of Sénart (near Paris, France) was highly infested by I. ricinus, and consequently infected by B. burgdorferi sl. An index of the contribution of chipmunks to the density of infected questing nymphs on the vegetation (i.e., the acarological risk for humans) was compared to that of bank voles (Myodes glareolus) and of wood mice (Apodemus sylvaticus), two known native and sympatric competent reservoir hosts. Chipmunks produced nearly 8.5 times more infected questing nymphs than voles and mice. Furthermore, they contribute to a higher diversity of B. burgdorferi sl genospecies (B. afzelii, B. burgdorferi sensu stricto and B. garinii). The contribution of chipmunks varied between years and seasons, according to tick availability. As T. s. barberi must be a competent reservoir, it should amplify B. burgdorferi sl infection, hence increasing the risk of Lyme borreliosis in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maud Marsot
- INRA, UR346 Epidémiologie animale, Saint Genès Champanelle, France
- Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Département Ecologie et Gestion de la Biodiversité, UMR 7204 Conservation des Espèces, Restauration et Suivi des Populations, MNHN-CNRS-P6, Paris, France
| | - Jean-Louis Chapuis
- Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Département Ecologie et Gestion de la Biodiversité, UMR 7204 Conservation des Espèces, Restauration et Suivi des Populations, MNHN-CNRS-P6, Paris, France
| | - Patrick Gasqui
- INRA, UR346 Epidémiologie animale, Saint Genès Champanelle, France
| | - Anne Dozières
- Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Département Ecologie et Gestion de la Biodiversité, UMR 7204 Conservation des Espèces, Restauration et Suivi des Populations, MNHN-CNRS-P6, Paris, France
| | | | - Benoit Pisanu
- Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Département Ecologie et Gestion de la Biodiversité, UMR 7204 Conservation des Espèces, Restauration et Suivi des Populations, MNHN-CNRS-P6, Paris, France
| | | | - Gwenaël Vourc’h
- INRA, UR346 Epidémiologie animale, Saint Genès Champanelle, France
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Gyuranecz M, Reiczigel J, Krisztalovics K, Monse L, Szabóné GK, Szilágyi A, Szépe B, Makrai L, Magyar T, Bhide M, Erdélyi K. Factors influencing emergence of tularemia, Hungary, 1984-2010. Emerg Infect Dis 2013; 18:1379-81. [PMID: 22840419 PMCID: PMC3414031 DOI: 10.3201/eid1808.111826] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
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31
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Barrios JM, Verstraeten WW, Maes P, Aerts JM, Farifteh J, Coppin P. Using the gravity model to estimate the spatial spread of vector-borne diseases. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2012; 9:4346-64. [PMID: 23202882 PMCID: PMC3546766 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph9124346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2012] [Revised: 11/13/2012] [Accepted: 11/21/2012] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The gravity models are commonly used spatial interaction models. They have been widely applied in a large set of domains dealing with interactions amongst spatial entities. The spread of vector-borne diseases is also related to the intensity of interaction between spatial entities, namely, the physical habitat of pathogens’ vectors and/or hosts, and urban areas, thus humans. This study implements the concept behind gravity models in the spatial spread of two vector-borne diseases, nephropathia epidemica and Lyme borreliosis, based on current knowledge on the transmission mechanism of these diseases. Two sources of information on vegetated systems were tested: the CORINE land cover map and MODIS NDVI. The size of vegetated areas near urban centers and a local indicator of occupation-related exposure were found significant predictors of disease risk. Both the land cover map and the space-borne dataset were suited yet not equivalent input sources to locate and measure vegetated areas of importance for disease spread. The overall results point at the compatibility of the gravity model concept and the spatial spread of vector-borne diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- José Miguel Barrios
- Biosystems Department M3-BIORES, KU Leuven, Willem de Croylaan 34 B3001, Heverlee, Belgium; (J.-M.A.); (J.F.); (P.C.)
