Bartonella spp. associated with rodents in an urban protected area,Buenos Aires (Argentina)

At least 15 of the 30 Bartonella species are involved in human pathologies, and several of them are associated with rodents and their fleas. The aims of this study were detect and molecularly characterize the Bartonella infections in rodents from an urban protected area of ​Buenos Aires City (Argentina). A total of 186 rodents were captured and identified. For PCR of the 16S rRNA fragment, 23.7 % of the samples tested positive, and two groups (GrA and GrB) were identified. Likewise, the comparison between the sequences obtained for the gltA gene determined the presence of three genotypes, closely related to Bartonella spp. detected in sigmodontine rodents and their fleas in the Americas, which form a well-separated clade. The high prevalence of Bartonella in rodents from an urban protected area of ​Buenos Aires city is relevant from a public health perspective.     

The effect of depurinized milk draught diet on rat serum uric acid, lipid status and haematological parameters

Hyperuricaemia and gout are closely related, but hyperuricaemia is an independent risk factor for endothelial damage, autoinflammation and haemodynamic abnormalities. Milk, generally known as a 'purine-free diet', is an essential protein source for patients suffering from hyperuricaemia and gout. As milk still contains different purine ribonucleotides, the new product, depurinized milk, almost free of purine nucleotides and uric acid, was produced. The potential effect of depurinized milk diet on serum uric acid (SUA) level, lipid parameters and blood haematological parameters was explored in rats after 72 h and 15 days, in relation to standard laboratory chow or the untreated milk diet. The beneficial effect on SUA was achieved when depurinized milk draught was given instead of standard chow for 72 h [28.39 ± 4.76 μm; p < 0.001 vs. standard diet (STD) 47.6 ± 6.12, vs. untreated milk diet 31.55 ± 8.50; p < 0.05] or as a supplement for STD for 15 days experiment (35.38 ± 6.40 μm; p < 0.05 vs. STD only 48.05 ± 4.32; vs. untreated milk + STD 46.02 ± 9.48). Depurinized milk diet significantly decreased the low density lipoproteins/high density lipoproteins (LDL/HDL) ratio (p < 0.001), triglycerides (p < 0.05) and leucocyte count (p < 0.001), while both milk draughts enhanced haemoglobin concentration (p < 0.01). In conclusion, considering the detrimental effect of persisting hyperuricaemia, the depurinized milk draught may meet the demand of healthy dairy product for population under hyperuricaemic risk.     

乌兰县草原鼠、虫、毒草危害现状调查

乌兰县鼠、虫及毒草灾害总面积为32.26×104hm2,害鼠主要有高原鼠兔、高原鼢鼠、子午沙鼠,害虫主要有古毒蛾,毒草主要有醉马草等。每年危害的经济损失高达0.157×108元,同时,可致死沙生植物、毒害家畜,影响生态环境和畜牧业生产。     

玛曲县鼠害草地综合治理途径的研究

本试验设在玛曲县鼠害危害严重的高寒草甸草地上，进行毒饵灭鼠、补播和封育等防治鼠害综合试验研究。结果表明，毒饵灭鼠防治效果好，在短期能抑制鼠害发生，灭鼠 封育 补播能达到生态灭鼠的目的，可以尽快恢复植被，是治理鼠荒地的有效途径。     

环境条件对啮齿动物种群的影响

啮齿动物的种群调节理论一直是业内研究者争论的重点,在自然界中,种群数量变动的影响因素以及它们的相互作用极为复杂,越来越多的研究认为外在因素对种群变化起到关键作用。在查阅大量文献的基础上,对小型啮齿动物种群数量造成波动的外在因素进行了综述,概述了食物、降雨、降雪以及温度对不同种类啮齿动物种群的影响。     

灭鼠对草地物种多样性保护引发的思考

草地灭鼠是草原建设与畜牧业发展的主要措施之一。然而,由此对草地物种多样性造成的影响与危害却为人们所忽视。通过分析草地动物生态特点,探讨灭鼠对物种多样性保护造成的影响与威胁,以引起社会的关注,维护草地生态系统的完整。     

