Seroprevalence of hantaviruses and Leptospira in muskrat and coypu trappers in the Netherlands, 2016

ABSTRACT

Aims: Seoul orthohantavirus (SEOV) and Leptospira spp. are zoonotic pathogens with rats as main reservoir. Recently, the presence of SEOV in brown rats was reported in one region in the Netherlands. Brown rats are a frequent bycatch in traps placed to catch muskrats (Ondatra zibethicus) and coypus (Myocastor coypus), and thus are a potential health risk for trappers. It was our aim to determine the seroprevalence of orthohantavirus, specifically SEOV, and Leptospira spp in Dutch trappers. Methods and results: Participating trappers provided serum samples and completed an online questionnaire. The serum was tested for the presence of antibodies against six orthohantaviruses and eight Leptospira serovars. Two hundred-sixty trappers completed the online questionnaire (65%), and 246 (61%) and 162 (40%) serum samples were tested for relevant orthohantaviruses and Leptospira spp., respectively. The seroprevalence of Puumala orthohantavirus in Dutch trappers was 0.4% (95% CI: 0.1–2.3%). None of the participants tested positive for SEOV. The seroprevalence of leptospirosis was 1.2% (95% CI: 0.3–4.4%), although Leptospira spp. are present in brown rats in the Netherlands.Significance of study: The results indicate that the infections with orthohantaviruses and leptospires is low for muskrat and coypu trappers.

KEYWORDS:

• Seoul virus
• orthohantavirus
• Leptospira
• muskrat trappers
• coypu trappers
• brown rats

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Dolf Moerkens and colleagues of the Dutch Water Authorities (Unie van Waterschappen) for their collaboration in the present study. Also words of gratitude to Ankje de Vries and Ilse Zutt (RIVM) for their assistance in the logistics.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Foundation for Applied Water Research (STOWA), A&O fund Water Authorities, and the Dutch Water Authorities (Unie van Waterschappen) is the employer of the trappers and partly funded the research.

Notes on contributors

Ingrid H. M. Friesema

Ingrid Friesema is epidemiologist in the department of Epidemiology and Surveillance of Infectious Diseases of the Centre for Infectious Disease Control at RIVM. The focus of her work is on gastrointestinal and zoonotic diseases.

Jacinta Bakker is research analyst in the department Emerging Infectious Diseases of Centre for Infectious Diseases Research, Diagnostics and Screening at RIVM. She has broad interests in emerging infectious diseases and immunological assays.

Miriam Maas is a researcher in the Centre for Zoonoses and Environmental Microbiology of the Centre for Infectious Disease Control at RIVM. The focus of her work is on wildlife zoonoses.

Marga Goris is head of the OIE and National Reference Laboratory for Leptospirosis at AMC. She is involved with epidemiology, clinical aspects and diagnosis of leptospirosis.

Joke van der Giessen is DVM and is working in the field of veterinary public health. Main interests are emerging zoonoses in animal populations and the risk for public health.

Barry Rockx is a virologist previously at the Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment and now at the department of Viroscience of the Erasmus University Medical Center in Rotterdam, The Netherlands. The focus of his work is on emerging zoonotic viruses.