Serological Evidence of Multiple Zoonotic Viral Infections among Wild Rodents in Barbados

Abstract

Background: Rodents are reservoirs for several zoonotic pathogens that can cause human infectious diseases, including orthohantaviruses, mammarenaviruses and orthopoxviruses. Evidence exists for these viruses circulating among rodents and causing human infections in the Americas, but much less evidence exists for their presence in wild rodents in the Caribbean. Methods: Here, we conducted serological and molecular investigations of wild rodents in Barbados to determine the prevalence of orthohantavirus, mammarenavirus and orthopoxvirus infections, and the possible role of these rodent species as reservoirs of zoonotic pathogens. Using immunofluorescent assays (IFA), rodent sera were screened for the presence of antibodies to orthohantavirus, mammarenavirus (Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus—LCMV) and orthopoxvirus (Cowpox virus—CPXV) infections. RT-PCR was then conducted on orthohantavirus and mammarenavirus-seropositive rodent sera and tissues, to detect the presence of viral RNA. Results: We identified antibodies against orthohantavirus, mammarenavirus, and orthopoxvirus among wild mice and rats (3.8%, 2.5% and 7.5% seropositivity rates respectively) in Barbados. No orthohantavirus or mammarenavirus viral RNA was detected from seropositive rodent sera or tissues using RT–PCR. Conclusions: Key findings of this study are the first serological evidence of orthohantavirus infections in Mus musculus and the first serological evidence of mammarenavirus and orthopoxvirus infections in Rattus norvegicus and M. musculus in the English-speaking Caribbean. Rodents may present a potential zoonotic and biosecurity risk for transmission of three human pathogens, namely orthohantaviruses, mammarenaviruses and orthopoxviruses in Barbados.

"Absence of Mammarenavirus RNA among their Natural Rodent and Potential other Reservoirs in Wildlife in Gabon"

“…Furthermore, serological information by screening antibodies such as immunoglobulin G could help with detecting previous infections, thus providing further insight on the circulation of arenaviruses in Gabon. Indeed, several previous studies support the acute infection model that postulates that small mammals' infection by arenaviruses are normally acute, which means that (i) there is an increase of mortality among infected rodents [28,32,48,49], (ii) viral clearance operates quickly and, (iii) is replaced by antibodies production among survivals [50][51][52]. Thus, tested individuals are positive either by PCR or IgG [53].…”

A comprehensive review of viruses in terrestrial animals from the Caribbean islands of Greater and Lesser Antilles

“…Fowlpox was also noted to be present among poultry populations in Trinidad and Tobago during 1996-1998, 2000-2005 1997-2005(OIE-HANDISTATUS II, 2005OIE-WAHIS, 2020). A recent study from Barbados found orthopoxvirus by immunofluorescence assay (IFA) in 7.5% of sampled rodents (Douglas et al, 2021).…”

“…Barbados documented fowlpox in 1996–1997, 1999–2002 and 2004–2005 (OIE‐HANDISTATUS II, 2005; OIE‐WAHIS, 2020). A recent study from Barbados found orthopoxvirus by immunofluorescence assay (IFA) in 7.5% of sampled rodents (Douglas et al., 2021).…”

“…A 2002 study in Barbados provided serological evidence for hantaviruses in humans and rodents, with 28% percent of rodents testing positive for antibodies by IFA (Groen et al., 2002; Montoya‐Ruiz et al., 2014). A recent 2021 study from Barbados detected 3.8% seroprevalence for Orthohantavirus in wild rodents by IFA (Douglas et al., 2021). Two separate studies from Grenada reported seroprevalence rates of 29.3% and 27.5% in Brown rats, respectively (Keenan et al., 2008; Sharma et al., 2019).…”

“…Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV), genus Mammarenavirus , is a neglected rodent‐borne zoonotic pathogen that can cause meningitis in humans (Vilibic‐Cavlek et al., 2021). A 2019 study in Barbados reported antibodies to LCMV in 2.5% of sampled wild rodents by IFA (Douglas et al., 2021).…”