Displaying publications 21 - 40 of 98 in total

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  1. Khoo JJ, Ishak SN, Lim FS, Mohd-Taib FS, Khor CS, Loong SK, et al.
    J Med Entomol, 2018 10 25;55(6):1642-1647.
    PMID: 30137379 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjy122
    The Borrelia genus consists of spirochete bacteria known to cause Lyme disease (LD) and relapsing fever in humans. Borrelia pathogens are commonly transmitted via arthropod vectors such as ticks, mites, or lice. Here, we report the molecular screening of LD group Borrelia sp. from ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) collected from rodents trapped in recreational forests and a semiurban residential area in the Selangor state in Malaysia. Of 156 adult ticks surveyed, 72 ticks were determined as positive for Borrelia sp. by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). All Borrelia PCR-positive ticks belonged to the Ixodes granulatus Supino species. Borrelia sp. was not detected in other tick species examined, including Dermacentor sp. and Amblyomma sp. ticks. Thirteen Borrelia PCR-positive tick samples were selected for further sequence analyses. Phylogenetic analyses of partial flaB gene sequences revealed that the Borrelia sp. were closely related to the LD group borreliae, Borrelia yangtzensis; a novel Borrelia genospecies reported in East Asian countries including Japan, Taiwan, and China. To our knowledge, this is the first report of Borrelia sp. related to Borrelia yangtzensis detected in Malaysia and Southeast Asia. The zoonotic potential of the Borrelia sp. reported here merits further investigation, as it may explain the previously reported serological evidence for borrelial infections in Malaysia.
    Matched MeSH terms: Rodentia/parasitology*
  2. Yusof MA, Mohd-Taib FS, Ishak SN, Md-Nor S, Md-Sah SA, Mohamed NZ, et al.
    Ecohealth, 2019 06;16(2):260-274.
    PMID: 31124020 DOI: 10.1007/s10393-019-01419-1
    Leptospirosis, a widespread zoonotic disease, is a public health problem, especially in major urban centres, and is mainly reported to be associated with rats. In Malaysia, focus has been primarily given to the Leptospira prevalence in rodents per se, but there is lack of information on the microhabitat structure of the outbreak areas. We aimed to determine the diversity of small mammal species, microhabitat types, and their prevalence of pathogenic Leptospira spp. in the outbreak areas, which were categorized as urban, semi-urban, and recreational forests. Sampling involved deploying 100 to 300 live traps at each study site. Kidney samples were extracted from selected individuals, for screening of pathogenic Leptospira spp. by PCR. Out of 537 individuals from 15 small mammal species captured, 4 species were recorded from urban, 13 from semi-urban, and 11 from recreational forest sites. From 389 individuals screened, 58 were tested positive for pathogenic Leptospira. Recreational forests recorded the highest prevalence with 19.4% (n = 93), followed by urban, 16.6% (n = 163) and semi-urban sites with 9.8% (n = 133). Seven rodent species were tested positive for pathogenic Leptospira from all areas. R. norvegicus was found to harbour the highest prevalence (66.7%) in urban, R. rattus (53.8%) in semi-urban, whereby M. whiteheadi (44.4%) in recreational forest sites. Microhabitat analysis revealed that rubbish quantity contributed especially strongly to a high prevalence of Leptospira. This study contributes to understanding of the host and microhabitat preferences of Leptospira, which is important in controlling the spread of this disease in human's landscapes.
    Matched MeSH terms: Rodentia/microbiology*
  3. Islam S, Rahman MK, Ferdous J, Rahman M, Akter S, Faraque MO, et al.
    Trop Biomed, 2020 Dec 01;37(4):842-851.
