Diversity and dynamics of zoonotic pathogens within a local community of small mammals

Balážová, Alena; Nosková, Eva; Široký, Pavel; Durrant, Christopher; Baláž, Vojtech

Abstract

Small mammals are important reservoirs of multiple pathogens transmittable to humans. Rodent populations are highly dynamic,
passing through multiannual cycles with densities changing in several orders of magnitude. Such variable pools of hosts shape the
intensity of pathogen spread among the animals and risks of spillover to humans. We describe such dynamic system within a
sample set of 13 small mammal species and six potentially zoonotic pathogens (bacteria Anaplasma, Rickettsia, Leptospira,
Borrelia, Bartonella, and protist Babesia) present in surroundings of a small village in south-eastern part of the Czech Republic.
This article presents results of a six-year-long study at the site. The observed prevalence of the selected pathogens varied greatly
among years and host species. The dominant rodents (Apodemus sp., Apodemus agrarius and Myodes glareolus) harboured all
tested pathogens and multi-infections were not rare – we found up to four pathogens in some individuals. We observed surge in
Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. prevalence following the overall rodent population increase in 2014 and 2019, with A. agrarius and
Microtus arvalis being the most infected species. Rickettsia sp. prevalence reached 24 % in the shrew Crocidura suaveolens, thus
this potential neglected reservoir host deserves further attention.

Citation

Balážová, A., Nosková, E., Široký, P., Durrant, C., & Baláž, V. (2021). Diversity and dynamics of zoonotic pathogens within a local community of small mammals. Biologia, 3267–3273. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11756-021-00797-8

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: May 20, 2021
• Online Publication Date: Jun 2, 2021
• Publication Date: Feb 9, 2021
• Deposit Date: Oct 19, 2021
• Journal: Biologia
• Print ISSN: 0006-3088
• Electronic ISSN: 1336-9563
• Publisher: De Gruyter
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Issue: 76
• Pages: 3267–3273
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11756-021-00797-8
• Keywords: Cell Biology; Plant Science; Genetics; Molecular Biology; Animal Science and Zoology; Biochemistry; Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
• Publisher URL: https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s11756-021-00797-8.pdf?pdf=button
• Additional Information: Received: 9 February 2021; Accepted: 20 May 2021; First Online: 2 June 2021; : All procedures in this study were in compliance with national legislation of the Czech Republic (Act No. 246/1992 Coll., on the Protection of Animals Against Cruelty, as amended; reference numbers of the permits 74,958/ENV/14-3977/630/14 (PP 61-2014), 61,905/ENV/15-2819/630/15 (PP 49-2015), 69,634/ENV/16-3493/630/16 (PP 41-2016), MZP/2018/630/93 (PP 33-2017), MZP/2019/630/2676 (PP 12-2019)) and with EU legislation (Directive 2010/63/EU revising Directive 86/609/EEC on the protection of animals used for scientific purposes, as amended). Ethical Committee on Animal Welfare of the University of Veterinary Sciences Brno was informed and agreed on the performed procedures.; : On behalf of all authors, the corresponding author states that there is no conflict of interest.