Nunes Debora Oliveira, Fehlberg Hllytchaikra Ferraz, Carneiro Laurence Oliveira, Oliveira Karenina Melo Miranda, Bovendorp Ricardo Siqueira, Ribeiro Cassia Matos, Albuquerque George Rego, Oliveira Trícia Maria Ferreira de Sousa, Sevá Anaiá da Paixão
Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, State University of Santa Cruz, Direction of the University: Campus Soane Nazaré de Andrade, Rod. Jorge Amado, Km 16 - Salobrinho, Ilhéus, Bahia, 45662-900, Brazil.
Department of Biological Sciences, State University of Santa Cruz, Campus Soane Nazaré de Andrade, Rod. Jorge Amado, Km 16 - Salobrinho, Ilhéus, Bahia, 45662-900, Brazil.
Ecohealth. 2025 Mar;22(1):55-68. doi: 10.1007/s10393-024-01697-4. Epub 2025 Jan 20.
The black rat Rattus rattus is an exotic and synanthropic rodent prominent in Brazil and with high adaptation to urban areas. The species have an omnivorous diet feed on human food resources, potentially becoming infected and spreading infectious agents that cause zoonoses such as leptospirosis, leishmaniosis, Chagas disease, and toxoplasmosis, which are significant public health concerns in the country. We analyzed the epidemiologic profile of R. rattus infected with these agents using molecular diagnostics in the Olivença district, known for its tourism potential, in Ilhéus, Bahia, Brazil. Of 140 animals, the prevalence rates were 30.0% (42) for Leptospira spp., 3.57% (5) for Leishmania spp., and 0.71% (1) for both Trypanosoma cruzi and Toxoplasma gondii. One animal was co-infected with Leptospira interrogans and T. gondii and another with Leptospira spp. and L. (L.) infantum. The high prevalence of Leptospira spp.-infected animals suggests rodents may be a significant infection source for local hosts, as L. interrogans is most common in rodents and humans. Rodents likely become infected through ingestion or contact with contaminated water bodies or food, particularly for Leptospira spp. and T. gondii. It is worth noting that the studied area has beach, high foot traffic, and popular tourist restaurants, which implies the presence of food waste and litter in the environment. This study found synanthropic rodents infected with significant zoonotic agents, indicating their presence in the environment. These agents may not impact the rodent population but can cause serious diseases in humans and other domestic and wild animal species.
黑家鼠（Rattus rattus）是一种外来的共栖啮齿动物，在巴西很常见，对城市环境具有高度适应性。该物种为杂食性，以人类食物资源为食，有可能感染并传播导致钩端螺旋体病、利什曼病、恰加斯病和弓形虫病等人畜共患病的病原体，这些都是该国重大的公共卫生问题。我们在巴西巴伊亚州伊列乌斯具有旅游潜力的奥利文萨区，利用分子诊断方法分析了感染这些病原体的黑家鼠的流行病学特征。在140只动物中，钩端螺旋体属的患病率为30.0%（42只），利什曼原虫属为3.57%（5只），克氏锥虫和弓形虫均为0.71%（1只）。一只动物同时感染了问号钩端螺旋体和弓形虫，另一只同时感染了钩端螺旋体属和婴儿利什曼原虫（L. (L.) infantum）。感染钩端螺旋体属的动物患病率很高，这表明啮齿动物可能是当地宿主的重要感染源，因为问号钩端螺旋体在啮齿动物和人类中最为常见。啮齿动物可能通过摄入或接触受污染的水体或食物而感染，特别是钩端螺旋体属和弓形虫。值得注意的是，研究区域有海滩、人流量大，还有受欢迎的旅游餐厅，这意味着环境中存在食物残渣和垃圾。本研究发现共栖啮齿动物感染了重要的人畜共患病原体，表明它们在环境中的存在。这些病原体可能不会影响啮齿动物种群，但会在人类以及其他家养和野生动物物种中引发严重疾病。
