Q fever (<i>Coxiella burnetii</i>) reservoir in wild brown rat (<i>Rattus norvegicus</i>) populations in the UK

Webster, Joanne P.; Lloyd, Graham; Macdonald, D. W.

doi:10.1017/s0031182000081014

Cited by 74 publications

(44 citation statements)

References 10 publications

(8 reference statements)

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“…However, it is difficult to compare these findings with those reported in other works, which present information on the presence of antibodies to C. burnetii in rodents. [13][14][15][16] The statistical results showed that weight was associated with C. burnetii infection, possibly because larger rodents become matured and move widely and have more chances to be infected with C. burnetii. The reason for the association between month of capture and C. burnetii infection may be the temperature differences between months.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Coxiella burnetii in Rodents on Heixiazi Island at the Sino-Russian Border

Liu¹,

Xu²,

Fu³

et al. 2013

The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene

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Abstract. This work is a molecular epidemiologic study to detect the incidence of Coxiella burnetii in rodents on Heixiazi Island at the Sino-Russian border of Heilongjiang Province. Liver tissues were extracted and processed to test the incidence of C. burnetii infection using polymerase chain reaction analysis. In total, 18% (66 of 370) of rodents tested positive for infection. The results of logistic regression analysis indicated that infection with C. burnetii was associated significantly with weight and month of capture, and infection was found in all rodent species that were observed; there was no significant difference of sex on the infection of C. burnetii. Though phylogenetic analysis disclosed heterogeneity in the nucleotide sequences isolated from the island rodents, the majority of observed strains were among the most common strains found worldwide. This is the first report on the incidence of C. burnetii in rodents on Heixiazi Island at the Sino-Russian border.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Coxiella burnetii in Rodents on Heixiazi Island at the Sino-Russian Border

Liu¹,

Xu²,

Fu³

et al. 2013

The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene

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“…; n ϭ 7) group. Both inoculation methods provide exposure by inhalation, which is assumed to be the most important infection route for rats under natural conditions (15). However, it was not known which method would be most efficient, and i.n.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Because the role of rodents in the epidemiology of C. burnetii in domestic ruminants is largely unknown, the impact of this control measure is uncertain. In literature the role of wild vertebrates in the sylvatic cycle of C. burnetii is established (1), and it has been proposed that brown rats (Rattus norvegicus), as commensal rodents, have a significant role in the dissemination of C. burnetii to humans and domestic animals in the United Kingdom (15). A quick scan of the presence of C. burnetii in rats in the Netherlands demonstrated the presence of C. burnetii DNA (4%) and antibodies (11%) in wild rats captured for pest control at various locations, including, but not limited to, infected goat farms (8).…”

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confidence: 99%

Experimental Inoculation of Male Rats with Coxiella burnetii: Successful Infection but No Transmission to Cage Mates

Opsteegh

Hogerwerf

Nooijen³

et al. 2012

Appl Environ Microbiol

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dBeginning in 2007, the largest human Q fever outbreak ever described occurred in the Netherlands. Dairy goats from intensive farms were identified as the source, amplifying Coxiella burnetii during gestation and shedding large quantities during abortions. It has been postulated that wild rodents are reservoir hosts from which C. burnetii can be transmitted to domestic animals and humans. However, little is known about the infection dynamics of C. burnetii in wild rodents. The aim of this study was to investigate whether brown rats (Rattus norvegicus) can be experimentally infected with C. burnetii and whether transmission to a cage mates occurs. Fourteen male brown rats (wild type) were intratracheally or intranasally inoculated with a Dutch C. burnetii isolate obtained from a goat. At 3 days postinoculation, a contact rat was placed with each inoculated rat. The pairs were monitored using blood samples and rectal and throat swabs for 8 weeks, and after euthanasia the spleens were collected. Rats became infected by both inoculation routes, and detection of C. burnetii DNA in swabs suggests that excretion occurred. However, based on the negative spleens in PCR and the lack of seroconversion, none of the contact animals was considered infected; thus, no transmission was observed. The reproduction ratio R 0 was estimated to be 0 (95% confidence interval ‫؍‬ 0 to 0.6), indicating that it is unlikely that rats act as reservoir host of C. burnetii through sustained transmission between male rats. Future research should focus on other transmission routes, such as vertical transmission or bacterial shedding during parturition.

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“…Moreover, wild mammals, including horses, rabbits, swine, camels, water buffalo, rats and mice constitute the reservoirs of Coxiella burnetii. The serological studies of rats in the UK have shown anti-phase II antibody seroprevalences ranging from 7 to 53% among wild brown rat populations (Webster et al, 1995).…”

Section: Reservoirsmentioning

confidence: 99%