穴居鼠通讯方式及通讯功能研究进展

通讯是当今动物生态学研究的热点之一,而穴居鼠特殊的生活环境导致其通讯方式与其他小哺乳动物有很大区别。本文着重就穴居鼠的3种通讯方式--声讯、震动和化学通讯及3种通讯的功能进行了概述。声音通讯是其通过发声器官产生声音进行信息传递,由于穴居鼠的听力被严格限制在低频范围,因此其发声能量主要集中在低频域,声音包含信息较多,如领域标记、竞争、求爱和性交等,特别对独居物种而言在繁殖期有重要作用;震动通讯是穴居鼠特定的躯体部位敲击洞壁产生震动进行信息传递,主要功能为非繁殖期护域和繁殖期的求偶信息;化学通讯借助化学信息素进行信息传递,该通讯方式有诸多优点,能绕过障碍物、能耗低,不需近距离接触,传播距离较远且持续时间较长,在性别和繁殖状况等信息传递中起主要作用。     

天峻县应用手提半自动投饵器防治地面害鼠试验报告

为了更有效的进行大面积高原鼠兔的防治工作，2004年12月，在天峻县应用手提式投饵器进行大面积地面害鼠防治，试验表明，在同等条件下，手提式投饵器比人工防治可提高工作效率20．2％，饵料节省49％，二者的防治效果无显著差异。手提式投饵器将是今后大面积防治地面害鼠的理想器具。     

陇东干旱草地鼠害及其防治

对陇东草地害鼠的种类分布，群落组成及草地危害情况进行调查研究。结果表明，该区共有草地鼠类２４种，分属６科，危害草地面积达２０．１万ｈｍ＾２，损失牧草达１６８２０．１万ｋｇ；根据鼠类群落优势种及其生境的差异，将草地鼠类划分为４个群落，通过总结分析近几年鼠害的防治效果和存在问题，提出了当前草地鼠害防治的一些对策。     

Preliminary investigation on rodent–ectoparasite associations in the highlands of Tigray,Northern Ethiopia: implications for potential zoonoses

We studied associations between rodents and their arthropod ectoparasites in crop fields and household compounds in the highlands of Tigray, Northern Ethiopia. Ectoparasite infestation indices, such as percent infestation, mean abundance, prevalence and host preferences, were calculated for each taxon. In total, 172 rodents from crop fields and 97 from household compounds were trapped. Rodent species and numbers trapped from the crop fields and household compounds were Mastomys awashensis (Lavrenchenko, Likhnova & Baskevich, 1998) (88 and 44), Arvicanthis dembeensis (Ruppel, 1842) (63 and 37) and Acomys sp. (21 and 16), respectively. A total of 558 insects and acarids (belonging to 11 taxa) were recovered from the rodents trapped in the crop fields, and 296 insects and acarid (belonging to 6 taxa) from the rodents trapped in the household compounds. Approximately 66% of the rodents trapped from the crop fields and 47% of those trapped from the household compounds were infested with ectoparasites. Laelaps sp. (64.9%) and Xenopsylla sp. (20.6%) comprised the highest proportion of the ectoparasites recovered in the crop fields, and the same ectoparasites, but in reverse order, comprised the highest proportions in the household compounds (Xenopsylla [50.3%] and Laelaps sp. [29%]). Our study revealed that crop fields and household compounds in the highlands share similar rodents and several ectoparasites. Furthermore, at least 1 of the rodent species and some of the ectoparasites identified in this study were reported to have posed medical and veterinary threats in other parts of Ethiopia and neighboring countries.     