    PMID: 33612737 DOI: 10.47665/tb.37.4.842
    Hemoprotozoans are important pathogens of animals and humans, among which some species have zoonotic significance. The prevalence of different hemoprotozoa and Anaplasma spp. in larger mammals have been reported from different regions of the world. But, very few studies have been conducted to estimate the prevalence of hemoprotozoa in rodents and shrews of South-East Asia. The study assessed the prevalence of hemoprotozoa and Anaplasma spp. in rodents and shrews of Bangladesh. Blood samples (n=451) were collected from rodents and shrews between June 2011 and June 2013 and July-December 2015 from 4 land gradients of Bangladesh. Giemsa-stained blood smears revealed that 13% of animals were harboring hemoprotozoa (4.7% Babesia spp., 0.67% Plasmodium spp.), and Anaplasma spp. (7.5%). The study may serve as a guide for future hemoparasitic research of rodents and shrews.
    Matched MeSH terms: Rodentia/parasitology*
  4. Mohd-Taib FS, Ishak SN, Yusof MA, Azhari NN, Md-Lasim A, Md Nor S, et al.
    Trop Biomed, 2020 Mar 01;37(1):142-154.
    PMID: 33612725
    Leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease caused by bacteria of the genus Leptospira and most often acquired through contact with environments contaminated with leptospires shed in the urine of infected mammals. In urban environment, rodents are well-known as the main carriers of this bacteria, however there were no intensive study on the population structure of these animals, and how it associated with this disease. Hence, we use a case study from an outbreak in a residential area in Selangor, Malaysia, to investigate how community structure of small mammals, associated with the prevalence of Leptospira. One hundred cage traps were placed randomly in and around these houses in five phases with two months interval for a year. Community structures (species, sex, and age) were assigned for each individual, prior to screening for pathogenic Leptospira, using a partial lipL32 gene from the kidney samples. 185 small mammals from four species were captured, Rattus norvegicus (74.5%, N=138), R. rattus (20%, N=37), Tupaia glis (5%, N=9), and Suncus murinus (0.5%, N=1). From this number, 29 individuals were found PCR positive for pathogenic Leptospira (R. norvegicus, N=20; R. rattus, N=6; T. glis, N=2; S. murinus, N=1). The study shows that Leptospira occurrence in the small mammals were significantly correlated to age category and sampling phases, with Spearman Correlation (rs) p=0.02 and p=0.04 respectively. Adult individuals were significantly more prevalent with Leptospira infection, whereby March and June were found to associate with higher Leptospira prevalent among the small mammals, potentially coincide with low rainfall and relative humidity level. This information is important in designing a specific control method for rodents in Leptospira outbreak areas. In addition, intensive sampling and regular cleaning effort were found to significantly reduce the small mammal Leptospira reservoir, thus should be implemented in intervention strategies in the urban environment.
    Matched MeSH terms: Rodentia/microbiology*
  5. Perison PWD, Amran NS, Adrus M, Anwarali Khan FA
    Vet Med Sci, 2022 Sep;8(5):2059-2066.
    PMID: 35636429 DOI: 10.1002/vms3.849
    BACKGROUND: Rodent species are well known for their potential as hosts and reservoirs for various zoonotic diseases. Studies on blood parasite infection in small mammals focused on urban cities in Peninsular Malaysia and have been conducted over the years. In contrast, there are information gaps related to molecular detection of blood parasites in urban areas of Sarawak that are associated with veterinary importance and zoonotic spillover potential. Increasing prevalence and transmission of blood parasite diseases is the most crucial public health issue, particularly in developing urban areas of Sarawak. Therefore, molecular identification studies were performed to determine and identify the blood parasites infecting rodents.

    METHODS: A total of 40 rodent blood samples were analysed for blood parasite infection and a combined approach using polymerase chain reaction-based technique, and traditional microscopic examination (blood smear test) was conducted. 18s rRNA (Plasmodium spp.) and cytochrome b (Hepatocystis spp.) gene marker were used to identify the blood parasites.

