scholarly journals Seroprevalence of Rodent Pathogens in Wild Rats from the Island of St. Kitts, West Indies

Animals ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 228
Author(s):  
Kenneth Boey ◽  
Kanae Shiokawa ◽  
Harutyun Avsaroglu ◽  
Sreekumari Rajeev
Keyword(s):  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Animal Health ◽  
Pneumocystis Carinii ◽  
Rattus Rattus ◽  
Adenovirus Type ◽  
Serum Samples ◽  
In The Wild ◽  
Wild Rats ◽  
Group B ◽  
Monitoring Protocols

A pilot seroprevalence study was conducted to document exposure to selected pathogens in wild rats inhabiting the Caribbean island of St. Kitts. Serum samples collected from 22 captured wild rats (Rattus norvegicus and Rattus rattus) were tested for the presence of antibodies to various rodent pathogens using a rat MFI2 serology panel. The samples were positive for cilia-associated respiratory bacillus (13/22; 59.1%), Clostridium piliforme (4/22; 18.2%), Mycoplasma pulmonis (4/22; 18.2%), Pneumocystis carinii (1/22; 4.5%), mouse adenovirus type 2 (16/22; 72.7%), Kilham rat virus (15/22; 68.2%), reovirus type 3 (9/22; 40.9%), rat parvovirus (4/22; 18.2%), rat minute virus (4/22; 18.2%), rat theilovirus (2/22; 9.1%), and infectious diarrhea of infant rats strain of group B rotavirus (rat rotavirus) (1/22; 4.5%). This study provides the first evidence of exposure to various rodent pathogens in wild rats on the island of St. Kitts. Periodic pathogen surveillance in the wild rat population would be beneficial in assessing potential regional zoonotic risks as well as in enhancing the current knowledge when implementing routine animal health monitoring protocols in facilities with laboratory rodent colonies.

scholarly journals Haematological Changes Induced by Municipal Solid Waste in Wild Rats (Rattus rattus)

2018 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 181-185 ◽  
Author(s):  
O. O. Adewumi ◽  
E. O. Oladele ◽  
I. A. Taiwo
Keyword(s):  
Municipal Solid Waste ◽  
Solid Waste ◽  
Rattus Rattus ◽  
Blood Parameters ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Organ Weights ◽  
Waste Landfill ◽  
In The Wild ◽  
Haematological Changes ◽  
Wild Rats

The effect of the exposure of landfill pollutants on haematology, body and organ weights of Rattus rattus was investigated. The potential hazards of this landfill on the haematology of the exposed rats were investigated. Weights of rats in the control group (232.6g) were significantly higher (p<0.05) than the exposed wild rats (167.6g). The Packed Cell Volume, PCV (%) of rats exposed to landfill pollutants was found to be 32.0 ± 13.9 while that of control rat was 43.4 ± 4.7. Haemoglobin (g/dl) of control rats was observed to be 14.2 ± 1.2 while that of exposed rats was 10.0 ± 4.1. The constituents of the municipal waste especially heavy metals probably aggravated the observed changes in the blood parameters. The experimental results indicated that exposure to landfill pollutants may lead to ill health particularly anaemia. Also, exposure to municipal solid waste landfill may induce haematological alterations in humans as evident in the wild rats studied.

scholarly journals The First Documented Detection in Taiwan of The Hepatitis E Virus in Rats

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pai-Shan Chiang ◽  
Wei-Lun Huang ◽  
Han-Hsuan Chung ◽  
Jyh-Yuan Yang ◽  
Hwa-Jen Teng
Keyword(s):  
Rattus Rattus ◽  
Hepatitis E ◽  
Human Infection ◽  
Serum Samples ◽  
Rat Serum ◽  
Negative Results ◽  
Human Sera ◽  
Wild Rats ◽  
Human Infections ◽  
Rodent Populations

Abstract Background: Human infections by rat HEV (HEV-C1) have been serially reported, including a case who had visited Taiwan before having the illness in 2019. The objective of this study was to investigate whether HEV-C1 is circulating and causing human infections in Taiwan.Methods: Fifty acute-phase human sera samples from HEV suspected patients with the negative results were randomly chosen for retrospective review. Rat sera were collected from 3 Rattus rattus and 47 R. norvegicus, which were captured at international airports or harbors. Identifying HEV-C1 RNA was performed by hemi-nested RT-PCR in human and rat serum samples. Rat sera were also tested for anti-rat HEV antibodies. Results: HEV-C1 RNA was not detected in either human or R. rattus samples, but the viral RNA was identified in two R. norvegicus samples. The 2 rat HEV strains shared identical partial sequences in the RNA polymerases gene. In serology, anti-HEV antibodies were detected in 52% (26/50) of the trapped wild rats.Conclusions: This study documents the first detection of HEV-C1 in Taiwan. The high homology between HEV-C1 sequences from rats observed in this study might result from viral circulation and transmission within certain rodent populations. The risk of indigenous human infection in Taiwan should not be ignored because of the domestic detection of HEV-C1 RNA.

