The Experts below are selected from a list of 66411 Experts worldwide ranked by ideXlab platform
Chelsea G Himsworth - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus in urban norway rat rattus norvegicus populations epidemiology and the impacts of kill trapping
Zoonoses and Public Health, 2019Co-Authors: Michael J Lee, Chelsea G Himsworth, Erin Zabek, David M Patrick, Kaylee A Byers, Christina M Donovan, Craig StephenAbstract:Urban Norway rat (Rattus norvegicus) populations can carry the bacteria methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). There are numerous knowledge gaps in the epidemiology of MRSA in these populations that limit understanding of its ecology in urban environments. For example, fecal shedding of MRSA, which may increase environmental contamination, has been reported in other species; however, it is unknown whether Norway rats carry the bacteria rectally. Furthermore, while intermittent MRSA shedding has been shown in other species and may dictate when the risk of transmission is highest, duration of carriage has not been examined for Norway rats. Previous work has shown that lethal animal-control methods may increase the level of pathogens within reservoir populations, possibly by disrupting ecological patterns. However, the impact of rodent-control on potentially environmentally acquired pathogens like MRSA has not been tested. Using capture-mark-recapture methods in an inner-City Neighborhood in Vancouver, Canada, we show that rats intermittently carry MRSA both in the rectum and oropharynx. By assessing the prevalence of MRSA before and after enacting a pest-control intervention, we report that kill-trapping had no impact on the prevalence of carriage of this environmentally-acquired agent.
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prevalence and characteristics of escherichia coli and salmonella spp in the feces of wild urban norway and black rats rattus norvegicus and rattus rattus from an inner City Neighborhood of vancouver canada
Journal of Wildlife Diseases, 2015Co-Authors: Chelsea G Himsworth, Erin Zabek, Andrea Desruisseau, Jane E Parmley, Richard J Reidsmith, Claire M Jardine, Patrick Tang, David M PatrickAbstract:Abstract Although rat feces are widely suspected to be a source of pathogenic bacteria, few investigators have studied fecal pathogens in rats. We investigated the prevalence and characteristics of Escherichia coli and Salmonella spp. in Norway and black rats (Rattus norvegicus and Rattus rattus, respectively) from an urban Neighborhood of Vancouver, Canada, collected September 2011–August 2012. Colon content was cultured for E. coli and Salmonella spp. and screened for the seven most-common enteropathogenic Shiga toxin–producing E. coli (STEC) serotypes by PCR. Isolates were tested for antimicrobial resistance and Salmonella isolates were serotyped. We detected E. coli in 397/633 (62.7%) urban rats. Forty-one of 397 (6.5%) E. coli isolates were resistant to ≥1 antimicrobial while 17 (4.3%) were multidrug resistant (including two isolates demonstrating extended-spectrum β-lactamase resistance). Ten of 633 (1.6%) urban rats were carrying STEC serotypes including O145, O103, O26, and O45. Norway rats were m...
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an investigation of bartonella spp rickettsia typhi and seoul hantavirus in rats rattus spp from an inner City Neighborhood of vancouver canada is pathogen presence a reflection of global and local rat population structure
Vector-borne and Zoonotic Diseases, 2015Co-Authors: Chelsea G Himsworth, Claire M Jardine, Patrick Tang, Julie Bidulka, Michael Kosoy, Heidi Wood, Antonia Dibernardo, Robbin Lindsay, David M PatrickAbstract:Abstract Urban Norway and black rats (Rattus norvegicus and Rattus rattus) are reservoirs for variety of zoonotic pathogens. Many of these pathogens, including Rickettsia typhi, Bartonella spp., and Seoul hantavirus (SEOV), are thought to be endemic in rat populations worldwide; however, past field research has found these organisms to be absent in certain rat populations. Rats (Rattus spp.) from an inner City Neighborhood of Vancouver, Canada, were tested for exposure to and/or infection with SEOV and R. typhi (using serology and PCR), as well as Bartonella spp. (using culture and sequencing). Approximately 25% of 404 rats tested were infected with Bartonella tribocorum, which demonstrated significant geographic clustering within the study area. Infection was associated with both season and sexual maturity. Seroreactivity against R. typhi and SEOV was observed in 0.36% and 1.45% of 553 rats tested, respectively, although PCR screening results for these pathogens were negative, suggesting that they are no...
