Multiple Co-infections of Rodents with Hantaviruses, Leptospira, and Babesia in Croatia

作者：Tadin Ante^*; Turk Nenad; Korva Misa; Margaletic Josip; Beck Relja; Vucelja Marko; Habus Josipa; Svoboda Petra; Zupanc Tatjana Avsic; Henttonen Heikki; Markotic Alemka

来源：Vector Borne and Zoonotic Diseases, 2012, 12(5): 388-392.

DOI：10.1089/vbz.2011.0632

• Babesia
• Hantavirus
• Leptospirosis
• Rodent-borne
• Zoonosis

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.

• 出版日期2012-5