Wild rodents are an important source of the tick-borne pathogens Coxiella burnetii and Francisella tularensis. The aim of our study was to assess the prevalence of antibodies and possible coexistence of these pathogens in wild small mammals from three localities in the Czech Republic. A total of 614 wild small mammals (324 Apodemus flavicollis, 145 Myodes glareolus, 50 Sorex araneus, 48 A. sylvaticus, 40 A. agrarius, six Microtus arvalis and one Talpa europaea) were trapped between 2012 and 2015. Their sera or heart extracts were examined by modified indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, with the detection of antibodies against C. burnetii and F. tularensis in 12 % and 7 % of animals, respectively; coinfection was identified in 4.4 % of animals. The prevalence of C. burnetii and F. tularensis antibodies statistically differed according to animal species and sex (p < 0.05); the seroprevalence of C. burnetii (p < 0.05) also differed in the sampling period. The highest prevalence of antibodies against C. burnetii and F. tularensis was detected in the case of M. glareolus (24 % and 14 %, respectively).
- MeSH
- Arvicolinae MeSH
- Coxiella burnetii izolace a purifikace MeSH
- Francisella tularensis izolace a purifikace MeSH
- koinfekce epidemiologie mikrobiologie veterinární MeSH
- krtci MeSH
- Murinae MeSH
- nemoci hlodavců epidemiologie mikrobiologie MeSH
- prevalence MeSH
- protilátky bakteriální krev MeSH
- Q-horečka epidemiologie mikrobiologie veterinární MeSH
- rejskovití MeSH
- séroepidemiologické studie MeSH
- tularemie epidemiologie mikrobiologie veterinární MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
- Geografické názvy
- Česká republika MeSH
In Slovakia, little knowledge is available on the occurrence, hosts and vectors of Borrelia miyamotoi of the relapsing fever group. In the current study, 2160 questing and rodent-attached ticks of six species (Ixodes ricinus, Ixodes trianguliceps, Dermacentor marginatus, Dermacentor reticulatus, Haemaphysalis concinna and Haemaphysalis inermis), 279 fleas belonging to 9 species (Ctenophthalmus agyrtes, Ctenophthalmus solutus, Ctenophthalmus assimilis, Megabothris turbidus, Amalareus penicilliger, Hystrichopsylla orientalis, Ctenophthalmus uncinatus, Doratopsylla dasycnema and Nosopsyllus fasciatus) and skin biopsies from 245 small mammals belonging to eight species (Apodemus agrarius, Apodemus flavicollis, Apodemus uralensis, Myodes glareolus, Crocidura leucodon, Micromys minutus, Microtus arvalis, Microtus subterraneus) were screened for the presence of B. miyamotoi DNA. The overall prevalence of B. miyamotoi found in questing and rodent-attached ticks was 1.8% (23 positive/1260 examined) and 3.4% (31 positive/900 examined), respectively. Borrelia miyamotoi was detected in questing I. ricinus, rodent-attached I. ricinus and H. inermis ticks, and in one male of the common vole (M. arvalis) in different habitats (mainly rural) in eastern Slovakia. However, B. miyamotoi was not found in any of the tested fleas. Our findings indicate that rural habitats with different species of tick vectors and hosts are appropriate for the occurrence of B. miyamotoi.
- MeSH
- Borrelia izolace a purifikace MeSH
- hlodavci MeSH
- infekce bakteriemi rodu Borrelia epidemiologie mikrobiologie veterinární MeSH
- interakce hostitele a parazita * MeSH
- Ixodidae mikrobiologie MeSH
- nemoci hlodavců epidemiologie mikrobiologie MeSH
- prevalence MeSH
- Siphonaptera mikrobiologie MeSH
- životní prostředí MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
- Geografické názvy
- Slovenská republika MeSH
BACKGROUND: Human granulocytic anaplasmosis is a zoonotic bacterial disease with increasing relevance for public health in Europe. The understanding of its sylvatic cycle and identification of competent reservoir hosts are essential for improving disease risk models and planning preventative measures. RESULTS: In 2012 we collected single ear biopsy punches from 964 live-trapped rodents in the Province of Trento, Italy. Genetic screening for Anaplasma phagocytophilum (AP) was carried out by PCR amplification of a fragment of the 16S rRNA gene. Fifty-two (5.4%) samples tested positive: 49/245 (20%) from the bank vole (Myodes glareolus) and 3/685 (0.4%) samples collected from the yellow-necked mouse (Apodemus flavicollis). From these 52 positive samples, we generated 38 groEL and 39 msp4 sequences. Phylogenetic analysis confirmed the existence of a distinct rodent strain of AP. CONCLUSIONS: Our results confirm the circulation of a specific strain of AP in rodents in our study area; moreover, they provide further evidence of the marginal role of A. flavicollis compared to M. glareolus as a reservoir host for this pathogen.