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an investigation of bartonella spp rickettsia typhi and seoul hantavirus in rats rattus spp from an inner City Neighborhood of vancouver canada is pathogen presence a reflection of global and local rat population structure
Vector-borne and Zoonotic Diseases, 2015Co-Authors: Chelsea G Himsworth, Claire M Jardine, Patrick Tang, Julie Bidulka, Michael Kosoy, Heidi Wood, Antonia Dibernardo, Robbin Lindsay, Ying Bai, David M PatrickAbstract:Urban Norway and black rats (Rattus norvegicus and Rattus rattus) are reservoirs for variety of zoonotic pathogens. Many of these pathogens, including Rickettsia typhi, Bartonella spp., and Seoul hantavirus (SEOV), are thought to be endemic in rat populations worldwide; however, past field research has found these organisms to be absent in certain rat populations. Rats (Rattus spp.) from an inner City Neighborhood of Vancouver, Canada, were tested for exposure to and/or infection with SEOV and R. typhi (using serology and PCR), as well as Bartonella spp. (using culture and sequencing). Approximately 25% of 404 rats tested were infected with Bartonella tribocorum, which demonstrated significant geographic clustering within the study area. Infection was associated with both season and sexual maturity. Seroreactivity against R. typhi and SEOV was observed in 0.36% and 1.45% of 553 rats tested, respectively, although PCR screening results for these pathogens were negative, suggesting that they are not endemic in the study population. Overall, these results suggest that the geographic distribution of rat-associated zoonoses, including R. typhi, SEOV, and Bartonella spp., is less ubiquitous than previously appreciated, and is likely dependent on patterns of dispersion and establishment of the rat reservoir host. Further study on global and local Rattus spp. population structures may help to elucidate the ecology of zoonotic organisms in these species.
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a mixed methods approach to exploring the relationship between norway rat rattus norvegicus abundance and features of the urban environment in an inner City Neighborhood of vancouver canada
PLOS ONE, 2014Co-Authors: Chelsea G Himsworth, Claire M Jardine, Kirbee L Parsons, Alice Y T Feng, Thomas Kerr, David M PatrickAbstract:Urban rats (Rattus spp.) are among the most ubiquitous pest species in the world. Previous research has shown that rat abundance is largely determined by features of the environment; however, the specific urban environmental factors that influence rat population density within cities have yet to be clearly identified. Additionally, there are no well described tools or methodologies for conducting an in-depth evaluation of the relationship between urban rat abundance and the environment. In this study, we developed a systematic environmental observation tool using methods borrowed from the field of systematic social observation. This tool, which employed a combination of quantitative and qualitative methodologies, was then used to identify environmental factors associated with the relative abundance of Norway rats (Rattus norvegicus) in an inner-City Neighborhood of Vancouver, Canada. Using a multivariate zero-inflated negative binomial model, we found that a variety of factors, including specific land use, building condition, and amount of refuse, were related to rat presence and abundance. Qualitative data largely supported and further clarified observed statistical relationships, but also identified conflicting and unique situations not easily captured through quantitative methods. Overall, the tool helped us to better understand the relationship between features of the urban environment and relative rat abundance within our study area and may useful for studying environmental determinants of zoonotic disease prevalence/distribution among urban rat populations in the future.
David M Patrick - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus in urban norway rat rattus norvegicus populations epidemiology and the impacts of kill trapping
Zoonoses and Public Health, 2019Co-Authors: Michael J Lee, Chelsea G Himsworth, Erin Zabek, David M Patrick, Kaylee A Byers, Christina M Donovan, Craig StephenAbstract:Urban Norway rat (Rattus norvegicus) populations can carry the bacteria methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). There are numerous knowledge gaps in the epidemiology of MRSA in these populations that limit understanding of its ecology in urban environments. For example, fecal shedding of MRSA, which may increase environmental contamination, has been reported in other species; however, it is unknown whether Norway rats carry the bacteria rectally. Furthermore, while intermittent MRSA shedding has been shown in other species and may dictate when the risk of transmission is highest, duration of carriage has not been examined for Norway rats. Previous work has shown that lethal animal-control methods may increase the level of pathogens within reservoir populations, possibly by disrupting ecological patterns. However, the impact of rodent-control on potentially environmentally acquired pathogens like MRSA has not been tested. Using capture-mark-recapture methods in an inner-City Neighborhood in Vancouver, Canada, we show that rats intermittently carry MRSA both in the rectum and oropharynx. By assessing the prevalence of MRSA before and after enacting a pest-control intervention, we report that kill-trapping had no impact on the prevalence of carriage of this environmentally-acquired agent.
