Evidence of infection with Leptospira interrogans and spotted fever group rickettsiae among rodents in an urban area of Osaka City, Japan.

Abstract

We examined 33 rodents captured in an urban area of Osaka City, Japan for IgG antibodies against Seoul virus, severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus, hepatitis E virus, Leptospira interrogans, Yersinia pestis, spotted fever, typhus and scrub typhus group rickettsiae. We found that 3 (9.1%) and 1 (3.0%) of the 33 rodents had antibodies against L. interrogans and spotted fever group rickettsiae, respectively. DNAs of leptospires were detected from 2 of the 3 seropositive rodents, but DNA of rickettsia was not detected. Phylogenetic analysis and multiple locus sequence typing revealed that the 2 leptospires were L. interrogans belonging to a novel sequence type. There is a potential risk for acquiring rodent-borne zoonotic pathogens even in cities in developed countries.

• Authors: Kenta Shimizu, Rie Isozumi, Kazutoshi Takami, Isao Kimata, Kanae Shiokawa, Kumiko Yoshimatsu, Yoshimi Tsuda, Sanae Nishio, Jiro Arikawa
• Journal: The Journal of veterinary medical science (J Vet Med Sci) Vol. 79 Issue 7 Pg. 1261-1263 (Jul 19 2017) ISSN: 1347-7439 [Electronic] Japan
• PMID: 28529271 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• DNA, Bacterial

Topics

• Animals
• Cities
• DNA, Bacterial (genetics)
• Japan (epidemiology)
• Leptospira interrogans (genetics)
• Leptospirosis (epidemiology, microbiology, veterinary)
• Multilocus Sequence Typing (veterinary)
• Phylogeny
• Rats (microbiology)
• Rickettsia (genetics)
• Spotted Fever Group Rickettsiosis (epidemiology, microbiology, veterinary)