University of Crete, Heraklion, Crete 71409, Greece.
Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg. 2010 Nov;104(11):733-9. doi: 10.1016/j.trstmh.2010.08.005. Epub 2010 Sep 25.
A total of 622 rats (402 Rattus norvegicus and 220 R. rattus frugivorus) were collected in 51 different areas in Cyprus during 2000-2003 and used as indicators of the presence and dispersal of six zoonotic microbial agents. IgG antibodies against Rickettsia typhi (241/496, 48.6%), R. conorii (209/500, 41.8%), Toxoplasma sp. (138/494, 27.9%), Coxiella burnetti (63/494, 12.8%), Bartonella henselae (52/494, 10.5%) and Leishmania infantum (36/494, 7.3%) were detected by indirect immunofluorescence test. There was variation in the association between the seropositivity of the six microbial agents and other factors. Rat species affected R. typhi and R. conorii seropositivity, the prefecture where the rats were caught affected R. typhi, C. burnetii, B. henselae, T. gondii and L. infantum, the sampling season impacted on R. typhi, R. conorii, T. gondii and L. infantum, and the flea species affected R. typhi, R. conorii and B. henselae. These results were analysed using geographical information system (GIS) technology and the seropositivity in rats against the pathogens tested appeared to follow the occurrence of these pathogens in humans. This suggests that rats could be used as disease sentinels and, together with GIS technology, they could be a useful tool for the identification of endemic foci and high-risk areas for each pathogen.
共在塞浦路斯 51 个不同地区采集 622 只大鼠（402 只挪威褐家鼠和 220 只红背平齿鼠），并将其作为六种人畜共患病微生物传播媒介的存在和扩散指示物。采用间接免疫荧光试验检测到针对伤寒立克次体（241/496，48.6%）、贝氏柯克斯体（63/494，12.8%）、汉塞巴尔通体（52/494，10.5%）、刚地弓形虫（138/494，27.9%）、恙虫病东方体（209/500，41.8%）和利什曼原虫（36/494，7.3%）的 IgG 抗体。六种微生物抗体阳性率与其他因素之间的相关性存在差异。鼠种影响伤寒立克次体和贝氏柯克斯体的血清阳性率，捕获大鼠的行政区影响伤寒立克次体、贝氏柯克斯体、汉塞巴尔通体、刚地弓形虫和利什曼原虫，采样季节影响伤寒立克次体、贝氏柯克斯体、刚地弓形虫和利什曼原虫，跳蚤物种影响伤寒立克次体、贝氏柯克斯体和汉塞巴尔通体。采用地理信息系统（GIS）技术分析这些结果，结果显示，被检测病原体在大鼠中的血清阳性率似乎遵循这些病原体在人群中的发生情况。这表明大鼠可作为疾病监测器，与 GIS 技术结合使用，可为每个病原体的地方性病灶和高风险地区的识别提供有用工具。
