Survey for zoonotic pathogens in Norway rat populations from Europe.
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. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry.
Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Institute for Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany.
Elisa
E
Heuser
Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Institute for Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany.
Stefan
S
Fischer
Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Institute for Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany.
René
R
Ryll
Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Berlin, Germany.
Anne
A
Mayer-Scholl
Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Institute of Diagnostic Virology, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany.
Donata
D
Hoffmann
Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Berlin, Germany.
Carina
C
Spahr
Julius Kühn-Institute, Federal Research Centre for Cultivated Plants, Institute for Plant Protection in Horticulture and Forestry, Vertebrate Research, Münster, Germany.
Christian
C
Imholt
Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Institute for Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany.
Dewi Murni
DM
Alfa
Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Institute of Epidemiology, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany.
Andreas
A
Fröhlich
Freie Universität Berlin, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Institute of Poultry Diseases, Berlin, Germany.
Dörte
D
Lüschow
Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Berlin, Germany.
Reimar
R
Johne
Robert Koch-Institute, Berlin, Germany.
Bernhard
B
Ehlers
Bundeswehr Institute of Microbiology, Munich, Germany.
Sandra
S
Essbauer
Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Berlin, Germany.
Karsten
K
Nöckler
Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Institute for Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany.|German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), partner site Hamburg-Luebeck-Borstel-Insel Riems, Germany.
Rainer G
RG
Ulrich
D000818:Animals; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D060085:Coinfection; D005060:Europe; D005260:Female; D007919:Leptospira / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D012281:Rickettsia / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012376:Rodent Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000821:virology*; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D015047:Zoonoses
Leptospira; Rattus norvegicus; Rickettsia; age; coinfection; habitat; orthopoxvirus; rat polyomavirus; sex