engleski

Croatian endemic niche for Dobrava virus and Leptospira spp. dual infections

Hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS), caused by hantaviruses Puumala and Dobrava and leptospirosis, caused by pathogenic members of the bacterial genus Leptospira are important public health problems in Croatia. Both diseases are zoonoses transmitted by rodents and usually have very similar clinical picture. In our research, we aimed to screen wild rodents for the presence of hantaviruses and Leptospira spp. in Noveselec and Žutica regions in Croatia which are considered to be natural foci of HFRS and leptospirosis due to specific ecological conditions. Forty-four rodents (Apodemus spp. and Myodes glareolus) were trapped using Sherman type live traps. Initially, rodents’ blood was collected and tested for the presence of anti-hantavirus antibodies using immunofluorescent assay (IFA). RNA was extracted from lung tissue and presence of Puumala and Dobrava RNA was detected using quantitative real time PCR. Detection of Leptospira spp. infection was performed by serology using microscopic agglutination test (MAT) and by recovering the isolates of leptospiral strains from kidney tissue. Leptospira isolates were identified by serological (MAT) and molecular tools (PCR). Hantaviruses were serologically proved by IFA test in nineteen rodents. Dobrava virus was additionally detected by quantitative real time PCR in twenty rodents and Puumala virus in three rodents. Leptospira spp. was serologically confirmed in twenty-eight rodents and recovery of leptospiral strains was done from thirteen rodents. Dual infection with hantaviruses and Leptospira spp. was evident in fourteen rodents according to serological testing and in eleven rodents according to PCR testing for hantaviruses and recovery and identification of leptospiral strains. Novoselec and Žutica regions in Croatia showed to be natural foci for Dobrava virus and Leptospira spp. infections in small rodents. Determining the presence and spread of these etiologic agents of human diseases by testing local rodent populations might predict the potential for disease emergence.

Dobrava virus; Leptospira spp.; dual infections; Croatia

nije evidentirano