    RESULTS: Note that 67.5% (n = 27) blood samples were tested negative for blood parasites, while 32.5% (n = 13) blood samples collected were infected with at least one protozoan parasite. Out of 13 samples, 69.2% (n = 9) were detected with Hepatocystis sp., while 15.4% (n = 2) were positive with Hepatozoon ophisauri. Two individuals had multiple infections from both species. No Plasmodium spp. have been detected throughout this study using universal primer (targeted Plasmodium spp.); however, different parasite species which were H. ophisauri were detected.

    CONCLUSION: Although there is no evidence of human infection from H. ophisauri and Hepatocystis sp. detected from the study, the data show the host species are heavily infected, and the information is essential for future prevention of zoonotic outbreaks and surveillance programmes. Therefore, it is suggested that the surveillance programmes should be incorporated in targeted areas with a high risk of disease emergence.

    Matched MeSH terms: Rodentia/genetics
  6. Palmieri JR, Krishnasamy M, Sullivan JT
    J Helminthol, 1979 Jun;53(2):161-7.
    PMID: 489943
    Neodiplostomum (Conodiplostomum) ramachandrani Betterton, 1976 has been reported from four species of rodent hosts: Echinosorex gymnurus (Raffles): Rattus whiteheadi (Thos); R. muelleri (Jentink) and Callosciurus notatus (Boddaert). A comparison of trematodes recovered from these hosts revealed patterns of host-induced morphological variation taking place. Because N. (Conodiplostomum) ramachandrani shows little generic difference from Fibricola intermedius (Pearson, 1959) Sudarikov, 1960 it is transferred to the genus Fibricola and is now designated Fibricola ramachandrani (Betterton, 1976) Palmieri, Krishnasamy and Sullivan.
    Matched MeSH terms: Rodentia/parasitology*
  7. Amran F, Mohd Khalid MK, Mohamad S, Mat Ripen A, Ahmad N, Goris MG, et al.
    Genome Announc, 2016;4(5).
    PMID: 27609924 DOI: 10.1128/genomeA.00956-16
    Leptospira interrogans serovar Bataviae was recently identified as one of the persistent Leptospira serovars in Malaysia. Here, we report the draft genome sequence of the L. interrogans serovar Bataviae strain LepIMR 22 isolated from kidney of a rodent in Johor, Malaysia.
    Matched MeSH terms: Rodentia
  8. Pardo LE, Campbell MJ, Cove MV, Edwards W, Clements GR, Laurance WF
    Sci Rep, 2019 05 24;9(1):7812.
    PMID: 31127172 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-44288-y
    While the conservation role of remaining natural habitats in anthropogenic landscapes is clear, the degree to which agricultural matrices impose limitations to animal use is not well understood, but vital to assess species' resilience to land use change. Using an occupancy framework, we evaluated how oil palm plantations affect the occurrence and habitat use of terrestrial mammals in the Colombian Llanos. Further, we evaluated the effect of undergrowth vegetation and proximity to forest on habitat use within plantations. Most species exhibited restricted distributions across the study area, especially in oil palm plantations. Habitat type strongly influenced habitat use of four of the 12 more widely distributed species with oil palm negatively affecting species such as capybara and naked-tailed armadillo. The remaining species showed no apparent effect of habitat type, but oil palm and forest use probabilities varied among species. Overall, generalist mesocarnivores, white-tailed deer, and giant anteater were more likely to use oil palm while the remaining species, including ocelot and lesser anteater, showed preferences for forest. Distance to nearest forest had mixed effects on species habitat use, while understory vegetation facilitated the presence of species using oil palm. Our findings suggest that allowing undergrowth vegetation inside plantations and maintaining nearby riparian corridors would increase the likelihood of terrestrial mammals' occurrence within oil palm landscapes.
    Matched MeSH terms: Rodentia
  9. Yusof F, Md Ismail A.I.B., Ali N
    Sains Malaysiana, 2014;43:1045-1051.
