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Rodent borne zoonoses in Republic of Croatia

Rodent borne zoonoses in Republic of Croatia Rodents are the most abundant and diversified mammals that represent almost half of the total number of mammalian species. Their role in maintenance and transmission of different pathogens is well known since the Middle Ages when Black Death (plaque) took more than 20 millions of lives across the Europe. Rodent borne diseases still pose a threat to human and animal health worldwide. Moreover, due to the global warming, urbanization and intensified trade and travel, population density and distribution of rodent/arthropod species as well as human settlement patterns changed and certain diseases are now (re)emerging again. Rodent-borne diseases can be transmitted from rodents to other animals and humans via two different pathways. First pathway is direct or indirect contact with rodents or environment contaminated with rodent urine, faeces or saliva. Second pathway is transmission trough different arthropod species (ticks, flees, etc.) that often serve as biological vectors of the disease. Numerous researches have been undertaken across the globe in order to identify rodents that serve as reservoirs for certain pathogens and clarify the role of different biotic and abiotic factors that are important for rodent/vector population dynamics and transmission patterns of different diseases. In Croatia a multidisciplinary team consisting of infectious disease specialists, veterinarians and foresters is engaged in on-going research and monitoring of rodent borne zoonoses in forest stands. Up till now, numerous studies have been undertaken in order to determine presence of different pathogens such as Hantaviruses, Leptospira spp., Francisella tularensis, Borrelia spp., Bartonella spp., Ehrlichia spp., Anaplasma spp., Rickettsia spp., Coxiella burnetii, Babesia microti, Toxoplasma gondii, Orthopoxvirus, lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus and tick-borne encephalitis virus in different rodent species. The longest and best studied pathogens are hantaviruses and Leptospira spp. Outbreaks of both diseases (hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome and leptospirosis) in Croatia correlate with increase in rodent population density and appearance of so called “mouse years”. Certain biotic and abiotic factors influencing rodent population dynamics and consequently outbreaks of both of the diseases have been identified. In addition, high infection rates of Leptospira spp. and hantaviruses with numerous multiple co-infections have been documented in some studies. Further identification of potential temporal risk zones and better understanding of rodent reservoir ecology are essential for developing a prediction model that will quantify the risk for certain disease and formulate adequate public health response.

rodents, zoonoses, Croatia

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