In Vivo Imaging of Rodent Retina in Retinal Disease.

High-quality imaging of the retina is crucial to the diagnosis and monitoring of disease, as well as for evaluating the success of therapeutics in human patients and in preclinical animal models. Here, we describe the basic principles and methods for in vivo retinal imaging in rodents, including fundus imaging, fluorescein angiography, optical coherence tomography, fundus autofluorescence, and infrared imaging. After providing a concise overview of each method and detailing the retinal diseases and conditions that can be visualized through them, we will proceed to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each approach. These protocols will facilitate the acquisition of optimal images for subsequent quantification and analysis. Additionally, a brief explanation will be given regarding the potential results and the clinical significance of the detected abnormalities.

Airway Serous Cells: A Comparative Study of Spatial Distribution and Abundance among Species.

The conducting airways of the respiratory system play a crucial role in filtering, humidifying, and directing air into the lungs. Among the specialized cell types within these airways, airway serous cells are notable for their secretion of watery, protein-rich fluids and enzymes, which contribute to maintaining airway surface liquid homeostasis and defending against pathogens. However, the distribution and abundance of serous cells across different species in the conducting airways remain poorly understood. In this study, we addressed this gap by investigating the spatial distribution of the airway serous cell-specific marker BPI fold containing family A member 1 (BPIFA1) in humans, pigs, and mice. Our findings demonstrate significant variations in the distribution and abundance of serous cells among these species, potentially reflecting their different respiratory anatomy and evolutionary adaptations to diverse environmental challenges and respiratory demands. In humans and pigs, airway serous cells are predominantly found in the submucosal glands of the trachea and segmental bronchi, frequently overlapping with lysozyme-positive secretory cells. In contrast, rodents like mice exhibit a distinct pattern where serous cells are scarce in submucosal glands. Instead, rodent serous cells are primarily located at the epithelial surface from the trachea to the main bronchi, where many co-express the Club cell-specific protein SCGB1A1. The abundance of serous cells diminishes progressively in the intrapulmonary airways. Given that rodent models are widely utilized in respiratory research, understanding anatomical and cellular differences in airway serous cells is critical for interpreting experimental outcomes and translating findings to human respiratory diseases and therapeutic strategies. This comparative analysis enhances our understanding of airway biology across species and informs the selection and interpretation of animal models in respiratory studies.

SARS-CoV-2 and Other Coronaviruses in Rats, Berlin, Germany, 2023.

We tested 130 rats captured in Berlin for coronaviruses. SARS-CoV-2 antibodies were detected in 1 rat, but all animals were negative by reverse transcription PCR, suggesting SARS-CoV-2 was not circulating in the rat population. However, alphacoronaviruses were found. Monitoring rodent populations helps to determine coronavirus occurrence, transmission, and zoonotic potential.

Bold rats (Niviventer confucianus) are more effective in seed dispersal: evidence both under enclosure conditions and in the field.

Rodents are important seed dispersers of plants because they move seeds far away from the parent trees and hoard seeds in the soil, benefiting seed dispersal and regeneration. Traits of plant seeds and animals are associated with rodent-mediated seed dispersal, but animal personality, the consistent individual behavioral differences in time and environments, has not been fully considered. Here, we first measured the personality of 26 Niviventer confucianus in the laboratory, and 10 individuals in the field of one population, and then tested their behavior of seed consumption and hoarding both in semi-natural enclosures and the field. We tested the hypothesis that individuals with different personalities have different preferences for seed consumption and hoarding, which has different implications for seed dispersal and regeneration. Under the enclosure conditions, all parameters of personality are repeatable; bold individuals harvested fewer seeds but scatter-hoarded more seeds and dispersed farther than timid ones, whereas active individuals consumed more seeds, but left fewer seeds on the ground surface than inactive ones. In the field, boldness, activity, and exploration of the animals are repeatable; bold individuals scatter-hoarded more seeds to farther distances than timid ones, whereas active individuals harvested and consumed more seeds than inactive ones. These results suggest that bold rats tended to scatter hoard seeds and disperse them to a longer distance, implying they are more effective in seed dispersal. In the future, animal personality (e.g. boldness and activity) should be considered in seed dispersal studies and ecological-based manipulation in seed dispersal and regeneration of forests.