    Hantavirus is a serious disease caused by rodents which can lead to mortality. Many efforts have been carried out by researchers to develop and analyze mathematical models of Hantavirus infection. In this paper, the Peixoto and Abramson (2006) biodiversity model is modified to include the effect of predators and study the prediction of the modified model. When rodent and predator populations are in competition, the predator populations have the effect of reducing the prevalence of infection. Predators may be used for control and reduces the number of competing species to stabilize the populations at a persistent equilibrium.
    Matched MeSH terms: Rodentia
  10. Kwak ML, Hitch AT, Borthwick SA, Low DHW, Markowsky G, McInnes D, et al.
    Acta Trop, 2023 Oct;246:106992.
    PMID: 37543183 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2023.106992
    The Asian rodent tick (Ixodes granulatus) occurs throughout much of Asia, it frequently bites humans, and zoonotic pathogens, such as Borrelia burgdorferi (sensu lato) and Rickettsia honei, have been detected within it. Unfortunately, the ecology of I. granulatus remains poorly known, including drivers of its abundance and the interaction ecology with its sylvatic hosts. To elucidate the ecology of this medically important species, the habitat preferences of I. granulatus were assessed in Singapore and Malaysia. Ixodes granulatus showed strong associations with old forest habitats, though across different age classes of old forest there was limited variation in abundance. Ixodes granulatus was absent from other habitats including young forest, scrubland, and parks/gardens. Within its sylvatic rodent hosts, a range of factors were found to be statistically significant predictors of I. granulatus load and/or infestation risk, including sex and body condition index. Male rodents were significantly more likely to be infested and to have higher loads than females, similarly, animals with a lower body condition index were significantly more likely to be infested. Proactive public health efforts targeted at preventing bites by this tick should carefully consider its ecology to minimise ecological overlap between humans and I. granulatus.
    Matched MeSH terms: Rodentia
  11. Tan TK, Low VL, Ng WH, Ibrahim J, Wang D, Tan CH, et al.
    Parasitol Int, 2019 Apr;69:110-113.
    PMID: 30590124 DOI: 10.1016/j.parint.2018.12.007
    This report describes the detection of zoonotic Cryptosporidium muris, C. parvum subgenotype IIa and Giardia duodenalis genotype B in urban rodents in Malaysia. A rare occurrence of C. meleagridis was also reported suggesting a role of rodents in mechanical transmission of this pathogen. Utilization of DNA sequencing and subtyping analysis confirmed the presence of zoonotic C. parvum subtypes IIaA17G2R1 and IIaA16G3R1 for the first time in rodents.
    Matched MeSH terms: Rodentia
  12. Yusof, F. M., Md. Ismail, A. I. B., Abu Hasan, Y.
    MATEMATIKA, 2018;34(2):205-226.
    MyJurnal
    Hantaviruses are etiological agents of zoonotic diseases and certain other dis-
    eases, which pose a serious threat to human health. When rodent and predator popula-
    tions share in an ecology, the competitive force of the populations can lead to a reduction
    or elimination of a hantavirus outbreak. The effect of the predator eliminating rodents
    and predator populations that tends to reduce or eliminate hantavirus infection is investi-
    gated. The existence of several equilibrium points of the model is identified and local and
    global stabilities of the model at these equilibrium points are analysed in detail. Numerical
    simulations are carried out to illustrate our model results.
    Matched MeSH terms: Rodentia
  13. Fauzi Mohamed Yusof, Mohd Hafiz Mohd, Yazariah Mohd Yatim, Ahmad Izani Md. Ismail
    MATEMATIKA, 2020;36(1):1-14.