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prevalence and characteristics of escherichia coli and salmonella spp in the feces of wild urban norway and black rats rattus norvegicus and rattus rattus from an inner City Neighborhood of vancouver canada
Journal of Wildlife Diseases, 2015Co-Authors: Chelsea G Himsworth, Erin Zabek, Andrea Desruisseau, Jane E Parmley, Richard J Reidsmith, Claire M Jardine, Patrick Tang, David M PatrickAbstract:Abstract Although rat feces are widely suspected to be a source of pathogenic bacteria, few investigators have studied fecal pathogens in rats. We investigated the prevalence and characteristics of Escherichia coli and Salmonella spp. in Norway and black rats (Rattus norvegicus and Rattus rattus, respectively) from an urban Neighborhood of Vancouver, Canada, collected September 2011–August 2012. Colon content was cultured for E. coli and Salmonella spp. and screened for the seven most-common enteropathogenic Shiga toxin–producing E. coli (STEC) serotypes by PCR. Isolates were tested for antimicrobial resistance and Salmonella isolates were serotyped. We detected E. coli in 397/633 (62.7%) urban rats. Forty-one of 397 (6.5%) E. coli isolates were resistant to ≥1 antimicrobial while 17 (4.3%) were multidrug resistant (including two isolates demonstrating extended-spectrum β-lactamase resistance). Ten of 633 (1.6%) urban rats were carrying STEC serotypes including O145, O103, O26, and O45. Norway rats were m...
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an investigation of bartonella spp rickettsia typhi and seoul hantavirus in rats rattus spp from an inner City Neighborhood of vancouver canada is pathogen presence a reflection of global and local rat population structure
Vector-borne and Zoonotic Diseases, 2015Co-Authors: Chelsea G Himsworth, Claire M Jardine, Patrick Tang, Julie Bidulka, Michael Kosoy, Heidi Wood, Antonia Dibernardo, Robbin Lindsay, David M PatrickAbstract:Abstract Urban Norway and black rats (Rattus norvegicus and Rattus rattus) are reservoirs for variety of zoonotic pathogens. Many of these pathogens, including Rickettsia typhi, Bartonella spp., and Seoul hantavirus (SEOV), are thought to be endemic in rat populations worldwide; however, past field research has found these organisms to be absent in certain rat populations. Rats (Rattus spp.) from an inner City Neighborhood of Vancouver, Canada, were tested for exposure to and/or infection with SEOV and R. typhi (using serology and PCR), as well as Bartonella spp. (using culture and sequencing). Approximately 25% of 404 rats tested were infected with Bartonella tribocorum, which demonstrated significant geographic clustering within the study area. Infection was associated with both season and sexual maturity. Seroreactivity against R. typhi and SEOV was observed in 0.36% and 1.45% of 553 rats tested, respectively, although PCR screening results for these pathogens were negative, suggesting that they are no...
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an investigation of bartonella spp rickettsia typhi and seoul hantavirus in rats rattus spp from an inner City Neighborhood of vancouver canada is pathogen presence a reflection of global and local rat population structure
Vector-borne and Zoonotic Diseases, 2015Co-Authors: Chelsea G Himsworth, Claire M Jardine, Patrick Tang, Julie Bidulka, Michael Kosoy, Heidi Wood, Antonia Dibernardo, Robbin Lindsay, Ying Bai, David M PatrickAbstract:Urban Norway and black rats (Rattus norvegicus and Rattus rattus) are reservoirs for variety of zoonotic pathogens. Many of these pathogens, including Rickettsia typhi, Bartonella spp., and Seoul hantavirus (SEOV), are thought to be endemic in rat populations worldwide; however, past field research has found these organisms to be absent in certain rat populations. Rats (Rattus spp.) from an inner City Neighborhood of Vancouver, Canada, were tested for exposure to and/or infection with SEOV and R. typhi (using serology and PCR), as well as Bartonella spp. (using culture and sequencing). Approximately 25% of 404 rats tested were infected with Bartonella tribocorum, which demonstrated significant geographic clustering within the study area. Infection was associated with both season and sexual maturity. Seroreactivity against R. typhi and SEOV was observed in 0.36% and 1.45% of 553 rats tested, respectively, although PCR screening results for these pathogens were negative, suggesting that they are not endemic in the study population. Overall, these results suggest that the geographic distribution of rat-associated zoonoses, including R. typhi, SEOV, and Bartonella spp., is less ubiquitous than previously appreciated, and is likely dependent on patterns of dispersion and establishment of the rat reservoir host. Further study on global and local Rattus spp. population structures may help to elucidate the ecology of zoonotic organisms in these species.