Does the Colonizing Population Exhibit a Reduced Genetic Diversity and Allele Surfing? A Case Study of the Midday Gerbil (Meriones meridianus Pallas) Expanding Its Range.

Colonizing populations at the leading edge of range expansion are expected to have a reduced genetic diversity and strong genetic structure caused by genetic drift and allele surfing. Until now, few studies have found the genetic signatures of allele surfing in expanding wild populations. Using mtDNA markers, we studied the genetic structure of the population of midday gerbils (Meriones meridianus) expanding their range to the west in Kalmykia (southern Russia) following the new cycle of desertification, re-colonizing areas abandoned in the mid-2010s. In the colonizing population, we found a reduced genetic diversity, the redistribution of haplotype frequencies-in particular, in favor of variants rare in the core population-and strong genetic structure combined with strong differentiation from the core population-patterns suggestive of allele surfing on the wave of expansion. In terms of genetic diversity and spatial structuration, the western edge population sampled in 2008 before its collapse in 2017 occupies the intermediate position between the current colonizing and core population. This suggests that reduced genetic diversity and increased genetic differentiation are general features of marginal populations, enhanced by the founder and allele-surfing effects at the leading edges of expanding ranges.

Dynamics of Acute Infection with Mammarenavirus Wenzhouense in Rattus norvegicus.

While Mammarenavirus Wenzhouense (WENV) is broadly distributed across Asia, the dynamics of WENV infection remain unclear. In this study, a field-derived strain of WENV was used to inoculate Sprague Dawley (SD) rats by intramuscular injection, and the process of viral infection was observed over the course of 28 d. Viral RNA became detectable in the blood at 3 dpi and remained detectable for about 12 d. In most organ tissues, viral RNA peaked at 7 dpi, and then began to decline by 14 d, but remained detectable in intestine and brain tissues at 21 and 28 dpi. Viral shedding was detected from fecal samples for 5 d, from 6 to 11 dpi using qRT-PCR, and was recovered from feces collected at 8 dpi. Horizontal contact infection occurred among cage-mates at 14 and 21 dpi. Antibodies against the nucleocapsid were detected at 5 dpi, and then increased and persisted until the end of the experiment. These results enabled us to determine the kinetics of viremic response, viral shedding in feces, and horizontal transmission dynamics, as well as the potential sites for WENV replication and viral maintenance in nature.

Whole Plant Extracts for Neurocognitive Disorders: A Narrative Review of Neuropsychological and Preclinical Studies.

The incidence of neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer's or Parkinson's Disease, characterized by a progressive cognitive decline, is rising worldwide. Despite the considerable efforts to unveil the neuropsychological bases of these diseases, there is still an unmet medical need for effective therapies against cognitive deficits. In recent years, increasing laboratory evidence indicates the potential of phytotherapy as an integrative aid to improve cognitive functions. In this review, we describe the data of plant whole extracts or single compounds' efficacy on validated preclinical models and neuropsychological tests, aiming to correlate brain mechanisms underlying rodent behavioral responses to human findings. After a search of the literature, the overview was limited to the following plants: Dioscorea batatas, Ginkgo biloba, Melissa officinalis, Nigella sativa, Olea europaea, Panax ginseng, Punica granatum, and Vitis vinifera. Results showed significant improvements in different cognitive functions, such as learning and memory or visuospatial abilities, in both humans and rodents. However, despite promising laboratory evidence, clinical translation has been dampened by a limited pharmacological characterization of the single bioactive components of the herbal products. Depicting the contribution of the single phytochemicals to the phytocomplex's pharmacological efficacy could enable the comprehension of their potential synergistic activity, leading to phytotherapy inclusion in the existing therapeutic package against cognitive decline.

Fur microbiome as a putative source of symbiotic bacteria in sucking lice.

