Surveys on helminthic fauna of the nutria, Myocastor coypus, have seldom been performed in the Republic of Korea. In the present study, we describe Strongyloides myopotami (Secernentea: Strongyloididae) recovered from the small intestine of feral nutrias. Total 10 adult nutrias were captured in a wetland area in Gimhae-si (City), Gyeongsangnam-do (Province) in April 2013. They were transported to our laboratory, euthanized with ether, and necropsied. About 1,300 nematode specimens were recovered from 10 nutrias, and some of them were morphologically observed by light and scanning electron microscopies. They were 3.7-4.7 (4.0+/-0.36) mm in length, 0.03-0.04 (0.033) mm in width. The worm dimension and other morphological characters, including prominent lips of the vulva, blunted conical tail, straight type of the ovary, and 8-chambered stoma, were all consistent with S. myopotami. This nematode fauna is reported for the first time in Korea.
Animals ; Republic of Korea/epidemiology ; Rodent Diseases/epidemiology/*parasitology ; Rodentia ; Strongyloides/*isolation & purification ; Strongyloidiasis/epidemiology/parasitology/*veterinary

OBJECTIVETo understand the distribution, fauna, population structure of host animals and their parasitic fleas as well as popular dynamic of animal plague of natural plague foci in Junggar Basin.

METHODSSample materials and data of animals and vector insects were collected using ecological methods and the population structures were analyzed statistically. F1 antibody of Yersinia pestis in rodents' serum and organ suspension was detected by means of IHA while the pathogen of Y. pestis in rodents and vector insects was detected by means of aetiological detections and the isolated Y. pestis was detected using biochemical methods.

RESULTSThe small mammals which were found in Junggar Basin belonged to 17 species of 11 genera 7 families. Of them, 13 species of rodents were included whose parasitic fleas belonged to 19 species of 10 genera 8 families. The average coverage of Rhombomys opimus hole-community was 22.5% in Junggar Basin with the average density of R. opimus hole-community was 15.9/hm2 and the average rate of habitat of the hole-community was 70.2%. In the R. opimus community, the average density of rodents was 3.1/hole-community, and 34.4/hm2 in the nature plague foci. In the population structure of the hole-community of R. opimus, R. opimus accounted for 72.9% in the total captured rodents, Meriones meridianus was 24.5% while the others were 2.6%. In the nocturnal community of rodents, M. meridianus accounted for 64.0% in total captured rodents, Dipus sagitta was 15.1%, M. erythrourns was 7.5% and the others were 13.4%. In the rodents community of Junggar Basin, the rate of R. opimus with fleas was 84.9%, which was the highest, followed by M. tamariscinus, Euchoreutes naso and M. erythrourns, with the rates as 71.4%, 66.7% and 62.7% respectively. The rate of M. meridianus with fleas was 38.3%. There were 16 species of parasitic fleas in R. opimus, with the total flea index as 8.58 and the dominant species was Xenopsylla skrjabini. There were 17 and 16 kinds of fleas in M. erythrourns and M. meridianus respectively with the total flea index were 1.59 and 1.15, with dominant fleas were Nosopsyllus laeviceps and X. skrjabini. The serum and organ suspension of 3179 rodents which belonged to 12 species were detected by means of IHA, of them 174 samples were positive and the positive rate was 5.5%. There were 1356 samples of R. opimus in these materials, and 164 were positive, accounted for 12.1%. The samples of M. meridianus were 1255, with 9 positive, accounted for 0.7%. The samples of D. sagitta were 116 with 1 positive and the rate was 0.9%. The samples of other rodents were 452 but were all negative. There were in total 2975 organs collected from rodents, when detected by methods of isolated of Y. pestis. 15 strains of Y. pestis were isolated from 1243 R. opimus, and 2 strains isolated from 1230 M. meridianus. A total number of 11 647 fleas from rodents were detected by methods of isolated of Y. pestis in which 1 strain of Y. pestis was isolated from 4713 X. skrjabini, and 6 were isolated from 2101 Xenopsylla minax, 1 from 328 Xenopsylla conformis conformis and 1 from 250 Echidnophaga oschanini. Among the other 4255 fleas, none was isolated. The biochemical properties of these Y. pestis which isolated from Junggar Basin were positive of Maltose, Ejiao sugar and Glycerol, and negative of Rhamnose and Nitrogen, which were all strongly poisonous to mouse.