- MeSH
- Anaplasma phagocytophilum genetika izolace a purifikace MeSH
- Arvicolinae MeSH
- divoká zvířata MeSH
- ehrlichióza epidemiologie mikrobiologie MeSH
- fylogeneze MeSH
- genetická variace * MeSH
- hlodavci MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- myši MeSH
- nemoci hlodavců mikrobiologie MeSH
- prevalence MeSH
- zdroje nemoci mikrobiologie MeSH
- zoonózy MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- myši MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- Geografické názvy
- Itálie epidemiologie MeSH
While pathogens are often assumed to limit the growth of wildlife populations, experimental evidence for their effects is rare. A lack of food resources has been suggested to enhance the negative effects of pathogen infection on host populations, but this theory has received little investigation. We conducted a replicated two-factor enclosure experiment, with introduction of the bacterium Bordetella bronchiseptica and food supplementation, to evaluate the individual and interactive effects of pathogen infection and food availability on vole populations during a boreal winter. We show that prior to bacteria introduction, vole populations were limited by food availability. Bordetella bronchiseptica introduction then reduced population growth and abundance, but contrary to predictions, primarily in food supplemented populations. Infection prevalence and pathological changes in vole lungs were most common in food supplemented populations, and are likely to have resulted from increased congregation and bacteria transmission around feeding stations. Bordetella bronchiseptica-infected lungs often showed protozoan co-infection (consistent with Hepatozoon erhardovae), together with more severe inflammatory changes. Using a multidisciplinary approach, this study demonstrates a complex picture of interactions and underlying mechanisms, leading to population-level effects. Our results highlight the potential for food provisioning to markedly influence disease processes in wildlife mammal populations.
- MeSH
- Arvicolinae * MeSH
- Bordetella bronchiseptica fyziologie MeSH
- dieta veterinární MeSH
- infekce bakteriemi rodu Bordetella mikrobiologie veterinární MeSH
- náhodné rozdělení MeSH
- nemoci hlodavců mikrobiologie MeSH
- populační dynamika MeSH
- populační růst MeSH
- potravní doplňky analýza MeSH
- roční období MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
- Geografické názvy
- Finsko MeSH
BACKGROUND: Ixodes ricinus is the principal vector of Anaplasma phagocytophilum, the ethiological agent of granulocytic anaplasmosis in Europe. Anaplasmosis is an emerging zoonotic disease with a natural enzootic cycle. The reservoir competence of rodents is unclear. Monitoring of A. phagocytophilum prevalence in I. ricinus and rodents in various habitat types of Slovakia may contribute to the knowledge about the epidemiology of anaplasmosis in Central Europe. METHODS: Over 4400 questing ixodid ticks, 1000 rodent-attached ticks and tissue samples of 606 rodents were screened for A. phagocytophilum DNA by real-time PCR targeting the msp2 gene. Ticks and rodents were captured along six transects in an urban/suburban and natural habitat in south-western Slovakia during 2011-2014. Estimates of wildlife (roe deer, red deer, fallow deer, mouflon, wild boar) densities in the study area were taken from hunter's yearly reports. Spatial and temporal differences in A. phagocytophilum prevalence in questing I. ricinus and relationships with relative abundance of ticks and wildlife were analysed. RESULTS: Overall prevalence of A. phagocytophilum in questing I. ricinus was significantly higher in the urban/suburban habitat (7.2%; 95% CI: 6.1-8.3%) compared to the natural habitat (3.1%; 95% CI: 2.5-3.9%) (χ(2) = 37.451; P < 0.001). Significant local differences in prevalence of infected questing ticks were found among transects within each habitat as well as among years and between seasons. The trapped rodents belonged to six species. Apodemus flavicollis and Myodes glareolus prevailed in both habitats, Microtus arvalis was present only in the natural habitat. I. ricinus comprised 96.3% of the rodent-attached ticks, the rest were Haemaphysalis concinna, Ixodes trianguliceps and Dermacentor reticulatus. Only 0.5% of rodent skin and 0.6% of rodent-attached ticks (only I. ricinus) were infected with A. phagocytophilum. Prevalence of A. phagocytophilum in questing I. ricinus did not correlate significantly with relative abundance of ticks or with abundance of wildlife in the area. CONCLUSION: The study confirms that urban I. ricinus populations are infected with A. phagocytophilum at a higher rate than in a natural habitat of south-western Slovakia and suggests that rodents are not the main reservoirs of the bacterium in the investigated area.