Symbiosis between insects and bacteria has been established countless times. While it is well known that the symbionts originated from a variety of different bacterial taxa, it is usually difficult to determine their environmental source and a route of their acquisition by the host. In this study, we address this question using a model of Neisseriaceae symbionts in rodent lice. These bacteria established their symbiosis independently with different louse taxa (Polyplax, Hoplopleura, Neohaematopinus), most likely from the same environmental source. We first applied amplicon analysis to screen for candidate source bacterium in the louse environment. Since lice are permanent ectoparasites, often specific to the particular host, we screened various microbiomes associated with three rodent species (Microtus arvalis, Clethrionomys glareolus, and Apodemus flavicollis). The analyzed samples included fur, skin, spleen, and other ectoparasites sampled from these rodents. The fur microbiome data revealed a Neisseriaceae bacterium, closely related to the known louse symbionts. The draft genomes of the environmental Neisseriaceae, assembled from all three rodent hosts, converged to a remarkably small size of approximately 1.4 Mbp, being even smaller than the genomes of the related symbionts. Our results suggest that the rodent fur microbiome can serve as a source for independent establishment of bacterial symbiosis in associated louse species. We further propose a hypothetical scenario of the genome evolution during the transition of a free-living bacterium to the member of the rodent fur-associated microbiome and subsequently to the facultative and obligate louse symbionts.

Production of recombinant cytokines and polyclonal antibodies for analysis of cellular immune response in golden Syrian hamster.

BACKGROUND: The development of therapies and vaccines for various diseases often necessitates the analysis of cellular immunity. However, unlike other rodents, the limited availability of reagents for Syrian hamsters restricts immunological analysis, particularly in the determination of serum effector molecules such as cytokines. In this study, we aim to produce and characterize the cytokines IFN-γ, TGF-ß, IL-6, IL-10, and TNF-α from Syrian hamsters in recombinant form and to generate polyclonal antibodies against them in rats. METHODS AND RESULTS: Cytokine transcript sequences were cloned into expression vectors in E. coli. Recombinant proteins were produced, purified through affinity chromatography, and characterized by Western blot using an anti-6xHis monoclonal antibody. Rats were immunized with the recombinant proteins to generate polyclonal antibodies (pAbs). These pAbs were characterized by Western blot and titrated by indirect ELISA. The recombinant cytokines rTNF-α, rIL-10, rIFN-γ, rTGF-ß, and rIL-6 were produced and specifically recognized at their expected molecular weights of 22.3 kDa, 19.8 kDa, 18.9 kDa, 11.8 kDa, and 22.9 kDa. pAbs were produced and demonstrated the ability to specifically recognize their target proteins with titers of 409,600 (rIL-10), 204,800 (rTNF-α), 102,400 (rIL-10), 51,200 (rTGF-ß), and 25,600 (rIFN-É£). CONCLUSIONS: The reagents produced represent a starting point for developing immunoassays to detect hamster cytokines, facilitating the analysis of cellular immunity in this biomodel.

A single intraarticular injection of a tranexamic acid-modified hyaluronic acid (HA/TXA) alleviates pain and reduces OA development in a murine model of monosodium iodoacetate-induced osteoarthritis.

Rationale: Tranexamic acid (TXA) is a strong and specific plasminogen activator inhibitor with inhibitory effects on the matrix metalloproteases involved in the pathophysiology of osteoarthritis (OA) through targeting of the fibrinolysis pathway. In this study, we evaluated the analgesic and chondroprotective effects of a HA-tranexamic acid (HA/TXA) conjugate, compared to HA alone and placebo, in an animal model of knee OA. Methods: Knee OA was induced in 15 C57 b l/6J mice by IA injection of 0.75 mg of Monosodium IodoAcetate (MIA). At day 28, the mice received 1 IA injection of 10 µL of saline (control-group), or of HA or of HA/TXA. Tactile sensitivity was assessed using von Frey filaments. Stimulations started at 1 g and increased until a response was obtained (up to 4 g). A response to the stimulus was counted if the animal withdrew its paw. If the animal responded to the 1 g stimulation, stimulation was reduced until the lack of response was observed (up to 0.2 g). At day 56, mice were euthanized for knee histological assessment. Cartilage degradation was assessed using the OARSI score. Statistical analysis was performed on GraphPad Prism 8.0.2 software. Kruskal-Wallis or Mann-Whitney tests were performed as appropriate. Results: Just before treatment administration, no intergroup difference in paw withdrawal threshold was observed. Throughout the experiment animals given saline and HA had a lower paw withdrawal threshold than those treated with HA/TXA (p < 0.01). In the control group OARSI score was 5.5 ± 0.6. In HA and HA + TXA treated mice the OARSI score was 3.2 ± 0.8 and 3.1 ± 0.5 (p < 0.01) showing that both treatments were able to reduce OA progression. Conclusion: In this animal model of MIA induced KOA, a single IA injection of a HA/TXA conjugate resulted in a greater efficacy on pain than both saline and HA. HA and HA/TXA exhibited chondroprotective effects compared to placebo.

