Prevalence ofLeptospiraspp. and Seoul hantavirus in brown rats (Rattus norvegicus) in four regions in the Netherlands, 2011-2015

Abstract

Background: Brown rats (Rattus norvegicus) may carry pathogens that can be a risk for public health. Brown rats in the Netherlands were tested for the zoonotic pathogens Leptospira spp. and Seoul hantavirus (SEOV), in order to obtain insight in their prevalence. Methods and results: Cross-sectional studies were performed at four locations from 2011 to 2015. The rats were tested for Leptospira spp. using real-time PCR and/or culture resulting in a prevalence ranging between 33–57%. Testing for SEOV was done through an adapted human Seoul hantavirus ELISA and real-time RT-PCR. Although at several locations the ELISA indicated presence of SEOV antibodies, none could be confirmed by focus reduction neutralization testing. Conclusion: The results indicate a widespread presence of Leptospira spp. in brown rats in the Netherlands, including areas with a low leptospirosis incidence in humans. No evidence for circulation of SEOV was found in this study.

Rodent-borne health risks in farming systems

“…In this way, they pose a serious threat for surface water contamination. Studies on pathogenic Leptospira from various countries in Europe on R. norvegicus show mean infection percentages between 21-57% (Aviat et al, 2009;Maas et al, 2018;Runge et al, 2013). Our research showed a lower infection percentage in the small mammals tested (5.3%) than the other published studies from European countries.…”

“…A recent study from the Netherlands reported an infection range of 33-57% in brown rats (Maas et al, 2018). It is known that the infection rate amongst rats is highly variable in time and place (Kuiken, 1990;Kuiken, van Dijk, Terpstra, & Bokhout, 1991), which is also underpinned by the recent study in the Netherlands (Maas et al, 2018). We found a lower infection percentage in the small mammals tested (5.3%) than these European studies.…”

“…A study from France (Aviat et al, 2009) found 34.7% of the trapped brown rats (n=36) positive for pathogenic Leptospira spp., and a study in Germany found 21% of the 586 brown rats positive (Runge et al, 2013). A recent study from the Netherlands reported an infection range of 33-57% in brown rats (Maas et al, 2018). It is known that the infection rate amongst rats is highly variable in time and place (Kuiken, 1990;Kuiken, van Dijk, Terpstra, & Bokhout, 1991), which is also underpinned by the recent study in the Netherlands (Maas et al, 2018).…”

“…More recently, a study on Leptospira spp. in brown rats found a prevalence of 42% (n= 150), with prevalences varying between geographic areas within the Netherlands (range of 33-57%) (Maas et al, 2018). et al, 2016).…”

Hantavirus Infection on Rats in the Leptospirosis Increased Case Area in Tangerang Regency

“…Rats are the main reservoir host of hantavirus and leptospirosis infection [3][4][5]. The transmission of hantavirus infection and leptospirosis is related to one's exposure with the rats and its feces [6].…”