One Health Approach to Zoonotic Parasites: Molecular Detection of Intestinal Protozoans in an Urban Population of Norway Rats, Rattus norvegicus, in Barcelona, Spain

Pathogens

María Trelis¹  Susana Cifre¹  Rubén Bueno-Marí¹  Sandra Sáez-Durán¹  MàriusVicent Fuentes¹  MaríaTeresa Galán-Puchades¹  Carla Gosálvez¹  Joan Sanxis-Furió¹  Jordi Pascual²  Víctor Peracho²  Sandra Franco²  Tomás Montalvo² 

[1] Parasite & Health Research Group, Department of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Technology and Parasitology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Valencia, Burjassot, 46100 Valencia, Spain;Pest Surveillance and Control, Agència de Salut Pública de Barcelona (ASPB), 08023 Barcelona, Spain;

关键词: One Health approach;    Rattus norvegicus;    zoonoses;    Blastocystis;    Giardia duodenalis;    Cryptosporidium spp.;   

DOI  :  10.3390/pathogens10030311

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Rattus norvegicus, the brown or Norway rat, is the most abundant mammal after humans in urban areas, where they live in close proximity to people. Among rodent-borne diseases, the reservoir role of Norway rats of zoonotic parasites in cities has practically been ignored. Considering the parasitic diseases in the One Health approach, we intended to identify and quantify the zoonotic intestinal protozoans (ZIP) in an urban population of R. norvegicus in the city of Barcelona, Spain. We studied the presence of ZIP in 100 rats trapped in parks (n = 15) as well as in the city’s sewage system (n = 85) in the winter of 2016/17. The protozoans were molecularly identified by means of a multiplex PCR (Allplex^TM Gastrointestinal Panel-Parasite Assay). We also investigated the presence of co-infections among the species found. Four ZIP were identified, presenting significant prevalences in sewers, specifically Blastocystis (83.5%), Giardia duodenalis (37.7%), Cryptosporidium spp. (34.1%), and Dientamoeba fragilis (14.1%). Several co-infections among the detected ZIP were also detected. The reservoir role of ZIP that Norway rats play in cities as well as the role rats may play as sentinels of zoonotic parasites affecting humans in urban areas are strongly backed up by our findings. The increasing worldwide urbanization, climate change, and the COVID-19 pandemic are factors that are producing an increase in human–rat interactions. Our results should be considered a warning to the authorities to intensify rat control and surveillance in public health interventions.

【 授权许可】

Unknown