Intrinsic and extrinsic factors related to pathogen infection in wild small mammals in intensive milk cattle and swine production systems.

LOVERA, ROSARIO; FERNÁNDEZ, M.S.; JACOB, JENS; LUCERO, NIDIA; BRIHUEGA, BIBIANA; FARACE, MARÍA ISABEL; CARACOSTANTOGOLO, JORGE; CAVIA, R.

PLOS NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES

PUBLIC LIBRARY SCIENCE

Lugar: San Francisco; Año: 2017

1935-2735

p { margin-bottom: 0.25cm; direction: ltr; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: 120%; }p.western { font-family: "Times New Roman","Trebuchet MS",serif; font-size: 12pt; }p.cjk { font-family: "Times New Roman","Trebuchet MS",serif; font-size: 12pt; }p.ctl { font-family: "Times New Roman","Trebuchet MS",serif; font-size: 12pt; }a:link { color: rgb(0, 0, 255); }BackgroundUnderstanding ecological processes involved in thetransmission of zoonotic pathogens by small mammals may aid adequateand effective management measures. Few attempts have been made toanalyze ecological aspects influencing the infection of relevantpathogens in small mammals in production systems. The aim of thiswork was to describe the infection of Leptospiraspp., Brucellaspp., Trichinellaspp. and Cysticercus fasciolaris amongsmall mammals and assess related intrinsic and extrinsic factors inproduction systems in central Argentina at community, population andindividual level.Methodology/Principal FindingsTen pig farms and eight dairy farms were studiedby removal small mammal samplings from 2008 to 2011. Each farm wassampled seasonally during one year setting live-capture traps in fivehabitats. A total of 505 small mammals were captured (14,359trap-nights) including the three introduced murine rodents, somenative rodents and two opossums. Leptospiraspp., anti-Brucellaspp. antibodies and Trichinellaspp. were found in the three murines and both opossums. Rattusnorvegicus was also infected with C.fasciolaris; Akodonazarae and Oligoryzomysflavescens with Leptospiraspp.; anti-Brucellaspp. antibodies were found in A.azarae. Two or more pathogens occurredsimultaneously in 89% of the farms and each pathogen in at least 50%of them. All pathogens infection increased with host abundances.Infection ofLeptospira spp.also increased with precipitations and in warm seasons. Theoccurrence of anti-Brucella spp.antibodies was higher in dairy farms, and in winter and summer. Thehost abundances limit values from which farms are expected to be freeof the studied pathogens are reported.Conclusions/SignificanceWe proposed that murines maintain pathogens withinfarms, while other native species are likely to participate inpathogen dispersal among farms.Hence, we recommend preventing andcontrolling murines in farm dwellings and isolate farms from thesurroundings to avoid contact with other wild mammals.