Chemical restraint of African mole‐rats (Fukomys sp.) with a combination of ketamine and xylazine

ObjectiveTo establish an accurate anaesthetic dose for chemical restraint of African mole-rats using ketamine and xylazine.Study designProspective nonrandomized laboratory study.AnimalsSixteen adult Ansell’s mole-rats (Fukomys anselli) and eight giant mole-rats (F. mechowii).MethodsFukomys anselli of different ages, sexes and reproductive status were systematically anaesthetized starting with an intramuscular injection of ketamine (2.5 mg kg⁻¹) and increasing the doses in steps of 0.5 mg kg⁻¹ until loss of the righting reflex (LRR) was observed. Xylazine was added to a constant dose of ketamine, starting at 0.5 mg kg⁻¹ that was increased by 0.5 mg kg⁻¹ in further trials. Once an effective combination was established and evaluated in F. anselli, it was also tested in F. mechowii. Heart and respiratory rates and rectal temperatures were measured during anaesthesia. anova for repeated measures and Student’s t-test were used to compare means.ResultsChemical restraint was accomplished at a dose of 6 mg kg⁻¹ ketamine combined with 2.5 mg kg⁻¹ xylazine. LRR lasted on average mean 56 ± SD 19 minutes (F. anselli) and 140 ± 41 minutes (F. mechowii). Loss of pedal withdrawal reflex (LPR) lasted for 20 ± 15 minutes (F. anselli) and for 29 ± 2 minutes (F. mechowii), respectively. All animals recovered satisfactorily. Heart and respiratory rates were stable during anaesthesia, but rectal temperature fell significantly in F. mechowii after losing the righting reflex (LRR) from T1 (32.6 ± 0.6 °C) to T3 (30.4 ± 0.9 °C).Conclusions and Clinical relevanceAfrican mole-rats (Bathyergidae) live in closed burrow systems under particular conditions (hypercapnia, hypoxia, stable temperature, humidity, darkness) and show several physiological adaptations. Injectable anaesthetics in the dose rates used in other rodents are not appropriate for use in these subterranean species. Here, a reliable protocol for chemical restraint is provided.     

鹰架招鹰技术控制草地害鼠试验研究

鹰架招鹰技术控制草地害鼠是一种生物防治方法,通过不同鹰架(巢)杆的高度、鹰架(巢)间隔距离布局以及控制效果等的研究,对应用鹰架招鹰控制草地害鼠技术进行了初步探讨,结果表明,5m高的鹰架(巢)招鹰效果要比3m、4m高的鹰架(巢)要好,且对高原鼠兔种群数量的影响作用显著。     

化隆县草地鼠虫危害调查

1997～1998年对化隆县草场上发生的鼠虫危害进行了调查研究,发现5大类草场都有害鼠和蝗虫分布;其中,在山地草甸和山地草原上较多.全县鼠害草场面积22506hm2,虫害草场面积21986hm2;高原鼢鼠和高原鼠兔是优势害鼠,狭翅雏蝗、小翅雏蝗和红翅皱膝蝗是优势害虫.高原鼠兔密度为2.5只/hm2,高原鼢鼠为3只/hm2;蝗虫平均密度为21头/hm2.     

Rodent hosts and flea vectors in Brazilian plague foci: a review

Plague, caused by the Yersinia pestis bacterium, has several foci scattered throughout a large area from the Brazilian territory that ranges from the Northeastern State of Ceará to the Southeastern State of Minas Gerais and another separated area at the State of Rio de Janeiro. This review gathers data from plague control and surveillance programs on the occurrence and geographic distribution of rodent hosts and flea vectors in the Brazilian plague areas during the period of from 1952 to 2019. Furthermore, we discuss how the interaction between Y. pestis and some rodent host species may play a role in the disease dynamics. The absence of human cases nowadays in Brazil does not mean that it was eradicated. The dynamics of plague in Brazil and in other countries where it was introduced during the 3rd pandemic are quite alike, alternating epidemics with decades of quiescence. Hence, it remains an important epidemic disease of global concern. The existence of a large animal reservoir and competent vectors demonstrate a need for continuous surveillance to prevent new outbreaks of this disease in humans.     

