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

老鼠可以说是地球上最具破坏性的入侵物种，它们携带的病原体导致了人类历史上一些最具破坏性的流行病。通过与人类的密切关系，老鼠已经传播到每个大陆，在人口稠密的城市地区可以达到很高的数量，使它们成为传播传染病的有效媒介。在美国城市地区的人类中，戊型肝炎病毒(HEV)感染的频率很高，但传统上认为导致HEV传播的传播途径(口腔-粪便传播或猪-人接触)并不存在。侵袭性大鼠在美国有很高的HEV感染率(40%)，并且是人类HEV的合格宿主。在这项拟议的工作中，将对从美国各地收集的入侵老鼠进行HEV感染检查，以确定感染率和老鼠传播HEV的速度。这项研究具有重要的公共卫生影响。在一般公众中，HEV感染的死亡率为1-4%，但在孕妇中死亡率高达20%。此外，HEV是已知的唯一具有动物宿主的肝炎病毒。然而，还没有研究将入侵的老鼠作为HEV传播给人类的蓄水池。该项目将提供有关HEV通过老鼠传播的第一批数据，为控制HEV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。

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.