CONCLUSIONThe natural plague foci in Junggar Basin spread all over the whole Junggar Basin. There were animal plague cases found in 12 counties (cites) while Karamy, Bole, Jimusaer and Qitai were confirmed as plague foci counties (cities). Animals and vector insects of the foci were complicated but the ecological system was stable. R. opimus was recognized as the dominant host animal and its biochemical type belonged to the Middle Ages, suggesting that the foci was a new type of natural plague foci.

Animals ; China ; epidemiology ; Gerbillinae ; microbiology ; Mice ; Plague ; epidemiology ; microbiology ; Rodent Diseases ; epidemiology ; microbiology ; Yersinia pestis ; immunology ; pathogenicity

This study reports the first case of Capillaria hepatica infection in a nutria in Korea. Ten nutrias, captured near the Nakdong River, were submitted to our laboratory for necropsy. White-yellowish nodules were found in the liver of 1 of the nutrias at necropsy. Histologically, the lesions were granulomatous, and infiltrations of lipid-laden macrophages, eosinophils, and several multinucleated giant cells were observed. The lesions consisted of numerous eggs and necrotic hepatocytes. The eggs were lemon-shaped and had polar plugs at the ends of both long sides. The eggs were morphologically identified as those of C. hepatica. Worldwide, C. hepatica infection in nutrias is very rare. Nutrias are a kind of livestock, as well as wildlife; therefore, an epidemiological study for parasitic infections needs to be conducted.
Animals ; Capillaria/*isolation & purification ; Enoplida Infections/epidemiology/parasitology/*veterinary ; Female ; Male ; Republic of Korea/epidemiology ; Rodent Diseases/*parasitology ; Rodentia

The present study was performed to know the infection status of intestinal helminths in a most common species of field mice, Apodemus agrarius, from 2 southern regions of Korea. Total 133 and 103 mice were collected by the mouse trap in Hapcheon-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do and Gurye-gun, Jeollanam-do, respectively, from July 2005 to June 2006. The small intestine of each mouse was resected and longitudinally opened with a pair of scissors. The intestinal contents were washed with 0.85% saline until the supernatant became clear. Helminths were collected with naked eyes or under a stereomicroscope from the sediment of the intestinal content. More than 11 species of helminths (4 nematode spp., 5 trematode spp., and 2 cestode spp.) were recovered. Among these, heligmosomoid nematodes (97.5%) was the most highly and heavily infected species. As the members of trematodes, Plagiorchis muris, Brachylaima sp., Echinostoma hortense, Echinostoma cinetorchis, and unidentified echinostome larvae were found in the small intestines of 35 (14.8%), 12 (5.1%), 6 (2.5%), 1 (0.4%), and 1 (0.4%) mice respectively. Two species of tapeworms, Hymenolepis nana and Hymenolepis diminuta were also detected in 79 (33.5%) and 21 (8.9%) mice, respectively. Conclusively, heligmosomoid nematodes were the most prevalent (dominant) species among more than 11 helminth species detected, and Brachylaima sp. fluke is newly added in the list of intestinal trematodes in Korea.
Animals ; Helminthiasis/epidemiology/parasitology ; Helminths/*classification/*isolation & purification ; Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic/epidemiology/parasitology/*veterinary ; Korea/epidemiology ; Murinae/*parasitology ; Prevalence ; Rodent Diseases/*epidemiology/parasitology

OBJECTIVEIn order to better understand the epidemiological features of Hantviruses in Inner Mongolia.

METHODSEpidemiological surveillance data during the period of the past 52 years were analyzed. An epidemiological survey was carried out in the main epidemic areas in 2005.

RESULTSA total of 8310 hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) cases were reported in Inner Mongolia from 1955 to 2006, and distributed in 61 counties. HFRS cases were mainly distributed in the east part of Inner Mongolia before 1990. However, HFRS cases had occurred in the middle and western parts since 1990. Hulunbeier prefecture, from the eastern part of Inner Mongolia, had been the most severe area being hit by HERS since the first outbreak in 1955, with 7369 cases reported over the past 52 years, and accounted for 88.68% of the total cases in the whole autonomous region. Although no HFRS cases had been reported before 1999 in Bayannaoer which located in the western part of Inner Mongolia, a total of 95 cases were reported in 2005. Hantavirus antigens had been detected in 11 species of rodents so far,including Apodemus agrarius, Rattus norvegicus, Mus Musculus, Cricetulus barabensis, meriones meridianus, Microtus maximowiczii , Clethrionomys rutilus, Apodemus peninsulae, Phodopus roborvskii, Dipus sagitta and Allactaga sibirica.