Dynamic movement patterns of commensal rodents Mastomys natalensis and Rattus rattus: determining differential habitat use using Rhodamine B.

BACKGROUND: Understanding movement patterns of rodent pests is essential for planning management strategies. Currently, for many rural village contexts, there is limited information on how rodents move between domestic and peridomestic areas, and the surrounding habitats. We investigated movement of the multimammate rat, Mastomys natalensis and the black rat, Rattus rattus in nine villages in Kilombero District, Tanzania. We used Rhodamine B (RhB) baits placed inside houses (R. rattus preferred habitat) in five villages and placed outside (M. natalensis preferred habitat) in four villages. RESULTS: Whilst both species were rarely captured in their nonpreferred habitat (5% M. natalensis inside houses; 23% R. rattus outside houses), evidence of RhB consumption when bait was in nonpreferred habitat was high for both species (50% M. natalensis; 57% R. rattus), indicating frequent movement to nonpreferred habitats. Whilst R. rattus movement distances were consistent with previous studies (maximum 81 m), within our village context, M. natalensis moved further (maximum 132 m) compared to previous published studies. Although bait consumption rates varied seasonally, we found no evidence that utilization of nonpreferred habitat varied seasonally. M. natalensis females moved into houses more frequently than males, whilst immature R. rattus moved outside houses more than mature individuals. CONCLUSION: These findings highlight the dynamic movement patterns of commensal rodents with implications for control and disease transmission. © 2024 The Author(s). Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

No evidence of mutations associated with anticoagulant resistance in gene Vkorc1 in brown and black rats from Barcelona.

Synanthropic rodents such as the brown rat (Rattus norvegicus) and black rat (Rattus rattus) are a source of disturbance in urban areas and the focus of control programs. Control measures often rely on anticoagulant rodenticides, but their broad use is compromised by the emergence of resistance. Here we studied the prevalence of anticoagulant resistance genotypes in the Vkorc1 gene in rats in the metropolitan area of Barcelona. In this area, part of the management practices to control brown rats include anticoagulant rodenticide use, but rodenticides with different active ingredients are used in rotation. Brown rats were sampled from the sewage system during two periods: from December 2016 to November 2017 when difenacoum and brodifacoum were used, and from August 2021 to July 2022 when bromadiolone was used. Because black rats have just recently been detected in Barcelona, we only studied them during the latter sampling period, with samples obtained from a control action carried out in a green urban area. Exon 3 of the Vkorc1 gene was characterized in both species, while exon 1 was additionally analyzed in black rats. Synonymous mutations, not resulting in amino-acid changes, were found in both exons, indicating no evidence of anticoagulant resistance in the rats of Barcelona. This finding indicates that the current rodent management plan in Barcelona, which involves anticoagulant rotation for brown rats and the use of life capture traps in specific situations for black rats, has helped to prevent the emergence of resistance to anticoagulant rodenticides in rats in Barcelona. Future actions should aim to diversify the control measures included in the rodent management plan.

Inhibition of influenza virus infection in mice by pulmonary administration of a spray dried antiviral.

