The relationship between socioeconomic indices and potentially zoonotic pathogens carried by wild Norway rats: a survey in Rhône, France (2010-2012).
Leptospira interrogans, hantaviruses (particularly Seoul virus), hepatitis E virus (HEV), and Toxoplasma gondii are rat-associated zoonoses that are responsible for human morbidity and mortality worldwide. This study aimed to describe the infection patterns of these four pathogens in wild rats (Rattus norvegicus) across socioeconomic levels in neighbourhoods in Lyon, France. The infection or exposure status was determined using polymerase chain reaction or serology for 178 wild rats captured in 23 locations; additionally, confirmatory culture or mouse inoculation was performed. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to investigate whether morphological and socioeconomic data could predict the infection status of the rats. This study revealed that the rat colony's age structure may influence the prevalence of L. interrogans, hantavirus, and HEV. In addition, areas with high human population densities and low incomes may be associated with a greater number of infected rats and an increased risk of disease transmission.
WildTech, PERS,Université de Lyon-VetAgro Sup,Marcy l'Etoile,France.
F
F
Ayral
Université de Rennes 2,Rennes Cedex,France.
J
J
Artois
WildTech, PERS,Université de Lyon-VetAgro Sup,Marcy l'Etoile,France.
A-L
AL
Zilber
The National Veterinary Institute (SVA),Department of Virology, Immunobiology and Parasitology, Uppsala,Sweden.
F
F
Widén
Institute of Integrative Biology,University of Liverpool,Liverpool,UK.
K C
KC
Pounder
Laboratory of Parasitology, EA 3800, SFR CAP-Santé FED 4231, National Reference Centre on Toxoplasmosis,University of Reims Champagne-Ardenne,Reims Cédex,France.
D
D
Aubert
Biomatématiques et Epidémiologie, EPSP-TIMC, UMR CNRS 5525, UFJ, VetAgro Sup, Marcy l'Etoile.
D J
DJ
Bicout
WildTech, PERS,Université de Lyon-VetAgro Sup,Marcy l'Etoile,France.
M
M
Artois
D000818:Animals; D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006476:Orthohantavirus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016752:Hepatitis E virus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D007921:Leptospira interrogans / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D008297:Male; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011156:Population Density; D051381:Rats; D012376:Rodent Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000821:virology; D012698:Serologic Tests; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D015047:Zoonoses / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000821:virology
Hepatitis E virus; Leptospira interrogans; Norway rats; Seoul virus; Toxoplasma gondii