Small mammals are important reservoirs for zoonotic pathogens that cause significant morbidity in humans. Of these, tularemia and hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) are among of the most widespread zoonotic diseases worldwide. Despite the fact that both pathogens have great epidemiological significance in Russia, epizootological data for urbanized areas are still scarce. This study was conducted to investigate the occurrence and prevalence of tularemia and hantaviruses in small mammals living in close proximity to humans. Altogether, 425 small mammals (278 from urban environment and 147 from natural environment) representing nine species (Myodes glareolus, Microtus arvalis, Cricetus cricetus, Apodemus flavicollis, Apodemus agrarius, Apodemus uralensis, Mus musculus, Sorex araneus and Neomys fodiens) were captured in the Russian Republic of Mordovia and screened for pathogens using different serological and bacteriological methods. Red bank vole (M. glareolus) and yellow-necked wood mouse (A. flavicollis) are among species in the forest zone of the city of Saransk and are the source of a number of zoonotic diseases. In the non-urban environment, the main role as carriers of zoonotic diseases was played by house (M. musculus) and striped field (A. agrarius) mice. A total of 23 % of the small mammals sampled in Saransk were positive for tularemia, whereas 9.7 % were positive for HFRS. Furthermore, dual infections with both tularemia and hantaviruses were shown in 1.4 % of animals, suggesting that the same small mammal host can be infected with several pathogens at the same time, therefore representing a serious threat to public health. Small mammal ecology is a primary determinant of zoonotic pathogens dynamics in rodent populations and the risk of pathogen transmission to people.
Maydanov, M., Andreychev, A., Boyarova, E., Kuznetsov, V., & Ilykaeva, E. SMALL MAMMALS AS RESERVOIRS OF TULAREMIA AND HFRS IN THE FOREST ZONE OF SARANSK. Forestry Ideas. 2021. V. 27. № 1. P. 128–135