Evaluating the utility of pest control sourced rats for zoonotic pathogen surveillance

Robinson, Sarah J.; Finer, Rachel; Himsworth, Chelsea G.; Pearl, David L.; Rousseau, Joyce D.; Weese, J Scott; Lindsay, L. Robbin; Dibernardo, Antonia; Huynh, Chris; Jardine, Claire M.

doi:10.1111/zph.12936

Cited by 5 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 37 publications

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“…Additionally, targeted relationship building has been a successful approach. For example, collaboration with pest control companies to collect species that are generally underrepresented but of public health importance (e.g., Norway rats; Robinson et al 2022). Our analysis highlights that this approach is also useful within cities.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 85%

The influence of sociodemographic and environmental factors on wildlife carcass submissions in urban areas: Opportunities for increasing equitable and representative wildlife health surveillance

Giacinti

Robinson

French

et al. 2023

FACETS

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Wildlife health surveillance is important in rapidly expanding urban areas, where wildlife live in close association with humans and face unique health risks. Urban areas are not homogeneous, and social and environmental factors may affect the distribution of surveillance data we receive from these environments. The Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative (CWHC) operates a national wildlife surveillance programme that receives carcass submissions for diagnostic evaluation. Our objective was to evaluate sociodemographic and environmental factors associated with CWHC submissions within two cities in Ontario, Canada. Submissions were mapped at two geographic scales and linked with census and environmental data. The results of mixed multivariable Poisson and negative binomial regression analyses suggest that natural (e.g., percent parkland) and anthropogenic environmental (e.g., presence of a zoo) and social variables (e.g., low income) are associated with submissions at both administratively relevant scales. Associations that are common across scales may represent robust intervention points and inform surveillance methodology/messaging. Surveillance data may influence public health policy, wildlife management, and other decision-making regarding the benefits/risks associated with coexistence with wildlife. This study highlights gaps in surveillance methodology that may prevent equal opportunity for participation in wildlife health surveillance and enable equal opportunity to benefit from the associated outputs.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 85%

The influence of sociodemographic and environmental factors on wildlife carcass submissions in urban areas: Opportunities for increasing equitable and representative wildlife health surveillance

Giacinti

Robinson

French

et al. 2023

FACETS

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“…Rat carcasses were collected through collaboration with pest control companies working in Windsor, Ontario, Canada (42°18′50″ N 83°2′12″ W). Our rat and sample collection methods have been previously described (Robinson, Finer, et al., 2022; Robinson, Kotwa, et al., 2022) and evaluated as a source of samples for zoonotic pathogen surveillance (Robinson, Finer, et al., 2022). Briefly, partnerships with pest control companies were initiated by phone and email in October 2018.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A subset of rats (44/252) tested for L. interrogans in the present study were included in a previous study (Robinson, Finer, et al., 2022). Genomic DNA was extracted from 252 rat kidney tissue samples using the DNeasy Blood & Tissue Kit (Qiagen), according to the manufacturer's protocol, and eluted for a final volume of 200 μL.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Twenty‐five rats were not tested for Bartonella spp. because spleen samples were not available for testing (due to carcass suitability and spleen samples being used for previous pathogen testing; Robinson, Finer, et al., 2022). Genomic DNA was extracted from 227 rat spleen tissue samples, 20 mg each, using the MagMAX DNA Multi‐Sample Ultra 2.0 Kit and including a 4‐h proteinase K digestion.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A subset of rats (44/252) tested for L. interrogans in the present study were included in a previous study (Robinson, Finer, et al, 2022).…”

Section: Leptospira Pcr and Sequencingmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Environmental and sociodemographic factors associated with zoonotic pathogen occurrence in Norway rats (Rattus norvegicus) from Windsor, Ontario

