Abstract
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.
Highlights
Twenty-four bioassays were inconclusive because the mice did not survive past 48 h post-infection, and T. gondii was not isolated from the 34 other bioassays (Table 2)
The proportion of rats infected with Seoul virus (SEOV) or hepatitis E virus (HEV) (n = 34) and co-infected with L. interrogans (n = 19) was significantly higher than the proportion of rats infected by L. interrogans alone (Pearson‘s χ2 = 14·63, D.F. = 1, P = 0·0001); the odds ratio (OR) of being co-infected by L. interrogans and SEOV or HEV was 5·54 [95% confidence interval (CI) 2·1–14·4]
We demonstrated that rats in human habitats were infected or exposed and probably shed L. interrogans, SEOV, HEV, and T. gondii
Summary
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 aims of the present study were (1) to describe the prevalence of the four pathogens in the Lyon region, France, (2) to identify the risk factors for infection in Norway rats, and (3) to define the potential socioeconomic indicators for human exposure in the Lyon region
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