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a mixed methods approach to exploring the relationship between norway rat rattus norvegicus abundance and features of the urban environment in an inner City Neighborhood of vancouver canada
PLOS ONE, 2014Co-Authors: Chelsea G Himsworth, Claire M Jardine, Kirbee L Parsons, Alice Y T Feng, Thomas Kerr, David M PatrickAbstract:Urban rats (Rattus spp.) are among the most ubiquitous pest species in the world. Previous research has shown that rat abundance is largely determined by features of the environment; however, the specific urban environmental factors that influence rat population density within cities have yet to be clearly identified. Additionally, there are no well described tools or methodologies for conducting an in-depth evaluation of the relationship between urban rat abundance and the environment. In this study, we developed a systematic environmental observation tool using methods borrowed from the field of systematic social observation. This tool, which employed a combination of quantitative and qualitative methodologies, was then used to identify environmental factors associated with the relative abundance of Norway rats (Rattus norvegicus) in an inner-City Neighborhood of Vancouver, Canada. Using a multivariate zero-inflated negative binomial model, we found that a variety of factors, including specific land use, building condition, and amount of refuse, were related to rat presence and abundance. Qualitative data largely supported and further clarified observed statistical relationships, but also identified conflicting and unique situations not easily captured through quantitative methods. Overall, the tool helped us to better understand the relationship between features of the urban environment and relative rat abundance within our study area and may useful for studying environmental determinants of zoonotic disease prevalence/distribution among urban rat populations in the future.
Claire M Jardine - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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prevalence and characteristics of escherichia coli and salmonella spp in the feces of wild urban norway and black rats rattus norvegicus and rattus rattus from an inner City Neighborhood of vancouver canada
Journal of Wildlife Diseases, 2015Co-Authors: Chelsea G Himsworth, Erin Zabek, Andrea Desruisseau, Jane E Parmley, Richard J Reidsmith, Claire M Jardine, Patrick Tang, David M PatrickAbstract:Abstract Although rat feces are widely suspected to be a source of pathogenic bacteria, few investigators have studied fecal pathogens in rats. We investigated the prevalence and characteristics of Escherichia coli and Salmonella spp. in Norway and black rats (Rattus norvegicus and Rattus rattus, respectively) from an urban Neighborhood of Vancouver, Canada, collected September 2011–August 2012. Colon content was cultured for E. coli and Salmonella spp. and screened for the seven most-common enteropathogenic Shiga toxin–producing E. coli (STEC) serotypes by PCR. Isolates were tested for antimicrobial resistance and Salmonella isolates were serotyped. We detected E. coli in 397/633 (62.7%) urban rats. Forty-one of 397 (6.5%) E. coli isolates were resistant to ≥1 antimicrobial while 17 (4.3%) were multidrug resistant (including two isolates demonstrating extended-spectrum β-lactamase resistance). Ten of 633 (1.6%) urban rats were carrying STEC serotypes including O145, O103, O26, and O45. Norway rats were m...
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an investigation of bartonella spp rickettsia typhi and seoul hantavirus in rats rattus spp from an inner City Neighborhood of vancouver canada is pathogen presence a reflection of global and local rat population structure
Vector-borne and Zoonotic Diseases, 2015Co-Authors: Chelsea G Himsworth, Claire M Jardine, Patrick Tang, Julie Bidulka, Michael Kosoy, Heidi Wood, Antonia Dibernardo, Robbin Lindsay, David M PatrickAbstract:Abstract Urban Norway and black rats (Rattus norvegicus and Rattus rattus) are reservoirs for variety of zoonotic pathogens. Many of these pathogens, including Rickettsia typhi, Bartonella spp., and Seoul hantavirus (SEOV), are thought to be endemic in rat populations worldwide; however, past field research has found these organisms to be absent in certain rat populations. Rats (Rattus spp.) from an inner City Neighborhood of Vancouver, Canada, were tested for exposure to and/or infection with SEOV and R. typhi (using serology and PCR), as well as Bartonella spp. (using culture and sequencing). Approximately 25% of 404 rats tested were infected with Bartonella tribocorum, which demonstrated significant geographic clustering within the study area. Infection was associated with both season and sexual maturity. Seroreactivity against R. typhi and SEOV was observed in 0.36% and 1.45% of 553 rats tested, respectively, although PCR screening results for these pathogens were negative, suggesting that they are no...
