Wild rodents and insectivores as carriers of pathogenic Leptospira and Toxoplasma gondii in The Netherlands.

Jan B. W. J. Cornelissen,Peter W. G. Groot Koerkamp,Maria G. A. Goris,Inge M. Krijger,Bastiaan G. Meerburg,Ahmed A. A. Ahmed

doi:10.1002/vms3.255

Jan B. W. J. Cornelissen, Peter W. G. Groot Koerkamp + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1002/vms3.255

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Abstract

Small mammals such as rodents can to carry zoonotic pathogens. Currently, there is impaired knowledge on zoonotic pathogens in rodents and insectivores in the Netherlands. This limits opportunities for preventive measures and complicates risk‐assessments for zoonotic transmission to humans. Leptospira spp. and Toxoplasma gondii are present on a list of prioritized emerging pathogens in the Netherlands and were therefore the focus of this study. Both pathogens have the ability to survive under moist environmental conditions. In total, a group of 379 small mammals (rodents & insectivores) were tested on pathogenic Leptospira spp., and 312 on T. gondii. Rodents and insectivores were trapped at various sites, but mostly on pig and dairy farms throughout the country. Over five percent of the animals (5.3%, n = 379) tested positive for Leptospira DNA, and five of the animals (1.6%, n = 312) tested were positive for T. gondii DNA. The animals positive for T.gondii were all brown rats and the ones for Leptospira spp. were various species. Our results show that insectivores and rodents might be used as an indicator for the environmental contamination and/or the contamination in wildlife for Leptospira spp.

Highlights

Rodents and insectivores can be potential hosts for numerous zoonotic pathogens (Meerburg, Singleton, & Kijlstra, 2009)
Because rodents can be host to both zoonotic pathogens Leptospira spp. and T. gondii, and since the current status of its prevalence in the Netherlands remains unknown, rodents and insectivores from several geographically spread areas in the Netherlands were tested on the presence of those two zoonotic pathogens
All rodent samples were tested for Leptospira spp. (n = 379), whereas the samples from rodents trapped on pig farms and Texel were besides Leptospira spp. tested on T. gondii (n = 312)

Summary

| INTRODUCTION

Rodents and insectivores can be potential hosts for numerous zoonotic pathogens (Meerburg, Singleton, & Kijlstra, 2009). Two important pathogens were selected from a list of prioritized emerging pathogens relevant for the Netherlands; (I) Leptospira spp., and (II) Toxoplasma gondii Both pathogens are able to infect a wide range of species (Acha & Szyfres, 2003; Bharti et al, 2003; Levett, 2001; Newell et al, 2010; Opsteegh, 2011). (definitive host) and T. gondii (intermediate host), and since the current status of its prevalence in the Netherlands remains unknown, rodents and insectivores from several geographically spread areas in the Netherlands were tested on the presence of those two zoonotic pathogens Because rodents can be host to both zoonotic pathogens Leptospira spp. (definitive host) and T. gondii (intermediate host), and since the current status of its prevalence in the Netherlands remains unknown, rodents and insectivores from several geographically spread areas in the Netherlands were tested on the presence of those two zoonotic pathogens

| METHODS

Findings

| DISCUSSION