Increasing resistance to antiviral drugs approved for the treatment of influenza urges the development of novel compounds. Ideally, this should be complemented by a careful consideration of the administration route. 6'siallyllactosamine-functionalized ß-cyclodextrin (CD-6'SLN) is a novel entry inhibitor that acts as a mimic of the primary attachment receptor of influenza, sialic acid. In this study, we aimed to develop a dry powder formulation of CD-6'SLN to assess its in vivo antiviral activity after administration via the pulmonary route. By means of spray drying the compound together with trileucine, a dispersion enhancer, we created a powder that retained the antiviral effect of the drug, remained stable under elevated temperature conditions and performed well in a dry powder inhaler. To test the efficacy of the dry powder drug against influenza infection in vivo, infected mice were treated with CD-6'SLN using an aerosol generator that allowed for the controlled administration of powder formulations to the lungs of mice. CD-6'SLN was effective in mitigating the course of the disease compared to the control groups, reflected by lower disease activity scores and by the prevention of virus-induced IL-6 production. Our data show that CD-6'SLN can be formulated as a stable dry powder that is suitable for use in a dry powder inhaler and is effective when administered via the pulmonary route to influenza-infected mice.

Postnatally overfed mice display cardiac function alteration following myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular (CV) pathologies remain a leading cause of death worldwide, often associated with common comorbidities such as overweight, obesity, type 2 diabetes or hypertension. An innovative mouse model of metabolic syndrome induced by postnatal overfeeding (PNOF) through litter size reduction after birth was developed experimentally. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of PNOF on cardiac remodelling and the development of heart failure following myocardial infarction. METHODS: C57BL/6 male mice were raised in litter adjusted to 9 or 3 pups for normally-fed (NF) control and PNOF group respectively. After weaning, all mice had free access to standard diet and water. At 4 months, mice were subjected to myocardial infarction (MI). Echocardiographic follows-up were performed up to 6-months post-surgery and biomolecular analyses were carried-out after heart collection. FINDINGS: At 4 months, PNOF mice exhibited a significant increase in body weight, along with a basal reduction in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and an increase in left ventricular end-systolic area (LVESA), compared to NF mice. Following MI, PNOF mice demonstrated a significant decrease in stroke volume and an increased heart rate compared to their respective initial values, as well as a notable reduction in cardiac output 4-months after MI. After 6-months, left ventricle and lung masses, fibrosis staining, and mRNA expression were all similar in the NF-MI and PNOF-MI groups. INTERPRETATION: After MI, PNOF mice display signs of cardiac function worsening as evidenced by a decrease in cardiac output, which could indicate an early sign of heart failure decompensation.

Deciphering the role of rodents in grassland degradation; A review.

Grasslands are vital ecosystems that play a crucial role in providing numerous services to both humans and the environment. Healthy grasslands are characterized by diverse vegetation, efficient soil, and abundant microbial communities, which enable them to function effectively. However, these ecosystems are at risk of degradation due to various factors, such as overgrazing, land conversion for agriculture, climate change, and rodent activities. Rodents, in particular, are known to have a significant impact on grassland ecosystems. Moderate and low rodent density can be beneficial for grassland dynamics by acting as ecological engineers, and playing a role in the food chain, while heavy rodent density and outbreaks can have detrimental effects. The rodent's activities are associated with and influenced by other driving factors of grassland degradation. Depending on their density and habitat, rodents can have either beneficial or detrimental effects on the dynamics of grasslands by altering the microbial communities, edaphic factors, and vegetation. This review focuses on rodent activities as one of the potential drivers of grassland degradation on vegetation, soil physicochemical dynamics, and microbial communities. This work also deciphers the interplay between rodent activities and other driving factors of grassland degradation. It also discusses potential strategies for mitigating the impact of rodent disturbance on degraded grasslands. Additionally, suggestions for future research directions are provided to explore the role of rodent activities in shaping the structure and functions of grassland ecosystems. The exact influence of rodent activities on grasslands is still not fully understood, and further manipulative research is needed to determine its impact on grassland dynamics.

Pharmacokinetic and Preclinical Safety Studies of Endolysin-Based Therapeutic for Intravenous Administration.