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an investigation of bartonella spp rickettsia typhi and seoul hantavirus in rats rattus spp from an inner City Neighborhood of vancouver canada is pathogen presence a reflection of global and local rat population structure
Vector-borne and Zoonotic Diseases, 2015Co-Authors: Chelsea G Himsworth, Claire M Jardine, Patrick Tang, Julie Bidulka, Michael Kosoy, Heidi Wood, Antonia Dibernardo, Robbin Lindsay, Ying Bai, David M PatrickAbstract:Urban Norway and black rats (Rattus norvegicus and Rattus rattus) are reservoirs for variety of zoonotic pathogens. Many of these pathogens, including Rickettsia typhi, Bartonella spp., and Seoul hantavirus (SEOV), are thought to be endemic in rat populations worldwide; however, past field research has found these organisms to be absent in certain rat populations. Rats (Rattus spp.) from an inner City Neighborhood of Vancouver, Canada, were tested for exposure to and/or infection with SEOV and R. typhi (using serology and PCR), as well as Bartonella spp. (using culture and sequencing). Approximately 25% of 404 rats tested were infected with Bartonella tribocorum, which demonstrated significant geographic clustering within the study area. Infection was associated with both season and sexual maturity. Seroreactivity against R. typhi and SEOV was observed in 0.36% and 1.45% of 553 rats tested, respectively, although PCR screening results for these pathogens were negative, suggesting that they are not endemic in the study population. Overall, these results suggest that the geographic distribution of rat-associated zoonoses, including R. typhi, SEOV, and Bartonella spp., is less ubiquitous than previously appreciated, and is likely dependent on patterns of dispersion and establishment of the rat reservoir host. Further study on global and local Rattus spp. population structures may help to elucidate the ecology of zoonotic organisms in these species.
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a mixed methods approach to exploring the relationship between norway rat rattus norvegicus abundance and features of the urban environment in an inner City Neighborhood of vancouver canada
PLOS ONE, 2014Co-Authors: Chelsea G Himsworth, Claire M Jardine, Kirbee L Parsons, Alice Y T Feng, Thomas Kerr, David M PatrickAbstract:Urban rats (Rattus spp.) are among the most ubiquitous pest species in the world. Previous research has shown that rat abundance is largely determined by features of the environment; however, the specific urban environmental factors that influence rat population density within cities have yet to be clearly identified. Additionally, there are no well described tools or methodologies for conducting an in-depth evaluation of the relationship between urban rat abundance and the environment. In this study, we developed a systematic environmental observation tool using methods borrowed from the field of systematic social observation. This tool, which employed a combination of quantitative and qualitative methodologies, was then used to identify environmental factors associated with the relative abundance of Norway rats (Rattus norvegicus) in an inner-City Neighborhood of Vancouver, Canada. Using a multivariate zero-inflated negative binomial model, we found that a variety of factors, including specific land use, building condition, and amount of refuse, were related to rat presence and abundance. Qualitative data largely supported and further clarified observed statistical relationships, but also identified conflicting and unique situations not easily captured through quantitative methods. Overall, the tool helped us to better understand the relationship between features of the urban environment and relative rat abundance within our study area and may useful for studying environmental determinants of zoonotic disease prevalence/distribution among urban rat populations in the future.