| | - Willem W. Verstraeten
- Climate Observations, Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute, PO Box 201 NL-3730 AE, De Bilt, The Netherlands;
- Applied Physics, Eindhoven University of Technology, PO Box 513 5600 MB, Eindhoven, The Netherlands
| | - Piet Maes
- Laboratory of Clinical Virology, National Reference Laboratory for Hantaviruses, KU Leuven, Minderbroedersstraat 10 B3000, Leuven, Belgium;
| | - Jean-Marie Aerts
- Biosystems Department M3-BIORES, KU Leuven, Willem de Croylaan 34 B3001, Heverlee, Belgium; (J.-M.A.); (J.F.); (P.C.)
| | - Jamshid Farifteh
- Biosystems Department M3-BIORES, KU Leuven, Willem de Croylaan 34 B3001, Heverlee, Belgium; (J.-M.A.); (J.F.); (P.C.)
| | - Pol Coppin
- Biosystems Department M3-BIORES, KU Leuven, Willem de Croylaan 34 B3001, Heverlee, Belgium; (J.-M.A.); (J.F.); (P.C.)
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32
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Manaeva ES, Naumova EI, Kostina NV, Umarov MM, Dobrovol'skaia TG. [Functional features of microbial communities in the digestive tract of field voles (Microtus rossiaemeridionalis and clethrionomys glareolus)]. Izv Akad Nauk Ser Biol 2012:415-419. [PMID: 22988758] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
The nitrogen-fixating and cellobiohydrolase activity, the nitrogen (N) and carbon (C) contents, and the number of microorganisms in the prestomach, cecum, and colon of two vole species were studied: the southern vole (Microtus rossiaemeridionalis) and the bank vole (Clethrionomys glareolus), which is characterized by a mixed type of diet. The nitrogen-fixating activity in the cecum was found to be the highest in the voles compared with the mammals studied earlier. The seasonal dynamics of both nitrogenase and cellobiohydrolase activities was registered in the southern vole. The structure of the microbial complex in the southern vole is more varied and includes microorganisms associated with plant substrates.
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Platonov ME, Evseeva VV, Svetoch TE, Efremenko DV, Kuznetsova IV, Dentovskaia SV, Kulichenko AN, Anisimov AP. [The phylogeography of the Yersinia pestis vole strains isolated from the natural foci of caucasian region]. Mol Gen Mikrobiol Virusol 2012:18-21. [PMID: 22984768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
57 Y pestis bv. caucasica strains were assayed using molecular typing. The results of these assays indicated the presence within this biovar of the three separate clonal clusters and necessity of detachment of the Leninakan mountain mesofocus (subfocus) from the structure of Transcaucasian-highland focus into self-supporting one, as well as inclusion of a part of the Pre-Araks low-mountain natural plague focus in the capacity of the subfocus along with Pre-Sevan mountain and Zanzegur-Karabakh mountain subfoci into the structure of Transcaucasian-highland focus. It was shown that the strains circulating in the East-Caucasian highland plague focus were the most ancient branch of bv. caucasica or even of the entire Y pestis phylogenetic tree.
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Korenberg EI, Anan'ina IV, Gorelova NB, Savel'eva OV, Kovalevskiĭ IV, Petrov EM. [Southern taiga combined natural foci of spirochetoses]. Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol 2011:27-30. [PMID: 22145345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
AIM Study of possibility of existence of combined natural foci of spirochetoses (ixodes tick borrelioses and leptospiroses) in typical taiga forests, and their etiologic and reservoir-host structure. MATERIALS AND METHODS Small mammals of 19 species were captured in 1992-2010 at a station in low-mountain southern taiga forests of Chusov area of Perm region. Borreliae were isolated by seeding urinary bladder or aural bioptates into BSK II medium, leptospirae--by seeding a suspension of kidney tissue into Vervoort-Wolf medium. 1350 animals were studied by seeding for borrelia infection and 1077--for leptospira. 287 of those, small animals of 6 species, were simultaneously studied for borrelia and leptospira infection. Borrelia isolates were identified by using PCR and restriction fragment length polymorphism methods, and leptospirae--by using standard diagnostic agglutinating sera kit. Blood of 2893 rodents of 12 species and insectivorous of 7 species was studied in microagglutination reaction for the detection of antibodies against leptospirae. RESULTS Infection by Borrelia garinii and Borrelia afzelii or Grippotyphosa serogroup leptospira was detected in 6 most numerous species of forest small mammals. 3 root voles and I bankvole were simultaneously infected by borreliae and leptospirae. B. garinii and Grippotyphosa serogroup leptospira were simultaneously isolated from 2 root voles, and B. garinii and Javanica serogroup Leptospira interrogans--from 1 root vole. A bank vole was infected by B. afzelii and Javanica serogroup leptospira. Mixed-infected animals composed 1.4% of all animals of background species studied in parallel. CONCLUSION The data obtained indicate a presence of natural foci of leptospiroses in the southern taiga forest pre-Urals. The data confirm the conceptions regarding a predominant presence in European forest ecosystems of foci with Grippotyphosa serogroup L. interrogans pathogen, and the main carrier ofthese leptospirae being bank vole. Combined natural foci of spirochetoses of two groups (ixodes tick borrelioses and leptospiroses) were detected.