Pharmacokinetics and safety studies of innovative drugs is an essential part of drug development process. Previously we have developed novel drug for intravenous administration (lyophilizate) containing modified endolysin LysECD7-SMAP that showed notable antibacterial effect in different animal models of systemic infections. Here we present data on pharmacokinetics of endolysin in mice after single and multiple injections. Time-concentration curves were obtained, pharmacokinetic parameters for preparation (C0, kel t1/2, AUC0-∞, MRT, ClT, Vss) were calculated. It was shown that although endolysin is rather short-living in blood serum (t1/2 = 12.5 min) the therapeutic concentrations of LysECD7-SMAP (in degraded and non-degraded form) were detected for 60 min after injection that is sufficient for antibacterial effect. Based on the obtained data, it was proposed that endolysin distributes presumably in murine blood, degrades in blood and liver, and is eliminated via glomerular filtration. Safety profile of the preparation relating to general toxicity, immunotoxicity and allergenicity was assessed in rodents. It was demonstrated that LysECD7-SMAP in potential therapeutic (12.5 mg/kg), 10-fold (125 mg/kg) and 40-fold (500 mg/kg) doses showed no signs of intoxication and significant abnormalities after single and repeated i.v. administrations, preparation was non-immunogenic and induced minor and reversible allergic reaction in animal.

Investigating cryopreservation techniques for maintaining morphology and in vitro viability of cartilage and skin from Spix's yellow-toothed cavies (Galea spixii Wagler, 1831) for conservation through biobanks.

Conservation of the genetic diversity through skin and cartilage biobanks represents an essential strategy for maintaining biodiversity. Biobanks for the wild species of the order Rodentia have been little studied. Considering that the cryopreservation technique has specific relationships with the tissue and species of interest, we propose investigating different techniques for preserving tissue integrity and cell viability after cartilage and skin culture from Spix's yellow-toothed cavies. Subsequently, two techniques [solid-surface vitrification (SSV) vs. slow freezing (SF)] were used for cartilage and skin cryopreservation. Tissues not subjected to cryopreservation were used as controls. All tissues were evaluated for morphology and proliferation by histological techniques. Moreover, fragments were cultured, and cells were evaluated for viability, proliferation, metabolism, and apoptosis. Regardless of the cryopreservation technique, no differences were observed for the thickness of the epidermis, dermis, skin, spinous and basal layers, fibroblasts, and proliferative activity regarding the number of nucleolar organizer regions (NOR). SSV ensured better maintenance of epidermal cells, normal chondrocytes, filled gaps, collagen fibers, proliferative activity by NOR area/cell, and reduced perinuclear halos and empty gaps compared to SF. SF ensured the conservation of corneum thickness compared to the control. Although both techniques promoted cell recovery after culture, cells from SF resulted in better subconfluence time and day with cell growth around fragments compared to SSV. In conclusion, both cryopreservation techniques resulted in viable cells after culture. However, SSV promoted better maintenance of tissue morphological integrity, and SF ensured the preservation of all cell quality parameters in Spix's yellow-toothed cavies.

On the basis of sex and sleep: the influence of the estrous cycle and sex on sleep-wake behavior.

The recurrent hormonal fluctuations within reproductive cycles impact sleep-wake behavior in women and in rats and mice used in preclinical models of sleep research. Strides have been made in sleep-related clinical trials to include equal numbers of women; however, the inclusion of female rodents in neuroscience and sleep research is lacking. Female animals are commonly omitted from studies over concerns of the effect of estrus cycle hormones on measured outcomes. This review highlights the estrous cycle's broad effects on sleep-wake behavior: from changes in sleep macroarchitecture to regionally specific alterations in neural oscillations. These changes are largely driven by cycle-dependent ovarian hormonal fluctuations occurring during proestrus and estrus that modulate neural circuits regulating sleep-wake behavior. Removal of estrous cycle influence by ovariectomy ablates characteristic sleep changes. Further, sex differences in sleep are present between gonadally intact females and males. Removal of reproductive hormones via gonadectomy in both sexes mitigates some, but not all sex differences. We examine the extent to which reproductive hormones and sex chromosomes contribute to sex differences in sleep-wake behavior. Finally, this review addresses the limitations in our understanding of the estrous cycle's impact on sleep-wake behavior, gaps in female sleep research that are well studied in males, and the implications that ignoring the estrous cycle has on studies of sleep-related processes.