- MeSH
- Anaplasma phagocytophilum izolace a purifikace MeSH
- časové faktory MeSH
- ehrlichióza epidemiologie přenos MeSH
- ekosystém MeSH
- hlodavci MeSH
- klíště mikrobiologie MeSH
- kvantitativní polymerázová řetězová reakce MeSH
- nemoci hlodavců epidemiologie mikrobiologie přenos MeSH
- nymfa mikrobiologie MeSH
- rozšíření zvířat MeSH
- velkoměsta MeSH
- zdroje nemoci * mikrobiologie MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
- Geografické názvy
- Slovenská republika MeSH
- velkoměsta MeSH
Leptospiróza je celosvětově rozšířená zoonóza s nejvyšším výskytem v tropických oblastech. Rezervoárová zvířata, nejčastěji myši a potkani, vylučují asymptomaticky leptospiry močí. Člověk se infikuje bud kontaktem s močí, nebo prostřednictvím kontaminované vody nebo půdy při práci a rekreačních aktivitách. Cílem článku je upozornit na další možný zdroj leptospirové infekce - potkany chovaně v domácnosti, kteří se v posledních dvaceti letech stali oblíbenými domácími mazlíčky. Jsou popsány tři případy pacientů z let 2005-2010 s různě těžkým průběhem leptospirové infekce, kteří se pravděpodobně nakazili od domácích potkanů.
Leptospirosis is a worldwide zoonosis with the highest incidence in tropical regions. The reservoir animals, mainly mice and rats, excrete leptospira organisms in their urine asymptomatically. It is transmitted to human hosts either by contact with the infected urine or via contaminated water or soil during the work and recreational activities. The aim of the case reports is to point out to another potential source of leptospiral infection - domestic rats which have become favorite home pets in the last twenty years. Three patients with various severities of the disease and treated in 2005-2010 are reported. The patients most likely acquired the leptospiral infection from their pet rats.
- MeSH
- dospělí MeSH
- hospodářská zvířata MeSH
- kritický stav MeSH
- krysa rodu rattus MeSH
- Leptospira interrogans izolace a purifikace MeSH
- leptospiróza * diagnóza patofyziologie terapie MeSH
- lidé středního věku MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- nemoci hlodavců mikrobiologie přenos MeSH
- trasování kontaktů veterinární MeSH
- Weilova nemoc diagnóza patofyziologie terapie MeSH
- zoonózy * přenos MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- dospělí MeSH
- krysa rodu rattus MeSH
- lidé středního věku MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- kazuistiky MeSH
We determined the role of Yersinia pestis virulence markers in an animal model of pneumonic plague. Eleven strains of Y. pestis were characterized using PCR assays to detect the presence of known virulence genes both encoded by the three plasmids as well as chromosomal markers. The virulence of all Y. pestis strains was compared in a mouse model for pneumonic plague. The presence of all known virulence genes correlated completely with virulence in the Balb/c mouse model. Strains which lacked HmsF initially exhibited visible signs of disease whereas all other strains (except wild-type strains) did not exhibit any disease signs. Forty-eight hours post-infection, mice which had received HmsF(-) strains regained body mass and were able to control infection; those infected with strains possessing a full complement of virulence genes suffered from fatal disease. The bacterial loads observed in the lung and other tissues reflected the observed clinical signs as did the cytokine changes measured in these animals. We can conclude that all known virulence genes are required for the establishment of pneumonic plague in mammalian animal models, the role of HmsF being of particular importance in disease progression.