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Ushakov AV. [Mechanisms for the formation of a combination of the natural foci of trematodiases and tularemia in the floodplain-river ecosystem of the Konda River in different periods of epizootic activity of an infection focus]. Med Parazitol (Mosk) 2011:15-20. [PMID: 21932541] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
The basis of the mechanism responsible for the formation of a combination of the natural foci of trematodiases and tularemia in the infection foci in the interepizootic periods is their association with the morphological structure of the floodplain-river landscape of the Konda River. The landscape's facias and holes, which are common to the foci, are integrated, by predetermining the territorial combination. The formation of a closed trinomial Francisella tularensis parasite system integrating these foci serves as a basis for the mechanism of the formation of a combination of the natural foci of trematodiases and tularemia on transition of the latter from the interepizootic state to epizooty. The absence of host populations linking the foci of methorchiasis (M. xanthosomus), bilharziasis, and tularemia determines their combination both in the interepizootic periods and at the level of the landscape morphological structure. The basis for the mechanism of the formation of a combination of the natural foci of trematodiases and tularemia in the periods of diffuse epizooties in the infection foci is the formation of an open binomial F. tularensis parasite system and the infestation of the co-members of F. tularensis trematode parasite systems. By penetrating into them, the pathogen forces the F. tularensis parasite system to enter the trematode parasite systems, causing their complete (opisthorchiases, methorchiases) or partial (bilharziasis) coincidence. Thus, these foci are combined at the level of parasitocenoses of the parasite systems of infections and infestations, by giving rise to pseudosystem combined foci. The natural foci of B. polonica and F. tularensis are combined at the level of parasitocenosis of the coacting hemipopulation of trematode parthenitas, F. tularensis subpopulations and intermediate host population, by forming an autoecious population-combination bilharziasis-tularemia focus. The formation of territorial-combination, autoecious population-combination, and pseudosystem-combination foci of trematodiases and tularemia in different periods of the epizootic activity of an infection focus is determined by the functional organization of the parasite system of a tularemia focus and the biocenotic (functional) structure of natural foci of infestations.
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Vidal D, Alzaga V, Luque-Larena JJ, Mateo R, Arroyo L, Viñuela J. Possible interaction between a rodenticide treatment and a pathogen in common vole (Microtus arvalis) during a population peak. Sci Total Environ 2009; 408:267-271. [PMID: 19863999 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2009.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2009] [Revised: 09/08/2009] [Accepted: 10/01/2009] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
A common vole (Microtus arvalis) population peak in Northern Spain in 2007 was treated with large scale application of chlorophacinone, an anticoagulant rodenticide of the indandione family. Voles found dead and trapped alive were collected in treated and untreated areas. Residues of chlorophacinone were analyzed in liver of voles by HPLC-UV. Also, the presence of the pathogen Francisella tularensis was analyzed by PCR in samples of vole spleen. Chlorophacinone (82-3800 ng/g; wet weight liver) was only detected in voles found dead in treated areas (55.5%). The prevalence of F. tularensis in voles found dead in treated areas was also particularly high (66.7%). Moreover, chlorophacinone levels were lower in voles that were PCR-positive for F. tularensis (geometric mean [95% CI], 418 [143-1219] ng/g) than in those that were PCR-negative (1084 [581-2121] ng/g). Interactions between pathogens and rodenticides might be considered to reduce the doses used in baits or to avoid the use of the more toxic 2nd generation anticoagulant rodenticides.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Vidal
- Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos, CSIC-UCLM-JCCM, Ronda de Toledo s/n, 13071 Ciudad Real, Spain.
