Abstract
BackgroundRodents are important reservoirs for zoonotic vector-borne agents. Thus, the distribution of rodents and their vicinity to humans and companion animals may have an important impact on human and animal health. However, the reservoir potential of some rodent genera, e.g. Microtus, has not yet been precisely examined concerning tick-borne pathogens in Central Europe. Therefore, we examined small mammals from Germany and the Czech Republic for the following vector-borne pathogens: Babesia spp., Bartonella spp., Anaplasma phagocytophilum, “Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis” (CNM) and Coxiella burnetii. Spleen DNA from 321 small mammals belonging to four genera, Myodes (n = 78), Apodemus (n = 56), Microtus (n = 149), Sorex (n = 38), collected during 2014 in Germany and the Czech Republic were available for this study. DNA samples were examined for the presence of Babesia and Bartonella DNA by conventional PCR targeting the 18S rRNA gene and the 16S–23S rRNA intergenic spacer region, respectively. For the detection of CNM, A. phagocytophilum and C. burnetii real-time PCR assays were performed.ResultsBartonella spp. DNA was detected in 216 specimens (67.3%) with 102/174 (58.6%) positive in Germany and 114/147 (77.6%) in the Czech Republic. The prevalence in each genus was 44.9% for Myodes, 63.2% for Sorex, 77.2% for Microtus and 75% for Apodemus. Four Bartonella species, i.e. Bartonella sp. N40, B. grahamii, B. taylorii and B. doshiae, as well as uncultured bartonellae, were detected. The Bartonella species diversity was higher in rodents than in shrews. In total, 27/321 (8.4%) small mammals were positive for CNM and 3/321 (0.9%) for A. phagocytophilum (S. coronatus and M. glareolus). All samples were negative for Babesia spp. and Coxiella spp.ConclusionsWhile the detected high prevalence for Bartonella in Apodemus and Myodes spp. is confirmatory with previous findings, the prevalence in Microtus spp. was unexpectedly high. This indicates that individuals belonging to this genus may be regarded as potential reservoirs. Interestingly, only Sorex spp. and M. glareolus were positive for A. phagocytophilum in the present study, suggesting a possible importance of the latter for the maintenance of certain A. phagocytophilum strains in nature.
Highlights
Rodents are important reservoirs for zoonotic vector-borne agents
polymerase chain reaction (PCR) results for A. phagocytophilum, Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis” (CNM), C. burnetii, and Babesia spp. in small mammals In total, 27 out of 321 (8.4%; 95% confidence interval (CI): 5.8–12.0%) small mammals were positive for CNM (Table 1)
This study presents the examination of arthropodborne pathogens such as Bartonella spp., A. phagocytophilum, CNM, Babesia spp. and C. burnetii in different small mammal species from the Czech Republic and Germany
Summary
Rodents are important reservoirs for zoonotic vector-borne agents. The reservoir potential of some rodent genera, e.g. Microtus, has not yet been precisely examined concern‐ ing tick-borne pathogens in Central Europe. We examined small mammals from Germany and the Czech Republic for the following vector-borne pathogens: Babesia spp., Bartonella spp., Anaplasma phagocytophilum, “Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis” (CNM) and Coxiella burnetii. Rodents and other small mammals are important reservoir hosts for a range of pathogenic and non-pathogenic viral, bacterial and parasitic agents [1]. They are of importance for the development of subadult tick stages and contribute in the natural life-cycle of several tick-borne bacterial and parasitic pathogens [2]. In Europe, Bartonella spp. were far reported in different vole and mice species from Austria, Finland, Germany and Poland [6,7,8,9]
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