Plague reservoir species throughout the world

Plague has been known since ancient times as a re-emerging infectious disease, causing considerable socioeconomic burden in regional hotspots. To better understand the epidemiological cycle of the causative agent of the plague, its potential occurrence, and possible future dispersion, one must carefully consider the taxonomy, distribution, and ecological requirements of reservoir-species in relation either to natural or human-driven changes (e.g. climate change or urbanization). In recent years, the depth of knowledge on species taxonomy and species composition in different landscapes has undergone a dramatic expansion, driven by modern taxonomic methods such as synthetic surveys that take into consideration morphology, genetics, and the ecological setting of captured animals to establish their species identities. Here, we consider the recent taxonomic changes of the rodent species in known plague reservoirs and detail their distribution across the world, with a particular focus on those rodents considered to be keystone host species. A complete checklist of all known plague-infectable vertebrates living in plague foci is provided as a Supporting Information table.     

Rodent control to fight plague: field assessment of methods based on rat density reduction

Rodents represent a serious threat to food security and public health. The extent to which rodent control can mitigate the risk from rodent-borne disease depends on both the effectiveness of control in reducing rodent abundance and the impact on disease epidemiology. Focusing on a plague-endemic region of Madagascar, this study compared the effectiveness of 3 methods: live-traps, snap-traps, and rodenticides. Control interventions were implemented inside houses between May and October 2019. Tracking tiles monitored rodent abundance. Rodent fleas, the vector involved in plague transmission, were collected. Rodent populations consisted of Rattus rattus and Mus musculus. In terms of trap success, we found that our live-trap regime was more effective than snap-traps. While all 3 control strategies appeared to reduce in-house rodent activity in the short term, we found no evidence of a longer-term effect, with in-house rodent abundance in treated sites comparable to non-treatment sites by the following month. Endemic flea, Synopsyllus fonquerniei, is a key plague vector usually found on rats living outdoors. Although we found no evidence that its abundance inside houses increased following control, this may have been due to a lack of power caused by significant variation in S. fonquerniei abundance. The presence of S. fonquerniei in houses was more likely when S. fonquerniei abundance on outdoor rats was higher, which in turn correlated with high rat abundance. Our results emphasize that control strategies need to consider this connectivity between in-house rat–flea populations and the outdoor populations, and any potential consequences for plague transmission.     

四种宠物鼠作为多房棘球绦虫的中间宿主的研究

用多房棘球绦虫(Echinococcus multilocularis,Em)原头蚴继发感染一线仓鼠(坎培尔仓鼠Dwarf Campbells RussianHamster)、冬白仓鼠(倭仓鼠Phodopus sungoris sungoris)、金丝熊仓鼠(黄金鼠Mesocricetus auratus)、松鼠(Sciurusvulgaris)4种宠物鼠各4只。接种70 d后剖解各种宠物鼠1只,一线仓鼠、金丝熊仓鼠、松鼠未发现包囊泡,冬白仓鼠分离出包囊泡4.37 g,占体重的7.23%;接种95 d后4种宠物鼠的平均湿包囊泡重和包囊泡重占体重的百分比分别为:冬白仓鼠13.05g和33.03%,金丝熊仓鼠2.22 g和1.98%,松鼠2.28 g和3.54%,冬白仓鼠、金丝熊仓鼠和松鼠都出现成熟原头蚴,一线仓鼠未发现包囊泡。试验证明冬白仓鼠、金丝熊仓鼠和松鼠对多房棘球绦虫原头蚴较敏感,可以作为Em的中间宿主。     

两种生物肉毒杀鼠素诱鼠颗粒毒饵防治高原鼠兔田间小区试验报告

通过应用C.肉毒杀鼠素诱鼠颗粒毒饵和D.肉毒杀鼠素诱鼠颗粒毒饵进行防治高原鼠兔的田间小区对比试验,结果表明:两种诱鼠颗粒毒饵防治高原鼠兔的平均校正防治效果分别可达93.65%和91.56%,两药剂间防治效果差异不显著(F=1.6990.05)。且与常用药剂(0.1%C.肉毒杀鼠素燕麦毒饵)具有相同的防治效果。