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Wang LM, Song XY, Zhu XP, Xie F, Li GQ, Luo ZD, Duan YJ, Qi T, Li F, Wu CX. [Monitoring the Microtus fuscus plague epidemic in Sichuan province during 2000-2008]. Zhonghua Liu Xing Bing Xue Za Zhi 2009; 30:1175-1178. [PMID: 20193590] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To analyze the epidemic tendency of Microtus fuscus plague during 2000 - 2008 in Sichuan province. METHODS To investigate the plague each year according to "overall Plan of the Plague in the Whole Nation" and "Surveillance Program of Sichuan Province Plague". RESULTS There were plague epidemic from 2000 to 2008, with the average density as 312.41/ha. 42.57% of the Microtus fuscus were infected by body Fleas. The Fleas Index was 0.88 and the Index for nest Fleas of Microtus fuscus was 55.89. Six kinds of animals were infected by not only the Microtus fuscus but also herd-dog, sand fox, Tibetan sheep, domestic cats and Cricetulus longicaulatus as well. The positive rate of live Microtus fuscus was 0.32% but 22.99% in the dead Microtus fuscus. The overall positive rate on serological test was 6.70%. There were 4 Sections, 11 species and 19 kinds Fleas identified and carrying 3 kinds of fleas, Callopsylla sparsilis, Amphipsylla tutua tutua and Rhadinopsylla dahurica vicina, with the overall infection rate as 0.054%. CONCLUSION Plague among Microtus fuscus showed a continuous epidemic in Sichuan province during 2000-2008.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li-mao Wang
- Sichuan Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Chengdu 610041, China
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Salkeld DJ, Stapp P. Effects of weather and plague-induced die-offs of prairie dogs on the fleas of northern grasshopper mice. J Med Entomol 2009; 46:588-594. [PMID: 19496431 DOI: 10.1603/033.046.0325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Plague, the disease caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis, can have devastating impacts on black-tailed prairie dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus Ord). Other mammal hosts living on prairie dog colonies may be important in the transmission and maintenance of plague. We examined the flea populations of northern grasshopper mice (Onychomys leucogaster Wied) before, during, and after plague epizootics in northern Colorado and studied the influence of host and environmental factors on flea abundance patterns. Grasshopper mice were frequently infested with high numbers of fleas, most commonly Pleochaetis exilis Jordan and Thrassis fotus Jordan. Flea loads changed in response to both environmental temperature and rainfall. After plague-induced prairie dog die-offs, flea loads and likelihood of infestation were unchanged for P. exilis, but T. fotus loads declined.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel J Salkeld
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA.
