Rodents as shared indicators for zoonotic parasites of carnivores in urban environments

Abstract

S U M M A R YRodents are shared intermediate or paratenic hosts for Echinococcus multilocularis, Toxocara spp. and Toxoplasma gondii, and may serve as valuable indicators for assessing the occurrence and the level of environmental contamination and infection pressure with free-living stages of these zoonotic parasites. We investigated 658 non-commensal rodents for parasite infections in the canton of Geneva, Switzerland. The prevalence of infection with E. multilocularis was highest in Arvicola terrestris captured in the north-western area (16 . 5%, CI: 10 . 1%-24 . 8%), possibly reflecting a higher red fox density due to the low incidence of sarcoptic mange in this part of the canton. The exposure rate to Toxocara spp. was highest in the urban area (13 . 2%, CI: 7 . 9%-20 . 3%), and may account for higher densities of domestic carnivore and red fox definitive hosts within the city. Exposure to T. gondii was widespread (5 . 0%, CI: 3 . 2-7 . 4 %), indicating a ubiquitous distribution of infected cat definitive hosts. Interestingly, a widespread distribution of Taenia taeniaeformis, a parasite mainly transmitted by cats, was similarly evidenced in A. terrestris. Distinct spatial patterns for the different zoonotic parasites likely reflected differences in distribution, abundance, and habitat use of the respective definitive hosts. These results highlight the potential value of rodents as shared indicators for these pathogens.

Trophic ecology, behaviour and host population dynamics in Echinococcus multilocularis transmission

“…Indeed, the fox density estimated using distance-sampling method varied between 3 and 4 individuals/km 2 (Guislain et al, 2007), which were the highest values recorded with the same protocol among 12 sites in northeast France (Ruette et al, 2003). Additionally, Reperant et al (2009) showed in the city of Geneva, that in the part where sarcoptic mange was present (and accordingly lower fox density) the E. multilocularis prevalence in A. scherman was significantly lower. This suggests that more intensive transmission dynamics of the parasite can be due, temporally and/or spatially, either to a larger population of intermediate hosts or to a larger population of the definitive host population (or both).…”

Small rodents — permanent reservoirs of toxocarosis in different habitats of Slovakia

“…Sylvatic circulation of toxocarosis includes common forest rodents Myodes glareolus (2.4 %) and A. flavicollis (1.5 %) that serve as important reservoirs for wild carnivores. Recently, Reperant et al (2009) emphasized the role of rodents as indicators of zoonotic parasites in carnivores in urban ecosystem. They play an influential role of intermediate and paratenic host and serve as valuable indicators for assessing occurrence and degree of environmental contamination and subsequent infection pressure to humans.…”

“…The antigen has been tested to be specific, without cross-reactions with sera of mice experimentally infected with Toxascaris leonina and Ascaris suum (Cuéllar et al, 1995). The sensitivity of the antigen validated Reperant et al (2009) on sera of Microtus arvalis experimentally infected with T. canis. Anti-Toxocara antibodies in the heart eluates of small mammals were determined using ELISA modified by who confirmed the correlation between specific antibody production and infective doses of five or seven T. canis and T. cati eggs, respectively.…”

Migration pattern of Toxocara canis larvae in experimentally infected male and female Rattus norvegicus

“…These paratenic hosts may act as disseminators of infection through prey-predator relationships 1,2 . Consuming uncooked meat from paratenic hosts (chicken and pork) may constitute a risk factor for human infection by T. canis 3 .…”