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the characteristics of wild rat rattus spp populations from an inner City Neighborhood with a focus on factors critical to the understanding of rat associated zoonoses
PLOS ONE, 2014Co-Authors: Chelsea G Himsworth, Claire M Jardine, Kirbee L Parsons, Alice Y T Feng, David M PatrickAbstract:Norway and black rats (Rattus norvegicus and Rattus rattus) are among the most ubiquitous urban wildlife species and are the source of a number of zoonotic diseases responsible for significant human morbidity and mortality in cities around the world. Rodent ecology is a primary determinant of the dynamics of zoonotic pathogens in rodent populations and the risk of pathogen transmission to people, yet many studies of rat-associated zoonoses do not account for the ecological characteristics of urban rat populations. This hinders the development of an in-depth understanding of the ecology of rat-associated zoonoses, limits comparability among studies, and can lead to erroneous conclusions. We conducted a year-long trapping-removal study to describe the ecological characteristics of urban rat populations in an inner-City Neighborhood of Vancouver, Canada. The study focused on factors that might influence the ecology of zoonotic pathogens in these populations and/or our understanding of that ecology. We found that rat population density varied remarkably over short geographical distances, which could explain observed spatial distributions of rat-associated zoonoses and have implications for sampling and data analysis during research and surveillance. Season appeared to influence rat population composition even within the urban environment, which could cause temporal variation in pathogen prevalence. Body mass and bite wounds, which are often used in epidemiologic analyses as simple proxies for age and aggression, were shown to be more complex than previously thought. Finally, we found that factors associated with trapping can determine the size and composition of sampled rat population, and thus influence inferences made about the source population. These findings may help guide future studies of rats and rat-associated zoonoses.
Thomas Kerr - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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a mixed methods approach to exploring the relationship between norway rat rattus norvegicus abundance and features of the urban environment in an inner City Neighborhood of vancouver canada
PLOS ONE, 2014Co-Authors: Chelsea G Himsworth, Claire M Jardine, Kirbee L Parsons, Alice Y T Feng, Thomas Kerr, David M PatrickAbstract:Urban rats (Rattus spp.) are among the most ubiquitous pest species in the world. Previous research has shown that rat abundance is largely determined by features of the environment; however, the specific urban environmental factors that influence rat population density within cities have yet to be clearly identified. Additionally, there are no well described tools or methodologies for conducting an in-depth evaluation of the relationship between urban rat abundance and the environment. In this study, we developed a systematic environmental observation tool using methods borrowed from the field of systematic social observation. This tool, which employed a combination of quantitative and qualitative methodologies, was then used to identify environmental factors associated with the relative abundance of Norway rats (Rattus norvegicus) in an inner-City Neighborhood of Vancouver, Canada. Using a multivariate zero-inflated negative binomial model, we found that a variety of factors, including specific land use, building condition, and amount of refuse, were related to rat presence and abundance. Qualitative data largely supported and further clarified observed statistical relationships, but also identified conflicting and unique situations not easily captured through quantitative methods. Overall, the tool helped us to better understand the relationship between features of the urban environment and relative rat abundance within our study area and may useful for studying environmental determinants of zoonotic disease prevalence/distribution among urban rat populations in the future.
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carriage of methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus by wild urban norway rats rattus norvegicus
PLOS ONE, 2014Co-Authors: Chelsea G Himsworth, Thomas Kerr, Ruth R Miller, Vincent Montoya, Linda Hoang, Marc G Romney, Ghada N Alrawahi, Claire M JardineAbstract:Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is an important cause of multi-drug-resistant infections in people, particularly indigent populations. MRSA can be transmitted between people and domestic animals, but the potential for transmission between people and commensal pests, particularly rodents, had not been investigated. The objective of this study was to identify the presence and characterize the ecology of MRSA in rats (Rattus spp.) from in an impoverished, inner-City Neighborhood. Oropharyngeal swabs were collected from rats trapped in 33 City blocks and one location within the adjacent port. Bacterial culture was performed and MRSA isolates were characterized using a variety of methods, including whole-genome sequencing (WGS). The ecology of MRSA in rats was described using phylogenetic analysis, geospatial analysis, and generalized linear mixed models. MRSA was identified 22 of 637 (3.5%) rats tested, although prevalence varied from 0 – 50% among blocks. Isolates belonged to 4 clusters according to WGS, with the largest cluster (n = 10) containing isolates that were genetically indistinguishable from community-acquired USA300 MRSA strains isolated from people within the study area. MRSA strains demonstrated both geographic clustering and dispersion. The odds of an individual rat carrying MRSA increased with increased body fat (OR = 2.53, 95% CI = 1.33 – 4.82), and in the winter (OR = 5.29, 95% CI = 1.04 – 26.85) and spring (OR = 5.50, 95% CI = 1.10 – 27.58) compared to the fall. The results show that urban rats carried the same MRSA lineages occurring in local human and/or animal populations, supporting recent transmission from external sources. MRSA carriage was influenced by season, most likely as a result of temporal variation in rat behavior and rat-human interactions.