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Inoue K, Maruyama S, Kabeya H, Yamada N, Ohashi N, Sato Y, Yukawa M, Masuzawa T, Kawamori F, Kadosaka T, Takada N, Fujita H, Kawabata H. Prevalence and genetic diversity of Bartonella species isolated from wild rodents in Japan. Appl Environ Microbiol 2008; 74:5086-92. [PMID: 18606803 PMCID: PMC2519277 DOI: 10.1128/aem.00071-08] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2008] [Accepted: 06/08/2008] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Here, we describe for the first time the prevalence and genetic properties of Bartonella organisms in wild rodents in Japan. We captured 685 wild rodents throughout Japan (in 12 prefectures) and successfully isolated Bartonella organisms from 176 of the 685 rodents (isolation rate, 25.7%). Those Bartonella isolates were all obtained from the rodents captured in suburban areas (rate, 51.8%), but no organism was isolated from the animals captured in city areas. Sequence analysis of rpoB and gltA revealed that the Bartonella isolates obtained were classified into eight genetic groups, comprising isolates closely related to B. grahamii (A-I group), B. tribocorum and B. elizabethae (B-J group), B. tribocorum and B. rattimassiliensis (C-K group), B. rattimassiliensis (D-L group), B. phoceensis (F-N group), B. taylorii (G-O group), and probably two additional novel Bartonella species groups (E-M and H-P). B. grahamii, which is one of the potential causative agents of human neuroretinitis, was found to be predominant in Japanese rodents. In terms of the relationships between these Bartonella genetic groups and their rodent species, (i) the A-I, E-M, and H-P groups appear to be associated with Apodemus speciosus and Apodemus argenteus; (ii) the C-K, D-L, and F-N groups are likely implicated in Rattus rattus; (iii) the B-J group seems to be involved in Apodemus mice and R. rattus; and (iv) the G-O group is probably associated with A. speciosus and Clethrionomys voles. Furthermore, dual infections with two different genetic groups of bartonellae were found in A. speciosus and R. rattus. These findings suggest that the rodent in Japan might serve as a reservoir of zoonotic Bartonella infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai Inoue
- Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health, Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Bioresource Sciences, Nihon University, 1866 Kameino, Fujisawa, Kanagawa 252-8510, Japan
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Clarke KAR, Fitzgerald SD, Zwick LS, Church SV, Kaneene JB, Wismer AR, Bolin CA, Hattey JA, Yuzbasiyan-Gurkan V. Experimental inoculation of meadow voles (Microtus pennsylvanicus), house mice (Mus musculus), and Norway rats (Rattus norvegicus) with Mycobacterium bovis. J Wildl Dis 2007; 43:353-65. [PMID: 17699074 DOI: 10.7589/0090-3558-43.3.353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Mycobacterium bovis has a wide host range that includes several wildlife species, and this can hamper attempts to eradicate bovine tuberculosis from livestock. The purpose of this study was to determine if common rodent species, namely meadow voles (Microtus pennsylvanicus), house mice (Mus musculus), and Norway rats (Rattus norvegicus), that inhabit the bovine tuberculosis endemic area of Michigan, can be experimentally infected with M. bovis. The objectives of the study were: 1) to determine if these rodent species can be infected, and if so, to document attendant pathologic processes/pathogenesis; 2) to detect any fecal shedding of M. bovis; and 3) to evaluate the relative susceptibility of the three species to M. bovis infection. For each species (n=36) there were two treatment (n=12/group) and one or two control groups depending on species (n=6-12/group); the maximum study duration was 60 days. The meadow vole treatments consisted of high dose inocula that were given by oral or intranasal routes, whereas the house mice and Norway rats were given only oral inocula at either a high or low dose. Of the three species, meadow voles were most susceptible to M. bovis infection. Upon intranasal inoculation, all 12 voles were infected as determined by gross and microscopic lesions and culture of M. bovis from tissue and feces. Seven of the 12 meadow voles inoculated orally were infected. House mice also were susceptible; M. bovis was isolated from 14 of 24 animals. Only one Norway rat in the high dose treatment group was positive by culture and this was the only animal from which minimal attendant lesions were observed. Results of this study indicate that meadow voles and house mice can be infected with M. bovis and might serve as spillover hosts. Concerted efforts should, therefore, be made to reduce or eliminate these rodents on premises where M. bovis-infected livestock are present.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathy-Anne R Clarke
- Department of Pathobiology and Diagnostic Investigation, College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, Lansing, Michigan 48910-8107, USA
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Telfer S, Clough HE, Birtles LRJ, Bennett M, Carslake D, Helyar S, Begon M. ECOLOGICAL DIFFERENCES AND COEXISTENCE IN A GUILD OF MICROPARASITES:BARTONELLAIN WILD RODENTS. Ecology 2007; 88:1841-9. [PMID: 17645030 DOI: 10.1890/06-1004.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
The study of ecological differences among coexisting microparasites has been largely neglected, but it addresses important and unusual issues because there is no clear distinction in such cases between conventional (resource) and apparent competition. Here patterns in the population dynamics are examined for four species of Bartonella (bacterial parasites) coexisting in two wild rodent hosts, bank voles (Clethrionomys glareolus) and wood mice (Apodemus sylvaticus). Using generalized linear modeling and mixed effects models, we examine, for these four species, seasonal patterns and dependencies on host density (both direct and delayed) and, having accounted for these, any differences in prevalence between the two hosts. Whereas previous studies had failed to uncover species differences, here all four were different. Two, B. doshiae and B. taylorii, were more prevalent in wood mice, and one, B. birtlesii, was more prevalent in bank voles. B. birtlesii, B. grahamii, and B. taylorii peaked in prevalence in the fall, whereas B. doshiae peaked in spring. For B. birtlesii in bank voles, density dependence was direct, but for B. taylorii in wood mice density dependence was delayed. B. birtlesii prevalence in wood mice was related to bank vole density. The implications of these differences for species coexistence are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Telfer
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Liverpool, L69 7ZB United Kingdom.
