Serological Evidence of Multiple Zoonotic Viral Infections among Wild Rodents in Barbados
Background: Rodents are reservoirs for several zoonotic pathogens that can cause human infectious diseases, including orthohantaviruses, mammarenaviruses and orthopoxviruses. Evidence exists for these viruses circulating among rodents and causing human infections in the Americas, but much less evide...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-05-01
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| Series: | Pathogens |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/10/6/663 |
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| author | Kirk Osmond Douglas Claire Cayol Kristian Michael Forbes Thelma Alafia Samuels Olli Vapalahti Tarja Sironen Marquita Gittens-St. Hilaire |
| author_facet | Kirk Osmond Douglas Claire Cayol Kristian Michael Forbes Thelma Alafia Samuels Olli Vapalahti Tarja Sironen Marquita Gittens-St. Hilaire |
| author_sort | Kirk Osmond Douglas |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Rodents are reservoirs for several zoonotic pathogens that can cause human infectious diseases, including orthohantaviruses, mammarenaviruses and orthopoxviruses. Evidence exists for these viruses circulating among rodents and causing human infections in the Americas, but much less evidence exists for their presence in wild rodents in the Caribbean. Methods: Here, we conducted serological and molecular investigations of wild rodents in Barbados to determine the prevalence of orthohantavirus, mammarenavirus and orthopoxvirus infections, and the possible role of these rodent species as reservoirs of zoonotic pathogens. Using immunofluorescent assays (IFA), rodent sera were screened for the presence of antibodies to orthohantavirus, mammarenavirus (Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus—LCMV) and orthopoxvirus (Cowpox virus—CPXV) infections. RT-PCR was then conducted on orthohantavirus and mammarenavirus-seropositive rodent sera and tissues, to detect the presence of viral RNA. Results: We identified antibodies against orthohantavirus, mammarenavirus, and orthopoxvirus among wild mice and rats (3.8%, 2.5% and 7.5% seropositivity rates respectively) in Barbados. No orthohantavirus or mammarenavirus viral RNA was detected from seropositive rodent sera or tissues using RT–PCR. Conclusions: Key findings of this study are the first serological evidence of orthohantavirus infections in <i>Mus musculus</i> and the first serological evidence of mammarenavirus and orthopoxvirus infections in <i>Rattus norvegicus</i> and <i>M. musculus</i> in the English-speaking Caribbean. Rodents may present a potential zoonotic and biosecurity risk for transmission of three human pathogens, namely orthohantaviruses, mammarenaviruses and orthopoxviruses in Barbados. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T10:55:18Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-1343a1605afa4017a1b24bc8b79fc0a5 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-0817 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T10:55:18Z |
| publishDate | 2021-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Pathogens |
| spelling | doaj.art-1343a1605afa4017a1b24bc8b79fc0a52023-11-21T21:55:40ZengMDPI AGPathogens2076-08172021-05-0110666310.3390/pathogens10060663Serological Evidence of Multiple Zoonotic Viral Infections among Wild Rodents in BarbadosKirk Osmond Douglas0Claire Cayol1Kristian Michael Forbes2Thelma Alafia Samuels3Olli Vapalahti4Tarja Sironen5Marquita Gittens-St. Hilaire6Centre for Biosecurity Studies, The University of the West Indies, Cave Hill, St. Michael BB11000, BarbadosDepartment of Wildlife, Fish, and Environmental Studies, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Skogsmarksgränd 17, 901 83 Umeå, SwedenDepartment of Biological Sciences, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USAEpidemiology Research Unit, Caribbean Institute for Health Research (CAIHR), The University of the West Indies, Mona, Kingston 7, JamaicaDepartment of Virology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Medicum, Haartmaninkatu 3, 0290 Helsinki, FinlandDepartment of Virology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Medicum, Haartmaninkatu 3, 0290 Helsinki, FinlandFaculty of Medical Sciences, The University of the West Indies, Cave Hill, St. Michael BB11000, BarbadosBackground: Rodents are reservoirs for several zoonotic pathogens that can cause human infectious diseases, including orthohantaviruses, mammarenaviruses and orthopoxviruses. Evidence exists for these viruses circulating among rodents and causing human infections in the Americas, but much less evidence exists for their presence in wild rodents in the Caribbean. Methods: Here, we conducted serological and molecular investigations of wild rodents in Barbados to determine the prevalence of orthohantavirus, mammarenavirus and orthopoxvirus infections, and the possible role of these rodent species as reservoirs of zoonotic pathogens. Using immunofluorescent assays (IFA), rodent sera were screened for the presence of antibodies to orthohantavirus, mammarenavirus (Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus—LCMV) and orthopoxvirus (Cowpox virus—CPXV) infections. RT-PCR was then conducted on orthohantavirus and mammarenavirus-seropositive rodent sera and tissues, to detect the presence of viral RNA. Results: We identified antibodies against orthohantavirus, mammarenavirus, and orthopoxvirus among wild mice and rats (3.8%, 2.5% and 7.5% seropositivity rates respectively) in Barbados. No orthohantavirus or mammarenavirus viral RNA was detected from seropositive rodent sera or tissues using RT–PCR. Conclusions: Key findings of this study are the first serological evidence of orthohantavirus infections in <i>Mus musculus</i> and the first serological evidence of mammarenavirus and orthopoxvirus infections in <i>Rattus norvegicus</i> and <i>M. musculus</i> in the English-speaking Caribbean. Rodents may present a potential zoonotic and biosecurity risk for transmission of three human pathogens, namely orthohantaviruses, mammarenaviruses and orthopoxviruses in Barbados.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/10/6/663orthohantavirusinfectious diseaseCaribbeanzoonosisbiosecurity |
| spellingShingle | Kirk Osmond Douglas Claire Cayol Kristian Michael Forbes Thelma Alafia Samuels Olli Vapalahti Tarja Sironen Marquita Gittens-St. Hilaire Serological Evidence of Multiple Zoonotic Viral Infections among Wild Rodents in Barbados Pathogens orthohantavirus infectious disease Caribbean zoonosis biosecurity |
| title | Serological Evidence of Multiple Zoonotic Viral Infections among Wild Rodents in Barbados |
| title_full | Serological Evidence of Multiple Zoonotic Viral Infections among Wild Rodents in Barbados |
| title_fullStr | Serological Evidence of Multiple Zoonotic Viral Infections among Wild Rodents in Barbados |
| title_full_unstemmed | Serological Evidence of Multiple Zoonotic Viral Infections among Wild Rodents in Barbados |
| title_short | Serological Evidence of Multiple Zoonotic Viral Infections among Wild Rodents in Barbados |
| title_sort | serological evidence of multiple zoonotic viral infections among wild rodents in barbados |
| topic | orthohantavirus infectious disease Caribbean zoonosis biosecurity |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/10/6/663 |
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