dc.contributor.author |
Retief, Liezl
|
|
dc.contributor.author |
Bennett, Nigel Charles
|
|
dc.contributor.author |
Jarvis, Jennifer U.M.
|
|
dc.contributor.author |
Bastos, Armanda D.S.
|
|
dc.date.accessioned |
2018-10-09T10:06:09Z |
|
dc.date.issued |
2017-12 |
|
dc.description.abstract |
Global reports of emergent pathogens in humans have intensified efforts to identify wildlife reservoirs. Subterranean mammals, such as bathyergid mole rats, are largely overlooked, despite their high-level exposure to soil-dwelling microbes. Initial assessment of bathyergid reservoir potential was determined using a broad-range 16S rRNA PCR approach, which revealed an 83% PCR-positivity for the 234 bathyergid lung samples evaluated. The presence of the Bacillus cereus complex, a ubiquitous bacterial assemblage, containing pathogenic and zoonotic species, was confirmed through nucleotide sequencing, prior to group- and species-specific PCR sequencing. The latter allowed for enhanced placement and prevalence estimations of Bacillus in four bathyergid species sampled across a range of transformed landscapes in the Western Cape Province, South Africa. Two novel Bacillus strains (1 and 2) identified on the basis of the concatenated 16S rRNA-groEL-yeaC data set (2066 nucleotides in length), clustered with B. mycoides (ATCC 6462) and B. weihenstephanensis (WSBC 10204), within a well-supported monophyletic lineage. The levels of co-infection, evaluated with a groEL strain-specific assay, developed specifically for this purpose, were high (71%). The overall Bacillus presence of 17.95% (ranging from 0% for Georychus capensis to 45.35% for Bathyergus suillus) differed significantly between host species (χ2 = 69.643; df = 3; P < 0.05), being significantly higher in bathyergids sampled near an urban informal settlement (χ2 = 70.245; df = 3; P < 0.05). The results highlight the sentinel potential of soil-dwelling mammals for monitoring anthropogenically introduced, opportunistic pathogens and the threats they pose to vulnerable communities, particularly in the developing world. |
en_ZA |
dc.description.department |
Mammal Research Institute |
en_ZA |
dc.description.department |
Zoology and Entomology |
en_ZA |
dc.description.embargo |
2018-12-01 |
|
dc.description.librarian |
hj2018 |
en_ZA |
dc.description.sponsorship |
The Airports Company of South Africa (ACSA) and the National Research Foundation of South Africa for research support through individual (ADSB), chair (NCB) and facilities (No: UID78566) grants. |
en_ZA |
dc.description.uri |
http://link.springer.com/journal/10393 |
en_ZA |
dc.identifier.citation |
Retief, L., Bennett, N.C., Jarvis, J.U.M. et al. Subterranean Mammals: Reservoirs of Infection or Overlooked Sentinels of Anthropogenic Environmental Soiling? EcoHealth (2017) 14: 662-674. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10393-017-1281-6. |
en_ZA |
dc.identifier.issn |
1612-9202 (print) |
|
dc.identifier.issn |
1612-9210 (online) |
|
dc.identifier.other |
10.1007/s10393-017-1281-6 |
|
dc.identifier.uri |
http://hdl.handle.net/2263/66826 |
|
dc.language.iso |
en |
en_ZA |
dc.publisher |
Springer |
en_ZA |
dc.rights |
© 2017 EcoHealth Alliance. The original publication is available at : http://link.springer.comjournal/10393. |
en_ZA |
dc.subject |
Anthropogenic activities |
en_ZA |
dc.subject |
Bacillus cereus |
en_ZA |
dc.subject |
Bathyergids |
en_ZA |
dc.subject |
Developing countries |
en_ZA |
dc.subject |
Urban wildlife |
en_ZA |
dc.title |
Subterranean mammals : reservoirs of infection or over-looked sentinels of anthropogenic environmental soiling? |
en_ZA |
dc.type |
Postprint Article |
en_ZA |