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Anderson JM, Swanson KI, Schwartz TR, Glass GE, Norris DE. Mammal diversity and infection prevalence in the maintenance of enzootic Borrelia burgdorferi along the western Coastal Plains of Maryland. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2007; 6:411-22. [PMID: 17187577 PMCID: PMC4128254 DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2006.6.411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The primary vector of Borrelia burgdorferi in North America, Ixodes scapularis, feeds on various mammalian, avian, and reptilian hosts. Several small mammal hosts; Peromyscus leucopus, Tamias striatus, Microtus pennsylvanicus, and Blarina spp. can serve as reservoirs in an enzootic cycle of Lyme disease. The primary reservoir in the northeast United States is the white-footed mouse, P. leucopus. The infection prevalence of this reservoir as well as the roles of potential secondary reservoirs has not been established in southern Maryland, a region of low to moderate Borrelia infection in humans. Intensive trapping at 96 locations throughout the western Coastal Plains of Maryland was conducted and we found that 31.6% of P. leucopus were infected with B. burgdorferi. Sequence and phylogenetic analysis revealed that only B. burgdorferi sensu stricto circulated in southern Maryland. Feral house mice and voles also were infected and may serve as secondary hosts. Peromyscus gender, age and month of capture were significantly associated with infection status. Larval I. scapularis were the dominant ectoparasite collected from captured rodents even though host seeking A. americanum and D. variabilis were collected in greater numbers across the sampling region. Our findings illustrate that the enzootic cycle of LD is maintained in the western Coastal Plains region of southern Maryland between I. scapularis and P. leucopus as the dominant reservoir.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer M Anderson
- The W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
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Khanakah G, Kocianová E, Vyrosteková V, Rehácek J, Kundi M, Stanek G. Seasonal variations in detecting Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato in rodents from north eastern Austria. Wien Klin Wochenschr 2006; 118:754-8. [PMID: 17186171 DOI: 10.1007/s00508-006-0730-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Austria is well known as an endemic area of Lyme borreliosis. To assess the annual variation of rodent populations that may host agents of Lyme borreliosis we collected rodents in northeastern Austria. Life traps were set out every six weeks during a year consecutively in one each of the three different zones (Hohenau, Ernstbrunn, Vienna Woods) that cover the main habitat characteristics of small mammals in northeastern Austria. Rodents were collected and identified. Samples of heart, urine bladder and brain were removed under aseptic conditions for cultivation of borrelia. Samples of heart muscle were additionally used for molecular detection of borrelia by Real-Time polymerase chain reaction. PCR was performed with borrelia universal primers and with species-specific primers. 938 mice were caught, most frequently Apodemus flavicollis (44%), followed by Clethrionomys glareolus (35%), Microtus arvalis (9%), A. sylvaticus (7%) and Mus musculus (6%). Significant differences were seen in the total number of catch per area (Hohenau, Ernstbrunn, Vienna Woods equal 10:9:2) and in the distribution of the various rodent species in the respective areas. Borrelia strains were grown from only 65 (7%) animals, and more frequently isolated from bladder wall than from heart muscle, and only once from brain. Heart specimens of 223 animals were positive by borrelia PCR (24%), most frequently of the rodent species A. flavicollis (43%) and C. glareolus (38%). Borrelia afzelii was most frequently identified, followed by B. burgdorferi sensu stricto, B. garinii and by mixed infection of B. afzelii with B. burgdorferi sensu stricto. B. garinii was most frequently detected in heart samples of A. sylvaticus (about 20%). In about 3% of PCR positive samples the identification of one of the three mentioned genospecies of borrelia could not be ascertained with the test panel used. The results confirm the rodent species A. flavicollis, A. sylvaticus, M. arvalis and C. glareolus as reservoir animals for B. afzelii, B. garinii and B. burgdorferi sensu stricto, agents of Lyme borreliosis. Notable is the salient presence of B. garinii in heart specimens of A. sylvaticus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gelas Khanakah
