Rodent Ecology and Etiological Investigation in China: Results from Vector Biology Surveillance - Shandong Province, China, 2012-2022.

INTRODUCTION

Rodents are hosts of a wide range of zoonotic disease pathogens which threaten human health. However, comprehensive investigations of rodent ecology and etiology in Shandong are lacking. Thus, we aimed to analyze rodent ecology and infection with relevant pathogens in Shandong Province, China.

METHODS

Rodent survey data collected from 2012 to 2022 in Shandong Province were used in this study. Rodents captured from 2020 to 2022 were identified to species and tested for pathogens.

RESULTS

From 2012 to 2022, 4,145 rodents were captured, with an average capture rate of 0.70%. High capture rates were observed in rural residential areas and other habitats, such as farmland and forestland. () was the dominant species, followed by (). The regions with the highest capture rates of were Dongying (0.82%) and Heze (0.63%), while was more prevalent in Dongying (0.81%) and Weihai (0.56%). Rodent capture rates were highest between March and September. The positive detection rates of Hantavirus (HV), (), (), (), and () in rodents were 2.58%, 1.10%, 0.94%, 0.16%, and 0.19%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The rodent capture rate in human habitation environments has trended downward in Shandong Province, with and being the dominant species. Rodent infection risk from HV, , and showed seasonal variation. Strengthening rodent surveillance and maintaining a low capture rate of host animals could be pivotal for preventing and controlling relevant rodent-borne diseases in high-risk areas.