CONCLUSIONResults suggested that the epidemics might remain at a relatively high level in the years to come in Inner Mongolia. Furthermore, there might be other types of Hantaviruses in addition to the already identified Seoul viral type in this area.

Animals ; China ; epidemiology ; Disease Outbreaks ; Hantavirus ; isolation & purification ; Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Molecular Epidemiology ; Rodent Diseases ; epidemiology ; virology ; Rodentia ; virology ; Zoonoses ; epidemiology ; virology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the impact of impoundment and active public health interventions on rodent populations and rodent-borne diseases in the Three Gorges reservoir region from 1997 to 2012.

METHODSSurveillance data from 1997 to 2012 were extracted from the Public Health Surveillance System of The Three Gorges established in 1997. Temporal changes in the incidences of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) and leptospirosis, rodent density, pathogen-carrying rates, and their correlations were analyzed.

RESULTSThe average indoor and outdoor rodent densities decreased overall from 1997 to 2012. The average densities decreased by 47.72% (from 4.38% to 2.29%) and 39.68% (from 4.41% to 2.66%), respectively, after impoundment (2003-2012) compared with before impoundment (1997-2002). The average annual incidence rates of HFRS and leptospirosis were 0.29/100,000 and 0.52/100,000, respectively, and decreased by 85.74% (from 0.68/100,000 to 0.10/100,000) and 95.73% (from 1.47/100,000 to 0.065/100,000), respectively, after impoundment compared with before impoundment. Incidences of HFRS and leptospirosis appear to be positively correlated with rodent density in the reservoir area.

CONCLUSIONThis study demonstrated that rodent density and incidences of rodent-borne diseases decreased and were maintained at low levels during construction of the Three Gorges dam. Measures that reduce rodent population densities could be effective in controlling rodent-borne diseases during large-scale hydraulic engineering construction.

Animal Distribution ; Animals ; China ; epidemiology ; Disease Reservoirs ; Hantavirus Infections ; epidemiology ; veterinary ; Leptospirosis ; epidemiology ; virology ; Population Density ; Rodent Diseases ; epidemiology ; microbiology ; virology ; Rodentia ; Seasons ; Time Factors ; Water Supply ; Zoonoses

OBJECTIVEIn order to investigate Hantavirus (HV) infection of captured rodents and to understand the genotypes and the molecular characteristic of Hantaviruses in Shenzhen.

METHODSThe captured rodents were classified and the density of distribution was calculated. A total of 472 animals were captured, among which Rattus norvegicus was the dominant group. The total viral RNA was extracted from the lung tissues positive with HV antigens by immunofluorescent assay and gene sequence of M fragment was amplified with RT-nested-PCR by using the Hantavirus genotype specific primers. The amplified genes were then sequenced, and subjected to genotyping and homology analysis.

RESULTSThe results of genotype analysis showed that the Hantaviruses taken from twenty-one lung specimens in Rattus norvegicus in Shenzhen city belonged to the Hantavirus type II (SEOV). Results in homology analysis suggested that the homology among twenty-one samples should be rather high with 95.4% of nucleotide sequence identity and they belonged to the same subtype. Phylogenetic tree analysis showed that they were branched into at least six different lineages, and were highly homologized with SZ2083. We also found that these virus strains had not shown more highly homology of nucleotide sequence in nearest district, whereas revealed consistency in farther district.

CONCLUSIONThe major hosts of Hantaviruses in Shenzhen city were Rattus norvegicus and the epidemic strains were genotyped as SEO-type. Nucleotide sequence and deduced amino acid sequence from different rodents were highly homologous, while nucleotide mutation had also been observed. Further studies are required to explore the possible viruses' sequence mutation.

Animals ; China ; epidemiology ; DNA Primers ; DNA, Viral ; Genotype ; Hantavirus ; classification ; genetics ; Hantavirus Infections ; epidemiology ; veterinary ; virology ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; RNA, Viral ; Rats ; Rodent Diseases ; epidemiology ; virology ; Sequence Homology

OBJECTIVETo investigate Bartonella infections in small mammalian reservoir hosts from different environments and types of climate in Yunnan.