- Institute of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
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Bown KJ, Begon M, Bennett M, Birtles RJ, Burthe S, Lambin X, Telfer S, Woldehiwet Z, Ogden NH. SympatricIxodes triangulicepsandIxodes ricinusTicks Feeding on Field Voles (Microtus agrestis): Potential for Increased Risk ofAnaplasma phagocytophilumin the United Kingdom? Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2006; 6:404-10. [PMID: 17187576 DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2006.6.404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The importance of wild rodents as reservoirs of zoonotic tick-borne pathogens is considered low in the United Kingdom because, in studies to date, those parasitized by exophilic Ixodes ricinus ticks carry almost exclusively larvae and thus have a minor role in transmission cycles. In a cross-sectional study, 11 (6.7%) of 163 field voles (Microtus agrestis) captured at field sites in Northern England were PCR-positive for Anaplasma phagocytophilum. The voles were found to act as hosts for both larval and nymphal I. ricinus and all stages of the nidicolous tick I. trianguliceps, and eight individuals were infested with ticks of both species at the same time. Two of 158 larval and one of 13 nymphal I. ricinus, as well as one of 14 larval and one of 15 nymphal I. trianguliceps collected from the rodents were PCR-positive. These findings suggest that habitats where field voles are abundant in the United Kingdom may pose a risk of A. phagocytophilum infection because (i) field voles, the most abundant terrestrial mammal in the United Kingdom, may be a competent reservoir; (ii) the field voles are hosts for both nymphal and larval ixodid ticks so they could support endemic cycles of A. phagocytophilum; and (iii) they are hosts for nidicolous I. trianguliceps, which may alone maintain endemic cycles, and exophilic I. ricinus ticks, which could act as a bridge vector and transmit infections to humans and domesticated animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- K J Bown
- Department of Veterinary Pathology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.
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Telfer S, Begon M, Bennett M, Bown KJ, Burthe S, Lambin X, Telford G, Birtles R. Contrasting dynamics of Bartonella spp. in cyclic field vole populations: the impact of vector and host dynamics. Parasitology 2006; 134:413-25. [PMID: 17096870 PMCID: PMC2952920 DOI: 10.1017/s0031182006001624] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2006] [Revised: 09/12/2006] [Accepted: 09/13/2006] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Many zoonotic disease agents are transmitted between hosts by arthropod vectors, including fleas, but few empirical studies of host-vector-microparasite dynamics have investigated the relative importance of hosts and vectors. This study investigates the dynamics of 4 closely related Bartonella species and their flea vectors in cyclic populations of field voles (Microtus agrestis) over 3 years. The probability of flea infestation was positively related to field vole density 12 months previously in autumn, but negatively related to more recent host densities, suggesting a dilution effect. The 4 Bartonella species exhibited contrasting dynamics. Only B. grahamii, showed a distinct seasonal pattern. Infection probability increased with field vole density for B. doshiae, B. taylorii and BGA (a previously unidentified species) and with density of coexisting wood mice for B. doshiae and B. grahamii. However, only the infection probability of BGA in spring was related to flea prevalence. B. doshiae and BGA were most common in older animals, but the other 2 were most common in non-reproductive hosts. Generally, host density rather than vector abundance appears most important for the dynamics of flea-transmitted Bartonella spp., possibly reflecting the importance of flea exchange between hosts. However, even closely related species showed quite different dynamics, emphasising that other factors such as population age structure can impact on zoonotic risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Telfer
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Biosciences Building, Liverpool L69 7LB, UK.