Robinson,

Pearl,

Himsworth

et al. 2024

Zoonoses and Public Health

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AimsRat‐associated zoonotic pathogen transmission at the human–wildlife interface is a public health concern in urban environments where Norway rats (Rattus norvegicus) thrive on abundant anthropogenic resources and live in close contact with humans and other animal species. To identify potential factors influencing zoonotic pathogen occurrence in rats, we investigated associations between environmental and sociodemographic factors and Leptospira interrogans and Bartonella spp. infections in rats from Windsor, Ontario, Canada, while controlling for the potential confounding effects of animal characteristics (i.e., sexual maturity and body condition).Methods and ResultsBetween November 2018 and June 2021, 252 rats were submitted by collaborating pest control professionals. Kidney and spleen samples were collected for L. interrogans and Bartonella spp. PCR and sequencing, respectively. Of the rats tested by PCR, 12.7% (32/252) were positive for L. interrogans and 16.3% (37/227) were positive for Bartonella species. Associations between infection status and environmental and sociodemographic variables of interest were assessed via mixed multivariable logistic regression models with a random intercept for social group and fixed effects to control for sexual maturity and body condition in each model. The odds of L. interrogans infection were significantly higher in rats from areas with high building density (odds ratio [OR]: 3.76; 95% CI: 1.31–10.79; p = 0.014), high human population density (OR: 3.31; 95% CI: 1.20–9.11; p = 0.021), high proportion of buildings built in 1960 or before (OR: 11.21; 95% CI: 2.06–60.89; p = 0.005), and a moderate number of reports of uncollected garbage compared to a low number of reports (OR: 4.88; 95% CI: 1.01–23.63; p = 0.049). A negative association was observed between median household income and Bartonella spp. infection in rats (OR: 0.26; 95% CI: 0.08–0.89; p = 0.031).ConclusionsDue to the complexity of the ecology of rat‐associated zoonoses, consideration of environmental and sociodemographic factors is of critical importance to better understand the nuances of host–pathogen systems and inform how urban rat surveillance and intervention efforts should be distributed within cities.

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Surveillance for SARS-CoV-2 in Norway Rats (Rattus norvegicus) from Southern Ontario

Robinson

Kotwa

Jeeves

et al. 2023

Transboundary and Emerging Diseases

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The emergence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) from wildlife has raised concerns about spillover from humans to animals, the establishment of novel wildlife reservoirs, and the potential for future outbreaks caused by variants of wildlife origin. Norway rats (Rattus norvegicus) are abundant in urban areas and live in close proximity to humans, providing the opportunity for spillover of SARS-CoV-2. Evidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection and exposure has been reported in Norway rats. We investigated SARS-CoV-2 infection and exposure in Norway rats from Southern Ontario, Canada. From October 2019 to June 2021, 224 rats were submitted by collaborating pest control companies. The majority of samples were collected in Windsor (79.9%; n = 179), Hamilton (13.8%; n = 31), and the Greater Toronto Area (5.8%; n = 13). Overall, 50.0% (n = 112) were female and most rats were sexually mature (55.8%; n = 125). Notably, 202 samples were collected prior to the emergence of variants of concern (VOC) and 22 were collected while the Alpha variant (B.1.1.7) was the predominant circulating VOC in humans. Nasal turbinate (n = 164) and small intestinal (n = 213) tissue samples were analyzed for SARS-CoV-2 RNA by RT-PCR. Thoracic cavity fluid samples (n = 213) were tested for neutralizing antibodies using a surrogate virus neutralization test (sVNT) (GenScript cPass); confirmatory plaque reduction neutralization test (PRNT) was conducted on presumptive positive samples. We did not detect SARS-CoV-2 RNA in any samples tested. Two out of eleven samples positive on sVNT had neutralizing antibodies confirmed positive by PRNT (1 : 40 and 1 : 320 PRNT70); both were collected prior to the emergence of VOC. It is imperative that efforts to control and monitor SARS-CoV-2 include surveillance of rats and other relevant wildlife species as novel variants continue to emerge.

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Evaluating the utility of pest control sourced rats for zoonotic pathogen surveillance

Cited by 5 publications

References 37 publications

The influence of sociodemographic and environmental factors on wildlife carcass submissions in urban areas: Opportunities for increasing equitable and representative wildlife health surveillance

The influence of sociodemographic and environmental factors on wildlife carcass submissions in urban areas: Opportunities for increasing equitable and representative wildlife health surveillance

Environmental and sociodemographic factors associated with zoonotic pathogen occurrence in Norway rats (Rattus norvegicus) from Windsor, Ontario

Surveillance for SARS-CoV-2 in Norway Rats (Rattus norvegicus) from Southern Ontario

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