Wild rodents in three provinces of China exhibit a wide range of Enterocytozoon bieneusi diversity.

Introduction: Enterocytozoon bieneusi is one of the most important zoonotic pathogens, responsible for nearly 90% of human infections. Its host spectrum is broad in China, encompassing humans, non-human primates, domestic animals, wildlife, and wastewater. Wild rodents have the potential to act as carriers of E. bieneusi, facilitating the parasite's transmission to humans and domestic animals. Methods: The present study involved the collection of 344 wild rodents, representing nine species, from three provinces in China. The prevalence and genotypes of E. bieneusi were determined through amplification of the ITS gene. Evolutionary analysis was conducted using Mega 5.0 with the neighbor-joining method (Kimura 2-parameter model, 1,000 replicates). Results: Among the sampled wild rodents, 41 (11.92%) were tested positive for E. bieneusi. Rattus flavipectus exhibited the highest prevalence (11/39), while Bandicota indica and Rattus rattus sladeni showed no infections (0/39 and 0/5, respectively), highlighting significant differences. Environmental factors strongly influenced E. bieneusi infection; rodents residing in lake beaches (10.27%, 15/146) and fields (19.95%, 18/95) were more susceptible compared to those in mountainous areas (7.77%, 8/103). The study identified four known genotypes (D, Type IV, SDD5, PigEBITS7) and five novel genotypes (HNRV-1 to HNRV-3, GXRL-1, GXRL-2) in the investigated wild rodents, with Genotype D exhibiting the highest prevalence. Discussion: Remarkably, this study reports the presence of E. bieneusi, R. flavipectus, M. fortis, A. agrarius, R. losea, and N. lotipes for the first time. These findings underscore the common occurrence of E. bieneusi infection in wild rodents in China, highlighting its diverse nature and significant potential for zoonotic transmission. Hence, it is imperative to conduct a comprehensive epidemiological investigation of rodent infection with E. bieneusi, particularly focusing on wild rodents that are closely associated with humans. Additionally, developing appropriate measures and monitoring strategies to minimize the risk of infection is essential.

Molecular detection of some zoonotic tick-borne pathogens in ticks collected from camels (Camelus dromedarius) as hosts and wild rodents as potential reservoirs.

Ticks and tick-borne pathogens pose a great threat to human and animal health. The present study aimed to determine the prevalence of ticks that infest camels and investigate the presence of tick-borne pathogens in the blood of camels, associated ticks, and surrounding rodents as reservoirs. From 100 inspected camels, from different localities in the Giza governorate, 1000 ixodid ticks were collected; these ticks belonged to three genera: Hyalomma, Amblyomma, and Rhipicephalus. The genus Hyalomma was represented by four species, Hyalomma dromedarii was the most prevalent species (55.4%), followed by Hyalomma excavatum (22%), Hyalomma impeltatum (11.6%) and Hyalomma rufipes (2.8%). The genus Amblyomma was represented by two species, Amblyomma gemma (2.8%) and Amblyomma marmoreum (2.7%), while the genus Rhipicephalus was represented by only one species, Rhipicephalus pulchellus (2.7%). Ticks, camel blood, and rodents (total number 100 brown rats) are screened for tick-borne pathogens (Borrelia burgdorferi, Borrelia miyamotoi, Babesia sp., and Coxiella burnetii) using PCR. Camel blood was found to be infected with Borrelia burgdorferi (66.6%), Borrelia miyamotoi (55%), and Babesia sp. (11.6%). Coxiella burnetii DNA was detected in all the collected ticks but was not detected in the blood of camels or rodents. Borrelia miyamotoi was detected in 12.5% of H. impeltatum, 55% of Camels, and 6% of the rodents, which may indicate a proposed risk of dispersal of B. miyamotoi, the agent of tick-borne relapsing fever.