Prevalence of Francisella tularensis in brown hare (Lepus europaeus) populations in Lower Saxony, Germany

Runge, Martin; Keyserlingk, Michael von; Braune, S.; Voigt, Ulrich; Grauer, Andreas; Pohlmeyer, K; Wedekind, Martina; Splettstoesser, Wolf D.; Seibold, Erik; Otto, Peter; Müller, Wolfgang

doi:10.1007/s10344-011-0522-1

Cited by 16 publications

(21 citation statements)

References 25 publications

(21 reference statements)

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“…Francisella specific PCR assays were positive in 23 hares and 1 rabbit which were further confirmed by cultivation of F. tularensis subsp. holarctica in 12 hares [18]. In the present study, cases of tularemia in hares in Germany from 2005 to 2010 were investigated.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

German Francisella tularensis isolates from European brown hares (Lepus europaeus)reveal genetic and phenotypic diversity

et al. 2013

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BackgroundTularemia is a zoonotic disease caused by Francisella tularensis that has been found in many different vertebrates. In Germany most human infections are caused by contact with infected European brown hares (Lepus europaeus). The aim of this study was to elucidate the epidemiology of tularemia in hares using phenotypic and genotypic characteristics of F. tularensis.ResultsCultivation of F. tularensis subsp. holarctica bacteria from organ material was successful in 31 of 52 hares that had a positive PCR result targeting the Ft-M19 locus. 17 isolates were sensitive to erythromycin and 14 were resistant. Analysis of VNTR loci (Ft-M3, Ft-M6 and Ft-M24), INDELs (Ftind33, Ftind38, Ftind49, RD23) and SNPs (B.17, B.18, B.19, and B.20) was shown to be useful to investigate the genetic relatedness of Francisella strains in this set of strains. The 14 erythromycin resistant isolates were assigned to clade B.I, and 16 erythromycin sensitive isolates to clade B.IV and one isolate was found to belong to clade B.II. MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry (MS) was useful to discriminate strains to the subspecies level.ConclusionsF. tularensis seems to be a re-emerging pathogen in Germany. The pathogen can easily be identified using PCR assays. Isolates can also be identified within one hour using MALDI-TOF MS in laboratories where specific PCR assays are not established. Further analysis of strains requires genotyping tools. The results from this study indicate a geographical segregation of the phylogenetic clade B.I and B.IV, where B.I strains localize primarily within eastern Germany and B.IV strains within western Germany. This phylogeographical pattern coincides with the distribution of biovar I (erythromycin sensitive) and biovar II (erythromycin resistance) strains. When time and costs are limiting parameters small numbers of isolates can be analysed using PCR assays combined with DNA sequencing with a focus on genetic loci that are most likely discriminatory among strains found in a specific area. In perspective, whole genome data will have to be investigated especially when terrorist attack strains need to be tracked to their genetic and geographical sources.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

German Francisella tularensis isolates from European brown hares (Lepus europaeus)reveal genetic and phenotypic diversity

et al. 2013

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“…Natural foci can be small, and Francisella cells are also known to survive in the environment without leading to outbreaks in human or animal populations (Sjö stedt 2007). Runge et al (2011) observed this phenomenon in a German region with a high prevalence of tularemia in hares where no human cases were reported. The results of the present study suggest a similar situation in other German regions.…”

Section: Tularemia Serology In Wild Animalsmentioning

confidence: 94%

“…European brown hares are the most affected animals, and contact with infected animals is the main source of infection in humans. Hares are highly susceptible to F. tularensis and usually die rapidly after infection (Mö rner and Sandstedt 1983, Mö rner et al 1988, Decors et al 2011, although a few chronic cases have been reported (Runge et al 2011, Hofer 2012. No seropositive hares could be found in the federal state of SchleswigHolstein, Germany (Frö lich et al 2003).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, in Lower Saxony, F. tularensis subsp. holarctica was detected by PCR and cultivation in 1.1% of the examined hares (Runge et al 2011). Higher infection rates of 5.1% and 10.0% were found in two serological studies in hares in Hungary (Gyuranecz et al 2011) and in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Germany, respectively (Dedek et al 1990).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Serological Investigation of Wild Boars (Sus scrofa) and Red Foxes (Vulpes vulpes) As Indicator Animals for Circulation ofFrancisella tularensisin Germany

Otto

Chaignat²,

Klimpel³

et al. 2014

Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases

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Tularemia outbreaks in humans have recently been reported in many European countries, but data on the occurrence in the animal population are scarce. In North America, seroconversion of omnivores and carnivores was used as indicator for the presence of tularemia, for the European fauna, however, data are barely available. Therefore, the suitability of wild boars (Sus scrofa) and red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) as indicators for the circulation of F. tularensis in Germany was evaluated. Serum samples from 566 wild boars and 457 red foxes were collected between 1995 and 2012 in three federal states in Central Germany (Hesse, Saxony-Anhalt, and Thuringia). The overall rate of seropositive animals was 1.1% in wild boars and 7.4% in red foxes. In conclusion, serological examination of red foxes is recommended, because they can be reliably used as indicator animals for the presence of F. tularensis in the environment.

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“…In these areas, cases often occur every year, and in higher numbers, than in less heavily affected endemic areas [91]. For example, areas of high endemicity have been identified in both Germany and Sweden [47,91]. In Sweden, the theory of nidality/ focality has been applied to the outbreaks of tularemia, where molecular typing of F. tularensis subsp.…”

Section: Eco-epidemiology Of Tularemiamentioning

confidence: 99%

The status of tularemia in Europe in a one-health context: a review

et al. 2014

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SUMMARYThe bacterium Francisella tularensis causes the vector-borne zoonotic disease tularemia, and may infect a wide range of hosts including invertebrates, mammals and birds. Transmission to humans occurs through contact with infected animals or contaminated environments, or through arthropod vectors. Tularemia has a broad geographical distribution, and there is evidence which suggests local emergence or re-emergence of this disease in Europe. This review was developed to provide an update on the geographical distribution of F. tularensis in humans, wildlife, domestic animals and vector species, to identify potential public health hazards, and to characterize the epidemiology of tularemia in Europe. Information was collated on cases in humans, domestic animals and wildlife, and on reports of detection of the bacterium in arthropod vectors, from 38 European countries for the period 1992-2012. Multiple international databases on human and animal health were consulted, as well as published reports in the literature. Tularemia is a disease of complex epidemiology that is challenging to understand and therefore to control. Many aspects of this disease remain poorly understood. Better understanding is needed of the epidemiological role of animal hosts, potential vectors, mechanisms of maintenance in the different ecosystems, and routes of transmission of the disease.

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Prevalence of Francisella tularensis in brown hare (Lepus europaeus) populations in Lower Saxony, Germany

Cited by 16 publications

References 25 publications

German Francisella tularensis isolates from European brown hares (Lepus europaeus)reveal genetic and phenotypic diversity

German Francisella tularensis isolates from European brown hares (Lepus europaeus)reveal genetic and phenotypic diversity

Serological Investigation of Wild Boars (Sus scrofa) and Red Foxes (Vulpes vulpes) As Indicator Animals for Circulation ofFrancisella tularensisin Germany

The status of tularemia in Europe in a one-health context: a review

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