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ecology of leptospira interrogans in norway rats rattus norvegicus in an inner City Neighborhood of vancouver canada
PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases, 2013Co-Authors: Chelsea G Himsworth, Claire M Jardine, Patrick Tang, Julie Bidulka, Kirbee L Parsons, Alice Y T Feng, Thomas Kerr, John Robinson, David M PatrickAbstract:Background Leptospira interrogans is a bacterial zoonosis with a worldwide distribution for which rats (Rattus spp.) are the primary reservoir in urban settings. In order to assess, monitor, and mitigate the risk to humans, it is important to understand the ecology of this pathogen in rats. The objective of this study was to characterize the ecology of L. interrogans in Norway rats (Rattus norvegicus) in an impoverished inner-City Neighborhood of Vancouver, Canada. Methodology/Principal Findings Trapping was performed in 43 City blocks, and one location within the adjacent port, over a 12 month period. Kidney samples were tested for the presence of L. interrogans using PCR and sequencing. A multivariable model was built to predict L. interrogans infection status in individual rats using season and morphometric data (e.g., weight, sex, maturity, condition, etc.) as independent variables. Spatial analysis was undertaken to identify clusters of high and low L. interrogans prevalence. The prevalence of L. interrogans varied remarkably among blocks (0–66.7%), and spatial clusters of both high and low L. interrogans prevalence were identified. In the final cluster-controlled model, characteristics associated with L. interrogans-infection in rats included weight (OR = 1.14, 95% CI = 1.07–1.20), increased internal fat (OR = 2.12, 95% CI = 1.06–4.25), and number of bite wounds (OR = 1.20, 95% CI = 0.96–1.49). Conclusions/Significance Because L. interrogans prevalence varied with weight, body fat, and bite wounds, this study suggests that social structure and interactions among rats may influence transmission. The prevalence and distribution of L. interrogans in rats was also highly variable even over a short geographic distance. These factors should be considered in future risk management efforts.
Patrick Tang - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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prevalence and characteristics of escherichia coli and salmonella spp in the feces of wild urban norway and black rats rattus norvegicus and rattus rattus from an inner City Neighborhood of vancouver canada
Journal of Wildlife Diseases, 2015Co-Authors: Chelsea G Himsworth, Erin Zabek, Andrea Desruisseau, Jane E Parmley, Richard J Reidsmith, Claire M Jardine, Patrick Tang, David M PatrickAbstract:Abstract Although rat feces are widely suspected to be a source of pathogenic bacteria, few investigators have studied fecal pathogens in rats. We investigated the prevalence and characteristics of Escherichia coli and Salmonella spp. in Norway and black rats (Rattus norvegicus and Rattus rattus, respectively) from an urban Neighborhood of Vancouver, Canada, collected September 2011–August 2012. Colon content was cultured for E. coli and Salmonella spp. and screened for the seven most-common enteropathogenic Shiga toxin–producing E. coli (STEC) serotypes by PCR. Isolates were tested for antimicrobial resistance and Salmonella isolates were serotyped. We detected E. coli in 397/633 (62.7%) urban rats. Forty-one of 397 (6.5%) E. coli isolates were resistant to ≥1 antimicrobial while 17 (4.3%) were multidrug resistant (including two isolates demonstrating extended-spectrum β-lactamase resistance). Ten of 633 (1.6%) urban rats were carrying STEC serotypes including O145, O103, O26, and O45. Norway rats were m...
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an investigation of bartonella spp rickettsia typhi and seoul hantavirus in rats rattus spp from an inner City Neighborhood of vancouver canada is pathogen presence a reflection of global and local rat population structure
Vector-borne and Zoonotic Diseases, 2015Co-Authors: Chelsea G Himsworth, Claire M Jardine, Patrick Tang, Julie Bidulka, Michael Kosoy, Heidi Wood, Antonia Dibernardo, Robbin Lindsay, David M PatrickAbstract:Abstract Urban Norway and black rats (Rattus norvegicus and Rattus rattus) are reservoirs for variety of zoonotic pathogens. Many of these pathogens, including Rickettsia typhi, Bartonella spp., and Seoul hantavirus (SEOV), are thought to be endemic in rat populations worldwide; however, past field research has found these organisms to be absent in certain rat populations. Rats (Rattus spp.) from an inner City Neighborhood of Vancouver, Canada, were tested for exposure to and/or infection with SEOV and R. typhi (using serology and PCR), as well as Bartonella spp. (using culture and sequencing). Approximately 25% of 404 rats tested were infected with Bartonella tribocorum, which demonstrated significant geographic clustering within the study area. Infection was associated with both season and sexual maturity. Seroreactivity against R. typhi and SEOV was observed in 0.36% and 1.45% of 553 rats tested, respectively, although PCR screening results for these pathogens were negative, suggesting that they are no...
