DISSERTATION RESEARCH: Comparative phylogeography of Rattus rattus and Rattus norvegicus in the U.S. and dispersal potential of rat-bourne pathgens.

论文研究：美国家鼠和褐家鼠的系统发育地理学比较以及鼠源病原体的传播潜力。

• 批准号: 1110806
• 负责人: Ronald Van Den Bussche
• 金额: $ 1.16万
• 依托单位: Oklahoma State University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2011
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2011-04-01 至 2012-03-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1110806&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: DISSERTATION; RESEARCH; Comparative; phylogeography; Rattus

Rats are arguably the most destructive invasive species on the planet, carrying pathogens that have been responsible some of the most devastating epidemics in human history. Through their close relationship with humans, rats have spread to every continent and can reach high numbers in densely populated urban areas, making them effective vectors for the spread of infectious disease. Hepatitis E virus (HEV) infections have been detected at a high frequency in humans from urban areas in the US, but the transmission pathways traditionally thought to be responsible for HEV spread (oral-fecal transmission or swine-human contact) are not present. Invasive rats have been shown to have high HEV infection rates in the U.S. (40%) and are competent hosts of human HEV. In the proposed work, invasive rats collected from across the US will be examined for HEV infection to determine the infection rate and the rate with which rats are spreading HEV.This research has important public health implications. The mortality rate of HEV infection ranges from 1-4% in the general public, but is as high as 20% in pregnant women. In addition, HEV is the only hepatitis virus known to have animal reservoirs. Yet no study has examined invasive rats as reservoirs for spreading HEV to humans. This project will provide the first data concerning the spread of HEV by rats, providing valuable information to manage the spread of HEV infections. Additionally, several undergraduates, including Native American students, will assist in the research.

老鼠可以说是地球上最具破坏性的入侵物种，携带的病原体是人类历史上一些最具破坏性的流行病的罪魁祸首。通过它们与人类的密切关系，老鼠已经传播到每个大陆，并且可以在人口稠密的城市地区达到大量，使它们成为传染病传播的有效载体。戊型肝炎病毒（HEV）感染已在美国城市地区的人群中以高频率检测到，但传统上认为是HEV传播的传播途径（口粪传播或猪-人接触）并不存在。在美国，侵袭性大鼠已被证明具有高HEV感染率（40%），并且是人类HEV的主管宿主。在拟议的工作中，将检查从美国各地收集的侵入性大鼠的HEV感染情况，以确定感染率和大鼠传播HEV的速度。HEV感染的死亡率在一般公众中为1-4%，但在孕妇中高达20%。此外，戊型肝炎病毒是唯一已知的具有动物宿主的肝炎病毒。然而，还没有研究将侵入性大鼠作为将HEV传播给人类的宿主。该项目将提供有关大鼠传播戊型肝炎病毒的第一批数据，为管理戊型肝炎病毒感染的传播提供有价值的信息。此外，包括美洲原住民学生在内的几名本科生将协助这项研究。