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Podobedova IS, Demidova TN, Kormilitsyna MI, Meshcheriakova IS. [Natural foci of tularemia on the Wrangel island]. Med Parazitol (Mosk) 2006:32-4. [PMID: 17290906] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
The subjects of the study were snowy owl castings (611 samples), polar fox litters (148 samples), and water samples of outdoor tundra water reservoirs. Tularemia antigen was sought in the castings and litters by the antibody neutralization test. The water was examined by bioassays. Tularemia antigen was annually detected in the study samples. Epizootically active autonomous natural foci of tundra-type tularemia were ascertained to continue to exist on the Wrangel island. The major vectors of the causative agent of tularemia were two types of lemmings (Siberian lemming and Vinogradov's one). The availability of epizootically active natural foci determines the need for vaccination against tularemia of persons who are long engaged in researches who are epidemiologically a risk group.
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Oliver J, Means RG, Kogut S, Prusinski M, Howard JJ, Layne LJ, Chu FK, Reddy A, Lee L, White DJ. Prevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi in small mammals in New York state. J Med Entomol 2006; 43:924-35. [PMID: 17017230 DOI: 10.1603/0022-2585(2006)43[924:pobbis]2.0.co;2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Intensive small mammal trapping was conducted in 12 counties in New York state during 1998-2000 to investigate the prevalence and site specificity of the Lyme disease spirochete, Borrelia burgdorferi in, and presence of the blacklegged tick, Ixodes scapularis Say on, the wild mice Peromyscus leucopus Rafinesque and Peromyscus maniculatus Wagner and other small mammal species. Previously captured mice (1992-1997) from throughout New York state also were recruited into the study, providing a total of 3,664 Peromyscus from 107 sites in 31 counties. Infection with B. burgdorferi was determined by polymerase chain reaction testing of ear tissue, and rates were determined by species, counties, and regions of the state. B. burgdorferi was detected in 10 small mammal species captured during 1998-2000. Peromyscus captured from Dutchess County in the lower Hudson Valley had the highest infection rate of 21%. The next highest infection rates were in counties within the Capital District: Albany (18%), Rensselaer (17%), and Columbia (13%). From 4,792 small animals examined, we recovered 2,073 ticks representing six species from 414 individuals of 12 mammal species, including 1,839 I. scapularis collected from 315 Peromyscus trapped in five counties. I. scapularis were most often collected from animals trapped in Albany, Rensselear, and Dutchess counties. We used protein electrophoresis of salivary amylase to distinguish between P. leucopus and P. maniculatus species. I. scapularis burdens were 5.7 ticks per P. leucopus and 14.3 ticks per P. maniculatus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanne Oliver
- New York State Department of Health, 65 Fairfax Ave., Schenectady, NY 12304, USA
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Grzeszczuk A, Karbowiak G, Ziarko S, Kovalchuk O. The Root-VoleMicrotus oeconomus(Pallas, 1776): A New Potential Reservoir ofAnaplasma phagocytophilum. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2006; 6:240-3. [PMID: 16989562 DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2006.6.240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Anaplasma phagocytophilum infection is a recently emerged tick-borne zoonosis. The bacterium's reservoirs likely comprise cervids, some ruminants, rodents, and perhaps other small and intermediate-size mammals; the main vector in Europe is the Ixodes ricinus tick. The Białowieza Primeval Forest is an ecosystem with a known prevalence of tick-borne pathogens. We studied the root-vole Microtus oeconomus to evaluate the natural infection of A. phagocytophilum. Intragranulocytic bacterial clusters (morulae) were not seen, but the A. phagocytophilum-specific nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) product, targeting the rrs gene, was detected in two out of 30 rodent samples (GenBank accession nos. DQ361024 and DQ361025). Twenty-six root vole (86.6%) hosted ticks, mainly Dermacentor reticulatus larvae and nymphs. Only two rodents were parasitazed by I. ricinus single larvae. These data show the presence of natural infection of A. phagocytophilum among the root-vole M. oeconomus in the Białowieza Primeval Forest ecosystem.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Grzeszczuk
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Medical University of Białystok, Białystok, Poland.
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