Elisa Heuser1, Stefan Fischer1, René Ryll1, Anne Mayer-Scholl2, Donata Hoffmann3, Carina Spahr2, Christian Imholt4, Dewi Murni Alfa1, Andreas Fröhlich5, Dörte Lüschow6, Reimar Johne2, Bernhard Ehlers7, Sandra Essbauer8, Karsten Nöckler2, Rainer G Ulrich1,9. 1. Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Institute for Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany. 2. Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Berlin, Germany. 3. Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Institute of Diagnostic Virology, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany. 4. Julius Kühn-Institute, Federal Research Centre for Cultivated Plants, Institute for Plant Protection in Horticulture and Forestry, Vertebrate Research, Münster, Germany. 5. Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Institute of Epidemiology, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany. 6. Freie Universität Berlin, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Institute of Poultry Diseases, Berlin, Germany. 7. Robert Koch-Institute, Berlin, Germany. 8. Bundeswehr Institute of Microbiology, Munich, Germany. 9. German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), partner site Hamburg-Luebeck-Borstel-Insel Riems, Germany.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The Norway rat Rattus norvegicus is an important reservoir of various zoonotic pathogens, such as cowpox virus and Leptospira, but also for agents of no or unknown zoonotic potential. We describe a survey of 426 Norway rats originating from five European countries and different habitats for Leptospira spp., rickettsiae, orthopoxvirus (OPV), avian metapneumovirus subtypes A and B (aMPV) and rat polyomavirus (rat PyV). RESULTS: Leptospira DNA was detected in 60 out of 420 (14.3%) rats, and Rickettsia DNA was found in three out of 369 (0.8%) rats investigated. PCR-based typing resulted in the identification of L. interrogans sequence type 17, which corresponds to the serogroup Icterohaemorrhagiae, and Rickettsia helvetica respectively. Rat PyV DNA was detected in 103 out of 421 (24.5%) rats. OPV DNA and aMPV RNA were detected in none of the rats, but OPV-specific antibodies were detected in three out of 388 (0.8%) rats. The frequency of single Leptospira and rat PyV infections and coinfections was, independent of sex, greater for adults compared with juveniles/subadults and greater at rural sites compared with urban areas. CONCLUSIONS: Study results indicate a broad geographical distribution of Leptospira DNA in rats within Europe, underlining the need to investigate further the potential mechanisms leading to increased prevalence in rural habitats and to assess the relevance to public health. In contrast, rickettsia and OPV infections rarely occurred in wild rat populations. The potential influence of rat PyV on the susceptibility to infections with other pathogens should be investigated in future studies.
BACKGROUND: The Norway ratRattus norvegicus is an important reservoir of various zoonotic pathogens, such as cowpox virus and Leptospira, but also for agents of no or unknown zoonotic potential. We describe a survey of 426 Norway rats originating from five European countries and different habitats for Leptospira spp., rickettsiae, orthopoxvirus (OPV), avian metapneumovirus subtypes A and B (aMPV) and ratpolyomavirus (rat PyV). RESULTS:Leptospira DNA was detected in 60 out of 420 (14.3%) rats, and Rickettsia DNA was found in three out of 369 (0.8%) rats investigated. PCR-based typing resulted in the identification of L. interrogans sequence type 17, which corresponds to the serogroup Icterohaemorrhagiae, and Rickettsia helvetica respectively. Rat PyV DNA was detected in 103 out of 421 (24.5%) rats. OPV DNA and aMPV RNA were detected in none of the rats, but OPV-specific antibodies were detected in three out of 388 (0.8%) rats. The frequency of single Leptospira and ratPyV infections and coinfections was, independent of sex, greater for adults compared with juveniles/subadults and greater at rural sites compared with urban areas. CONCLUSIONS: Study results indicate a broad geographical distribution of Leptospira DNA in rats within Europe, underlining the need to investigate further the potential mechanisms leading to increased prevalence in rural habitats and to assess the relevance to public health. In contrast, rickettsia and OPV infections rarely occurred in wild rat populations. The potential influence of rat PyV on the susceptibility to infections with other pathogens should be investigated in future studies.
Authors: Maria Krügel; Martin Pfeffer; Nina Król; Christian Imholt; Kristof Baert; Rainer G Ulrich; Anna Obiegala Journal: Parasit Vectors Date: 2020-05-07 Impact factor: 3.876