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an investigation of bartonella spp rickettsia typhi and seoul hantavirus in rats rattus spp from an inner City Neighborhood of vancouver canada is pathogen presence a reflection of global and local rat population structure
Vector-borne and Zoonotic Diseases, 2015Co-Authors: Chelsea G Himsworth, Claire M Jardine, Patrick Tang, Julie Bidulka, Michael Kosoy, Heidi Wood, Antonia Dibernardo, Robbin Lindsay, Ying Bai, David M PatrickAbstract:Urban Norway and black rats (Rattus norvegicus and Rattus rattus) are reservoirs for variety of zoonotic pathogens. Many of these pathogens, including Rickettsia typhi, Bartonella spp., and Seoul hantavirus (SEOV), are thought to be endemic in rat populations worldwide; however, past field research has found these organisms to be absent in certain rat populations. Rats (Rattus spp.) from an inner City Neighborhood of Vancouver, Canada, were tested for exposure to and/or infection with SEOV and R. typhi (using serology and PCR), as well as Bartonella spp. (using culture and sequencing). Approximately 25% of 404 rats tested were infected with Bartonella tribocorum, which demonstrated significant geographic clustering within the study area. Infection was associated with both season and sexual maturity. Seroreactivity against R. typhi and SEOV was observed in 0.36% and 1.45% of 553 rats tested, respectively, although PCR screening results for these pathogens were negative, suggesting that they are not endemic in the study population. Overall, these results suggest that the geographic distribution of rat-associated zoonoses, including R. typhi, SEOV, and Bartonella spp., is less ubiquitous than previously appreciated, and is likely dependent on patterns of dispersion and establishment of the rat reservoir host. Further study on global and local Rattus spp. population structures may help to elucidate the ecology of zoonotic organisms in these species.
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ecology of leptospira interrogans in norway rats rattus norvegicus in an inner City Neighborhood of vancouver canada
PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases, 2013Co-Authors: Chelsea G Himsworth, Claire M Jardine, Patrick Tang, Julie Bidulka, Kirbee L Parsons, Alice Y T Feng, Thomas Kerr, John Robinson, David M PatrickAbstract:Background Leptospira interrogans is a bacterial zoonosis with a worldwide distribution for which rats (Rattus spp.) are the primary reservoir in urban settings. In order to assess, monitor, and mitigate the risk to humans, it is important to understand the ecology of this pathogen in rats. The objective of this study was to characterize the ecology of L. interrogans in Norway rats (Rattus norvegicus) in an impoverished inner-City Neighborhood of Vancouver, Canada. Methodology/Principal Findings Trapping was performed in 43 City blocks, and one location within the adjacent port, over a 12 month period. Kidney samples were tested for the presence of L. interrogans using PCR and sequencing. A multivariable model was built to predict L. interrogans infection status in individual rats using season and morphometric data (e.g., weight, sex, maturity, condition, etc.) as independent variables. Spatial analysis was undertaken to identify clusters of high and low L. interrogans prevalence. The prevalence of L. interrogans varied remarkably among blocks (0–66.7%), and spatial clusters of both high and low L. interrogans prevalence were identified. In the final cluster-controlled model, characteristics associated with L. interrogans-infection in rats included weight (OR = 1.14, 95% CI = 1.07–1.20), increased internal fat (OR = 2.12, 95% CI = 1.06–4.25), and number of bite wounds (OR = 1.20, 95% CI = 0.96–1.49). Conclusions/Significance Because L. interrogans prevalence varied with weight, body fat, and bite wounds, this study suggests that social structure and interactions among rats may influence transmission. The prevalence and distribution of L. interrogans in rats was also highly variable even over a short geographic distance. These factors should be considered in future risk management efforts.