Multiple co-infections of rodents with hantaviruses, Leptospira, and Babesia in Croatia

Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis. 2012 May;12(5):388-92. doi: 10.1089/vbz.2011.0632. Epub 2012 Jan 4.

Abstract

Hantaviruses, Leptospira spp., and Babesia spp. are rodent-borne pathogens present worldwide. We studied multiple co-infections of small rodents in Croatia with all three pathogens. Twenty-eight Apodemus flavicollis and 16 Myodes glareolus were tested for the presence of hantavirus RNA by real-time RT-PCR, Leptospira strains by renoculture method and Babesia DNA by PCR. Anti-hantavirus antibodies and anti-Leptospira antibodies were detected by serological methods. Very high infection rates with each pathogen were found in A. flavicollis: 20 of 28 rodents (71%) were infected with Dobrava virus, 13 rodents (46%) were infected with Leptospira, and 5 rodents (18%) were infected with Babesia. Multiple co-infections with all three pathogens were found in 3 of 28 (11%) A. flavicollis animals, suggesting that the same rodent host can be infected with several pathogens at the same time. Dual infections with both hantaviruses and Leptospira were found in 7 of 44 rodents (16%), with hantaviruses and Babesia in 2 rodents (5%), and double infection with both Leptospira and Babesia were found in 1 rodent (2%). Since hantaviruses, Leptospira, and Babesia have similar geographical distributions, it is to be expected that in other parts of the world multiple co-infections, representing a serious threat to public health, can be found.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Viral / blood
  • Arvicolinae
  • Babesia / classification
  • Babesia / isolation & purification
  • Babesiosis / epidemiology
  • Babesiosis / veterinary*
  • Coinfection / veterinary*
  • Croatia / epidemiology
  • Hantavirus Infections / epidemiology
  • Hantavirus Infections / veterinary*
  • Leptospira / isolation & purification
  • Leptospirosis / epidemiology
  • Leptospirosis / veterinary*
  • Murinae
  • Orthohantavirus / classification*
  • Orthohantavirus / isolation & purification
  • RNA, Viral / isolation & purification
  • Rodent Diseases / epidemiology*
  • Rodent Diseases / microbiology
  • Rodent Diseases / parasitology

Substances

  • Antibodies, Viral
  • RNA, Viral