    MyJurnal
    In this paper, the combined influences of biotic interactions, environmental components and harvesting strategy on the spread of Hantavirus are investigated. By employing a multi-species model consisting of (susceptible and infected) rodents and alien species, we show that interspecific competition from alien species has an effect in reducing the spread of infection, and this species could be employed as a potential biocontrol agent. Our analysis using numerical continuation and simulation also reveals the conditions under which Hantavirus infection occurs and disappears as the environmental conditions and the intensity of harvesting change. Without harvesting, infection emerges when environments are conducive. Inclusion of moderate harvesting in favourable environments can lead to disappearance of infection among rodent species. However, as the intensity of harvesting increases, this situation can cause extinction of all rodents species and consequently, jeopardise biodiversity. Overall, our results demonstrate how the interplay of different factors can combine to determine the spread of infectious diseases.
    Matched MeSH terms: Rodentia
  14. Ernieenor FCL, NorJaiza MJ, Fadillah A, Canedy J, Mariana A
    Exp Appl Acarol, 2021 May;84(1):171-182.
    PMID: 33826009 DOI: 10.1007/s10493-021-00609-3
    Orientia tsutsugamushi is the causative agent of scrub typhus vectored by larval stages of trombiculid mites (chiggers) that occur in most tropical regions of Southeast Asia. A total of 242 chiggers extracted from eight small mammals captured from a positive scrub typhus locality in Kelantan, Malaysia, were screened for the presence of O. tsutsugamushi. The chiggers were grouped in 16 pools for extraction of DNA prior to screening of O. tsutsugamushi based on the nucleotide sequence of 56-kDa type specific antigen (TSA) gene using nested polymerase chain reaction. Two species of on-host chiggers were identified, the one, Leptotrombidium deliense, much more dominant (94.8%) than the other, Ascoshoengastia sp. (5.2%). The pathogen was detected in two pools (12.5%) of L. deliense recovered from Rattus rattus and Tupaia sp. The 56-kDa TSA gene sequence analysis revealed the O. tsutsugamushi harboured in those chiggers were Karp prototype strain with high similarity (99.3%). Findings of this study strongly supported the existence of scrub typhus infections in certain parts of Malaysia which agrees with previous local reports. Moreover, this study highlighted the pressing need of a large-scale close observation of O. tsutsugamushi DNA sequences from chiggers that can probably be collected from other positive scrub typhus localities to precisely provide the distribution and prevalence of this zoonotic pathogen.
    Matched MeSH terms: Rodentia
  15. Ahmed Juvale II, Che Has AT
    Heliyon, 2020 Jul;6(7):e04557.
    PMID: 32775726 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e04557
    The pilocarpine animal model of status epilepticus is a well-established, clinically translatable model that satisfies all of the criteria essential for an animal model of status epilepticus: a latency period followed by spontaneous recurrent seizures, replication of behavioural, electrographic, metabolic, and neuropathological changes, as well as, pharmacoresistance to anti-epileptic drugs similar to that observed in human status epilepticus. However, this model is also characterized by high mortality rates and studies in recent years have also seen difficulties in seizure induction due to pilocarpine resistant animals. This can be attributed to differences in rodent strains, species, gender, and the presence of the multi-transporter, P-glycoprotein at the blood brain barrier. The current paper highlights the various alterations made to the original pilocarpine model over the years to combat both the high mortality and low induction rates. These range from the initial lithium-pilocarpine model to the more recent Reduced Intensity Status Epilepticus (RISE) model, which finally brought the mortality rates down to 1%. These modifications are essential to improve animal welfare and future experimental outcomes.
    Matched MeSH terms: Rodentia
  16. Johan Arief MF, Choo BKM, Yap JL, Kumari Y, Shaikh MF
    Front Pharmacol, 2018;9:655.
