Rodents are important reservoirs for zoonotic pathogens that cause diseases in humans.Biodiversity is hypoth-esized to be closely related to pathogen prevalence through multiple direct and indirect pathways.For exampl...Rodents are important reservoirs for zoonotic pathogens that cause diseases in humans.Biodiversity is hypoth-esized to be closely related to pathogen prevalence through multiple direct and indirect pathways.For example,the presence of non-host species can reduce contact rates of the main reservoir host and thus reduce the risk of transmission(“dilution effect”).In addition,an overlap in ecological niches between two species could lead to increased interspecific competition,potentially limiting host densities and reducing density-dependent pathogen transmission processes.In this study,we investigated the relative impact of population-level regulation of direct and indirect drivers of the prevalence of Puumala orthohantavirus(PUUV)in bank voles(Clethrionomys glareolus)during years with high abundance.We compiled data on small mammal community composition from four regions in Germany between 2010 and 2013.Structural equation modeling revealed a strong seasonality in PUUV control mechanisms in bank voles.The abundance of shrews tended to have a negative relationship with host abundance,and host abundance positively influenced PUUV seroprevalence,while at the same time increasing the abundance of competing non-hosts like the wood mouse(Apodemus sylvaticus)and the yellow-neckedfield mouse(Apodemusflavicollis)were associated with reduced PUUV seroprevalence in the host.These results indicate that for PUUV in bank voles,dilution is associated with increased interspecific competition.Anthropogenic pressures leading to the decline of Apodemus spp.in a specific habitat could lead to the amplification of mechanisms promoting PUUV transmission within the host populations.展开更多
基金This study was commissioned and funded by the Federal Environ-ment Agency(UBA)within the Environment Research Plan of the German Federal Ministry for the Environ-ment,Nature Conservation,Building and Nuclear Safety(BMUB)(Grant numbers 370941401 and 371348401 to J.J.)The work was supported by the Federal Min-istry of Education and Research(BMBF)through the National Research Platform for Zoonoses(Network“Rodent-borne pathogens”project numbers 01KI1018 and 01KI1303 to R.G.U.)。
文摘Rodents are important reservoirs for zoonotic pathogens that cause diseases in humans.Biodiversity is hypoth-esized to be closely related to pathogen prevalence through multiple direct and indirect pathways.For example,the presence of non-host species can reduce contact rates of the main reservoir host and thus reduce the risk of transmission(“dilution effect”).In addition,an overlap in ecological niches between two species could lead to increased interspecific competition,potentially limiting host densities and reducing density-dependent pathogen transmission processes.In this study,we investigated the relative impact of population-level regulation of direct and indirect drivers of the prevalence of Puumala orthohantavirus(PUUV)in bank voles(Clethrionomys glareolus)during years with high abundance.We compiled data on small mammal community composition from four regions in Germany between 2010 and 2013.Structural equation modeling revealed a strong seasonality in PUUV control mechanisms in bank voles.The abundance of shrews tended to have a negative relationship with host abundance,and host abundance positively influenced PUUV seroprevalence,while at the same time increasing the abundance of competing non-hosts like the wood mouse(Apodemus sylvaticus)and the yellow-neckedfield mouse(Apodemusflavicollis)were associated with reduced PUUV seroprevalence in the host.These results indicate that for PUUV in bank voles,dilution is associated with increased interspecific competition.Anthropogenic pressures leading to the decline of Apodemus spp.in a specific habitat could lead to the amplification of mechanisms promoting PUUV transmission within the host populations.