METHODSFemoral blood samples were collected from the anesthetic captured animals from five counties including three types of climate. All isolates were grown on brain and heart infusion agar plates containing 5% defibrinated rabbit blood. The agar plates were incubated at 35 degrees C in a humidified with 5% CO2 environment for at least 4 weeks. Bartonella-like isolates were confirmed by the polymerase chain reaction and visualizing the target gene fragment by gel electrophoresis.

RESULTSBartonella species were isolated from 69 of 176 small animals including 4 species of 3 genera from 4 counties and the total prevalence in rodents was 39.2%. The maximal prevalence was 42.0% of Rattus tanezumi flavipectus usually inhabiting indoors and courtyard and contacting closely to human. Moreover, Bartonella isolates were obtained from Rattus noruegicus, Eothenomys miletus and Mus pahari. Life environments of captured animals involved indoors, courtyard, brush and forest in mountain.

CONCLUSIONThe finding in this study suggested the characteristic of diversity of Bartonella infections in rodent hosts in southern China included Bartonella species parasiting in a wide range of animal hosts in different environments as well as climate types. Further investigations were needed in different areas in China to confirm more mammalian reservoir hosts with Bartonella infections.

Animals ; Bartonella ; classification ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Bartonella Infections ; epidemiology ; veterinary ; China ; epidemiology ; Disease Reservoirs ; Mice ; Rats ; microbiology ; Rodent Diseases ; microbiology ; Rodentia ; microbiology ; Species Specificity

Toxoplasma 3 main clonal lineages are designated as type I, II, and III; however, atypical and mixed genotypes were also reported. This study was conducted for detection of Toxoplasma gondii genotypes in rats (Rattus rattus) in Riyadh region, Saudi Arabia. PCR test on T. gondii B1 gene was conducted on ELISA IgM positive samples for confirmation of the infection. However, genetic analysis of the SAG2 locus was performed to determine T. gondii genotypes using PCR-RFLP technique. PCR test on T. gondii B1gene showed that 22 (81.5%) out of the 27 ELISA IgM positive samples have T. gondii DNA. Genotypic analysis shows that, of the total 22 PCR positive samples, only 13 (59.1%) were of type II, 7 (31.8%) were of type III, and 2 (9.1%) were of an unknown genotype. It is obvious that the prevalence of both type II and III is high in rats. No reports have been available on T. gondii genotypes among rats in Riyadh region, and only little is known about its seroprevalence in rats. Future studies on T. gondii genotypes in rats using multi-locus markers is needed in Riyadh region, Saudi Arabia for better understanding of T. gondii pathogenesis and treatment in humans and animals.
Animals ; Genotype ; *Genotyping Techniques ; Molecular Epidemiology ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Prevalence ; Rats ; Rodent Diseases/epidemiology/*parasitology ; Saudi Arabia/epidemiology ; Toxoplasma/*classification/*genetics/isolation & purification ; Toxoplasmosis, Animal/epidemiology/*parasitology

OBJECTIVETo identify epidemic status of murine typhus in Hongta areas of Yuxi city and to provide evidence for control and prevention of the disease.

METHODSSerologic survey was conducted among residents and rodents. Isolation of Rickettsia moseri was performed.

RESULTSThe overall infection rate among general population was 28.92% (96/332) with geometric meantiter (GMT) as 10.83 and there was no difference between males and females (26.71%, 43/161 vs. 30.99%, 53/171, P > 0.05). Significant differences were found between age groups (P < 0.05) with positive rates of 29.63% (8/27), 18.06% (13/72), 39.62% (42/106), 27.50% (22/80) and 23.40% (11/47) among age groups 0-6, 7-18, 19-39, 40-59 and over 60, respectively. The overall rate of infection in mouse was 44.95% (89/198) with GMT as 30.30. Five isolates of R. moseri from mouse specimen, three from fleas plus one case of murine typhus were diagnosed. Rattus norvegicus and Rattus flavipectus were the predominant species of rodent animals (99.49%, 197/198) and Xenopsylla cheopis was the major species of vector (74.26%, 303/408). Flea index and mouse density were 2.06 and 11.13% respectively.

CONCLUSIONHigh infection rates on R. moseri were demonstrated in rodents and residents as well as high risk of murine typhus outbreak might occur in these areas.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Animals ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Mice ; Middle Aged ; Rats ; Rodent Diseases ; epidemiology ; microbiology ; transmission ; Siphonaptera ; microbiology ; Typhus, Endemic Flea-Borne ; epidemiology ; microbiology ; transmission ; Young Adult