    PMID: 29997502 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2018.00655
    Epilepsy is a common neurological disorder characterized by seizures which result in distinctive neurobiological and behavioral impairments. Not much is known about the causes of epilepsy, making it difficult to devise an effective cure for epilepsy. Moreover, clinical studies involving epileptogenesis and ictogenesis cannot be conducted in humans due to ethical reasons. As a result, animal models play a crucial role in the replication of epileptic seizures. In recent years, non-mammalian models have been given a primary focus in epilepsy research due to their advantages. This systematic review aims to summarize the importance of non-mammalian models in epilepsy research, such as in the screening of anti-convulsive compounds. The reason for this review is to integrate currently available information on the use and importance of non-mammalian models in epilepsy testing to aid in the planning of future studies as well as to provide an overview of the current state of this field. A PRISMA model was utilized and PubMed, Springer, ScienceDirect and SCOPUS were searched for articles published between January 2007 and November 2017. Fifty-one articles were finalized based on the inclusion/exclusion criteria and were discussed in this review. The results of this review demonstrated the current use of non-mammalian models in epilepsy research and reaffirmed their potential to supplement the typical rodent models of epilepsy in future research into both epileptogenesis and the treatment of epilepsy. This review also revealed a preference for zebrafish and fruit flies in lieu of other non-mammalian models, which is a shortcoming that should be corrected in future studies due to the great potential of these underutilized animal models.
    Matched MeSH terms: Rodentia
  17. Tingga RCT, Anwarali F, Mohd Ridwan A, M. T. Abdullah M, Senawi J
    Sains Malaysiana, 2012;41:659-669.
    A faunal survey aimed to document small mammals was conducted at Nature Study Centre of Kuala Atok, Taman Negara Pahang from 16th to 23rd May 2008. This survey was part of the Biodiversity Inventory Programme that was organised by the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (DWNP). On average, ten mist nets, two four-bank harp traps, 100 cage traps and 40 Sherman traps were set for six trapping nights. A total of 79 individuals from three orders, seven families and 23 species were caught in this study. Of the 23 species, three were frugivorous bats, 15 were insectivorous bats, four were rodents and one was treeshrew. Our sampling site was bounded by Pahang River and mainly covered with lowland secondary forest. This is evidence by the highest abundance of Long-tailed Giant Rat (Leopoldamys sabanus) for non-volant small mammals, and Fawn Roundleaf Bat (Hipposideros cervinus) for volant small mammals that are adapted to disturbed habitat. The increasing species cumulative curve for Chiropteran indicates that there may be more species yet to be recorded from this study site compared to rodents and treeshrews. Preliminary analysis on the species similarity between our study site to other survey reports in Peninsular Malaysia, positioned Kuala Atok with Krau Wildlife Reserve and Bukit Fraser Forest Reserve that are located adjacent to our study site. This similarity further indicate the
    importance of future survey in Kuala Atok especially for Chiropterans to properly document the species diversity in this site that may be as rich as other well studied area e.g. Krau Wildlife Reserve.
    Matched MeSH terms: Rodentia
  18. Rizwan M, Ali S, Javid A, von Fricken ME, Rashid MI
    Acta Trop, 2023 Jul;243:106940.
    PMID: 37160189 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2023.106940
    Bartonella can infect a variety of mammals including humans and has been detected in the Americas, Europe, Africa, and Asia. Roughly two-thirds of identified Bartonella species are found and maintained in rodent reservoirs, with some of these species linked to human infections. Rodents (N=236) were caught from the Sahiwal division of Punjab, Pakistan and tested for Bartonella using PCR targeting gltA and rpoB genes, followed by sequencing of rpoB-positive samples. Genetic relatedness to other published Bartonella spp. rpoB gene sequences were examined using BLAST and phylogenetic analysis. Overall, 7.62% (18/236) of rodents were positive for both gltA and rpoB fragments. Rattus rattus and R. norvegicus had 7.94% (12/151) and 7.05% (6/85) positivity rates for Bartonella DNA, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis revealed a close relatedness between Bartonella spp. from Pakistan to Bartonella spp. from China, Nepal, and Malaysia. This study is the first reported detection of Bartonella spp. in R. rattus and R. norvegicus from the Sahiwal area of Punjab, Pakistan.
    Matched MeSH terms: Rodentia
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