We summarize the current knowledge on parasitism-related invasion processes of the globally invasive Rattus lineages, originating from Asia, and how these invasions have impacted the local epidemiology of rodent-borne diseases. Parasites play an important role in the invasion processes and successes of their hosts through multiple biological mechanisms such as "parasite release," "immunocompetence advantage," "biotic resistance" and "novel weapon." Parasites may also greatly increase the impact of invasions by spillover of parasites and other pathogens, introduced with invasive hosts, into new hosts, potentially leading to novel emerging diseases. Another potential impact is the ability of the invader to amplify local parasites by spillback. In both cases, local fauna and humans may be exposed to new health risks, which may decrease biodiversity and potentially cause increases in human morbidity and mortality. Here we review the current knowledge on these processes and propose some research priorities.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/1749-4877.12143 | DOI Listing |
Viruses
November 2024
Laboratório de Hantaviroses e Rickettsioses, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, Brazil.
Hantaviruses are zoonotic pathogens associated with severe human diseases such as hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome and hantavirus pulmonary syndrome. Despite the extensive study of rodent-borne hantaviruses, research on bat-associated hantaviruses remains limited. This study aimed to investigate the seroprevalence and cross-reactivity of neotropical bat samples with rodent- and bat-associated recombinant hantavirus nucleoproteins (rNPs) to improve hantavirus surveillance in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInfect Ecol Epidemiol
December 2024
Macha Research Trust, Choma, Zambia.
Background: Infectious disease agents pose significant threats to humans, wildlife, and livestock, with rodents carrying a third of these agents, many linked to human diseases. However, the range of pathogens in rodents and the hotspots for disease remain poorly understood.
Aim: This study evaluated the prevalence of viral, bacterial, and parasitic pathogens in rodents in riverine and non-riverine areas in selected districts in Zambia.
Front Vet Sci
December 2024
Institut national de recherche pour l'agriculture, l'alimentation et l'environnement (INRAE), Paris, France.
Introduction: Inter- and transdisciplinary research (ITDR) is increasingly promoted to address "wicked problems", particularly in health sectors adopting approaches like Ecohealth. Our Ecohealth-inspired project on rodent-borne diseases, initiated just before the COVID-19 pandemic, provided an opportunity to evaluate ITDR implementation.
Methods: We employed a recently developed semi-quantitative evaluation method to measure our project's success in achieving ITDR and analyzed factors influencing this achievement.
Ann Agric Environ Med
December 2024
Medical University of Gdańsk, Poland.
Rodents are recognized as reservoirs for , playing a crucial role in maintaining the parasite's presence in the environment. Biomonitoring was conducted to assess the role of sylvatic rodents in maintaining , and to analyse the prevalence and seroprevalence of the parasite in seven wild rodent species. Rodents were collected in an open grassland study site located in northeastern Poland, and dissected.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFActa Trop
December 2024
Laboratorio de Ecología Evolutiva y Biogeografía (LEEB) - Instituto de Ecorregiones Andinas-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas(CONICET) - Universidad Nacional de Jujuy (UNJu), Gorriti 237, San Salvador de Jujuy, Jujuy, Argentina. Electronic address:
Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS) is a Pan-American emerging infectious disease with a high mortality rate caused by rodent-borne viruses of the genus Orthohantavirus. In Argentina, almost half of the HPS infections occur in the northwestern endemic region. In this study, we evaluated rodent composition, abundance, and antibody prevalence in wild rodents in three subtropical sites: primary forest, secondary forest, and crop fields.
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