scholarly journals Complete Genome Sequences of Two Rat Pegivirus Strains in Indonesia

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tsutomu Nishizawa ◽  
Mulyanto ◽  
Yumi Hatano ◽  
Kazumoto Murata ◽  
Hiroaki Okamoto
Keyword(s):  
Complete Genome ◽  
Rattus Rattus ◽  
Coding Region ◽  
Genome Sequences ◽  
Serum Samples ◽  
Entire Genome ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Wild Rats

ABSTRACT The entire genome sequences of two pegivirus strains recovered from serum samples of wild rats (Rattus rattus) in Indonesia were determined. They possessed 11,013 to 11,014 nucleotides and differed from the reported rodent pegivirus strains within the Pegivirus J species of the genus Pegivirus by 12.7% to 40.9% in the near-entire coding region sequences.

Study the Relationship Between Estrogen Hormone and Calcium in Normal Females Before and After Menopause in Baghdad / Iraq

2018 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sameerah Mustafa ◽  
Asal Tawfeeq ◽  
Hadeel Hasan
Keyword(s):  
Oral Contraceptive ◽  
Healthy Controls ◽  
Serum Samples ◽  
Oral Contraceptive Pills ◽  
Contraceptive Pills ◽  
Menopausal Women ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Group A ◽  
Group B ◽  
Age Range

This study involved the collection of (90) samples of women serum which included (30) serum samples collected from women before menopause (reproductive women) in the age range of (22-43) years and were considered as (group A- control). While, (group B) included (30) serum samples collected from women using oral contraceptive pills between the ages of (22-43) years old. Whereas, another (30) serum samples were collected from women after menopause between the ages of (43-54) years and were considered as (group C). All of the collected serum samples were subjected to a number of serological and chemical tests for the measurement of (E2, HDL, LDL and Ca). Then, the obtained data were statistical analyzed and results showed a significant decrease (p˂ 0.05) in (E2 ,Ca and HDL) levels in menopausal women compared to that of the normal healthy controls. While, there were non-significant decrease (p> 0.05) in (E2, Ca and HDL) levels in women taking oral contraceptive when compared to the normal healthy controls. On the other hand, a significant increase (p˂ 0.05) was recorded in LDL level in menopausal women compared to that of the normal healthy controls whereas, no-significant increase (p˃ 0.05) in the LDL level in women taking oral contraceptives when compared to the control women.

scholarly journals Possible Epigenetic Origin of a Recurrent Gynandromorph Pattern in Megachile Wild Bees

Insects ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 437
Author(s):  
Daniele Sommaggio ◽  
Giuseppe Fusco ◽  
Marco Uliana ◽  
Alessandro Minelli
Keyword(s):  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Sex Differentiation ◽  
General Pattern ◽  
Body Parts ◽  
Wild Bees ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
Female Phenotype ◽  
In The Wild ◽  
Gene Transcripts ◽  
Individual Body

Gynandromorphs, i.e., individuals with a mix of male and female traits, are common in the wild bees of the genus Megachile (Hymenoptera, Apoidea). We described new transverse gynandromorphs in Megachile pilidens Alfkeen, 1924 and analyze the spatial distribution of body parts with male vs. female phenotype hitherto recorded in the transverse gynandromorphs of the genus Megachile. We identified 10 different arrangements, nine of which are minor variants of a very general pattern, with a combination of male and female traits largely shared by the gynandromorphs recorded in 20 out of 21 Megachile species in our dataset. Based on the recurrence of the same gynandromorph pattern, the current knowledge on sex determination and sex differentiation in the honey bee, and the results of recent gene-knockdown experiments in these insects, we suggest that these composite phenotypes are possibly epigenetic, rather than genetic, mosaics, with individual body parts of either male or female phenotype according to the locally expressed product of the alternative splicing of sex-determining gene transcripts.

scholarly journals Development of Group B Coxsackievirus as an Oncolytic Virus: Opportunities and Challenges

Viruses ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 1082
Author(s):  
Huitao Liu ◽  
Honglin Luo
Keyword(s):  
Tumor Cells ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Oncolytic Viruses ◽  
Human Enterovirus ◽  
Multiple Cancer ◽  
The Family ◽  
Cancer Types ◽  
Group B ◽  
Type 3 ◽  
Genus Enterovirus

Oncolytic viruses have emerged as a promising strategy for cancer therapy due to their dual ability to selectively infect and lyse tumor cells and to induce systemic anti-tumor immunity. Among various candidate viruses, coxsackievirus group B (CVBs) have attracted increasing attention in recent years. CVBs are a group of small, non-enveloped, single-stranded, positive-sense RNA viruses, belonging to species human Enterovirus B in the genus Enterovirus of the family Picornaviridae. Preclinical studies have demonstrated potent anti-tumor activities for CVBs, particularly type 3, against multiple cancer types, including lung, breast, and colorectal cancer. Various approaches have been proposed or applied to enhance the safety and specificity of CVBs towards tumor cells and to further increase their anti-tumor efficacy. This review summarizes current knowledge and strategies for developing CVBs as oncolytic viruses for cancer virotherapy. The challenges arising from these studies and future prospects are also discussed in this review.

