Investigation of natural infection of four pathogens in rodents in rural area of Taizhou, Zhejiang

  Objective  To understand the infection status of four pathogens in rodents in rural area of Taizhou, Zhejiang, and provide evidence for the prevention and control of rodent-borne infectious disease.

  Methods  From September to December in 2020, rodents were captured by night trapping method in rural areas of Sanmen and Tiantai counties, Taizhou. The liver, spleen, lung and kidney of the rodents were collected aseptically after classification and identification. Hantavirus, new Bunia virus, Leptospira and Orientia tsutsugamushi were detected by real-time PCR.

  Results  A total of 167 rodents of 7 species were captured in the two counties, and the overall capture rate was 6.13%. Among the rodents captured, Apodemus agrarius (84, 50.30%), Rattus losea (31, 18.56%) and Rattus norvegicus (25, 14.97%) were predominant. The composition of rodent species was similar among the two counties. In 167 tissue samples, 18 were positive for Leptospira (10.78%), 1 was positive for Hantavirus (0.60%), 2 were positive for Orientia tsutsugamushi (1.20%), but no new Bunia virus was detected. Leptospira was detected in Rattus norvegicus, Apodemus agrarius, Rattus flavipectus and Rattus losea, and the positive rates were 8.00%, 14.29%, 14.29% and 9.68% respectively. Hantavirus was only detected in Apodemus agrarius. Orientia tsutsugamushi was only detected in Rattus losea. No pathogens were detected in Rattus edwardsi, Mus musculus and Suneus murinus. Apodemus agrarius was co-infected with Leptospira and Hantavirus, and the rate of co-infection was 0.60% (1/167).

  Conclusion  Rodents in rural area of Taizhou carried a variety of pathogens. The detection rate of pathogens in different rodents was different. It is necessary to strengthen the prevention and control of rodent-borne infectious disease to reduce the risk of human infection.