- MeSH
- analýza přežití MeSH
- bakteriální geny MeSH
- bakteriální nálož MeSH
- cytokiny sekrece MeSH
- DNA bakterií genetika MeSH
- faktory virulence genetika metabolismus MeSH
- modely nemocí na zvířatech MeSH
- mor mikrobiologie mortalita patologie MeSH
- myši inbrední BALB C MeSH
- myši MeSH
- nemoci hlodavců mikrobiologie mortalita patologie MeSH
- plazmidy analýza MeSH
- plíce mikrobiologie MeSH
- polymerázová řetězová reakce MeSH
- proteiny vnější bakteriální membrány genetika metabolismus MeSH
- tělesná hmotnost MeSH
- virulence MeSH
- Yersinia pestis genetika patogenita MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- myši MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
Two strains of Gram-positive cocci were isolated from viscera of common voles (Microtus arvalis Pallas) with generalized Brucella microti infection in the Czech Republic. Biochemical features and phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that the strains are representatives of the genus Staphylococcus and assigned Staphylococcus muscae as the nearest relative. A detailed characterization done by ribotyping, rpoB and hsp60 gene sequencing, whole-cell protein analysis and rep-PCR using the (GTG)(5) primer differentiated the two strains from all described staphylococci. DNA-DNA hybridization with the type strain of S. muscae demonstrated that the two strains should be considered as members of a novel species (26.8 % reassociation). The two analysed strains were found to be coagulase-negative, novobiocin-susceptible, oxidase-negative cultures, phenotypically close to one another, but showing differences in ribotype profiles. The major fatty acids were iso-C(15 : 0), iso-C(17 : 0), anteiso-C(15 : 0), C(18 : 2 )omega6,9c/anteiso-C(18 : 0), C(18 : 0) and C(18 : 1) omega9c. MK-7 was the predominant isoprenoid quinone, with minor amounts of MK-6 and MK-8. The polar lipid profile was composed of the major lipids diphosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylglycerol and several unknown lipids. These results proved that the two isolates represent a novel staphylococcal species. The name proposed for this novel taxon is Staphylococcus microti sp. nov.; the type strain is 4005-LJ(m)(T) (=CCM 4903(T) =CCUG 55861(T) =DSM 22147(T)).
- MeSH
- Arvicolinae MeSH
- DNA bakterií genetika MeSH
- fylogeneze MeSH
- mastné kyseliny chemie metabolismus MeSH
- molekulární sekvence - údaje MeSH
- nemoci hlodavců mikrobiologie MeSH
- ribozomální DNA genetika MeSH
- RNA ribozomální 16S genetika MeSH
- stafylokokové infekce mikrobiologie veterinární MeSH
- Staphylococcus klasifikace genetika izolace a purifikace MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
Tularémie je zoonóza s přírodní ohniskovostí postihující především hlodavce a zajícovité, u nichž má závažný až smrtelný průběh. Nemoc je přenosná na člověka a vyskytuje se ve většině zemí severní polokoule – v České republice je ročně hlášeno kolem 100 lidských onemocnění. Zdrojem nákazy u nás jsou nejčastěji zajíci a hraboši. Původce nemoci – Francisella tularensis – se vyskytuje ve dvou formách – A a B, z nichž A je malignější a lidské nákazy touto formou jsou hlášeny pouze ze zemí Severní Ameriky. Infekce se šíří lymfatickými cestami a podle vstupní brány nákazy je řada klinických forem, z nichž nejčastější je ulceroglandulární. Ke stanovení klinické diagnózy pomáhá profesionální anamnéza a potvrzením infekce je nejčastěji vzestup specifických protilátek. Lékem volby jsou aminoglykosidová antibiotika v kombinaci s tetracykliny.
Tularemia is a zoonosis with a natural focus affecting primarily rodents and leporids, in whom it has a serious and deadly course. The disease is transmissible to humans and occurs in most countries of the northern hemisphere - in the Czech Republic around 100 human cases are reported annually. The source of infection in our country are mostly hares and voles. The pathogen - Francisella tularensis - occurs in two forms - A and B, of which A is more malignant and human cases of this form are reported only from countries in North America. Infection is spread through lymphatic vessels and according to the disease entrance gate there is a series of clinical forms, the most common being ulceroglandular. Professional anamnesis helps to determine the clinical diagnosis and increase of specific antibodies is usually a confirmation of the infection. Drugs of choice are aminoglycoside antibiotics in combination with tetracyclines.