scholarly journals Sero-epidemiological survey of bluetongue disease in one-humped camel (Camelus dromedarius) in Kassala State, Eastern Sudan

2021 ◽  
Vol 74 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Molhima M. Elmahi ◽  
Mohammed O. Hussien ◽  
Abdel Rahim E. Karrar ◽  
Amira M. Elhassan ◽  
Abdel Rahim M. El Hussein
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Potential Risk ◽  
Animal Health ◽  
Water Source ◽  
Economic Losses ◽  
Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay ◽  
Serum Samples ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Potential Risk Factors ◽  
Eastern Sudan

Abstract Background Bluetongue (BT) is a vector-borne viral disease of ruminant and camelid species which is transmitted by Culicoides spp. The causative agent of BT is bluetongue virus (BTV) that belongs to genus Orbivirus of the family Reoviridae. The clinical disease is seen mainly in sheep but mostly sub-clinical infections of BT are seen in cattle, goats and camelids. The clinical reaction of camels to infection is usually not apparent. The disease is notifiable to the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE), causing great economic losses due to decreased trade and high mortality and morbidity rates associated with bluetongue outbreaks. The objective of this study was to investigate the seroprevalence of BTV in camels in Kassala State, Eastern Sudan and to identify the potential risk factors associated with the infection. A cross sectional study using a structured questionnaire survey was conducted during 2015–2016. A total of 210 serum samples were collected randomly from camels from 8 localities of Kassala State. The serum samples were screened for the presence of BTV specific immunoglobulin (IgG) antibodies using a competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (cELISA). Results Seropositivity to BTV IgG was detected in 165 of 210 camels’ sera accounting for a prevalence of 78.6%. Potential risk factors to BTV infection were associated with sex (OR = 0.061, p-value = 0.001) and seasonal river as water source for drinking (OR = 32.257, p-value = 0.0108). Conclusions Sex and seasonal river as water source for drinking were considered as potential risk factors for seropositivity to BTV in camels. The high prevalence of BTV in camels in Kassala State, Eastern Sudan, necessitates further epidemiological studies of BTV infection in camels and other ruminant species to better be able to control BT disease in this region.

scholarly journals Feeding sites promoting wildlife-related tourism might highly expose the endangered Yunnan snub-nosed monkey (Rhinopithecus bieti) to parasite transmission

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Eve Afonso ◽  
Rong Fu ◽  
Amaël Dupaix ◽  
Anne-Claude Goydadin ◽  
ZhongHua Yu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Disease Transmission ◽  
High Throughput Sequencing ◽  
Animal Health ◽  
Buffer Zone ◽  
Transmission Risk ◽  
Parasite Transmission ◽  
Rhinopithecus Bieti ◽  
Domesticated Animals ◽  
Feeding Sites ◽  
In The Wild

AbstractAn increasing number of studies have found that the implementation of feeding sites for wildlife-related tourism can affect animal health, behaviour and reproduction. Feeding sites can favour high densities, home range overlap, greater sedentary behaviour and increased interspecific contacts, all of which might promote parasite transmission. In the Yunnan snub-nosed monkey (Rhinopithecus bieti), human interventions via provisioning monkeys at specific feeding sites have led to the sub-structuring of a group into genetically differentiated sub-groups. The fed subgroup is located near human hamlets and interacts with domesticated animals. Using high-throughput sequencing, we investigated Entamoeba species diversity in a local host assemblage strongly influenced by provisioning for wildlife-related tourism. We identified 13 Entamoeba species or lineages in faeces of Yunnan snub-nosed monkeys, humans and domesticated animals (including pigs, cattle, and domestic chicken). In Yunnan snub-nosed monkeys, Entamoeba prevalence and OTU richness were higher in the fed than in the wild subgroup. Entamoeba polecki was found in monkeys, pigs and humans, suggesting that this parasite might circulates between the wild and domestic components of this local social–ecological system. The highest proportion of faeces positive for Entamoeba in monkeys geographically coincided with the presence of livestock and humans. These elements suggest that feeding sites might indirectly play a role on parasite transmission in the Yunnan snub-nosed monkey. The implementation of such sites should carefully consider the risk of creating hotspots of disease transmission, which should be prevented by maintaining a buffer zone between monkeys and livestock/humans. Regular screenings for pathogens in fed subgroup are necessary to monitor transmission risk in order to balance the economic development of human communities dependent on wildlife-related tourism, and the conservation of the endangered Yunnan snub-nosed monkey.

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