Francisella tularensis survey among ranchers and livestock in western Iran. (February 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ahangari Cohan, Hossein; Jamshidian, Mahmoud; Rohani, Mahdi; Moravedji, Meysam; Mostafavi, Ehsan
• Is Part Of: Comparative immunology, microbiology and infectious diseases. Volume 74(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-02
• Subjects: Tularemia -- Human -- Sheep -- Cattle -- Serological study -- Real-Time PCR; Communicable diseases in animals -- Periodicals; Veterinary immunology -- Periodicals; Veterinary microbiology -- Periodicals; Immunology -- Periodicals; Microbiology -- Periodicals; Communicable diseases -- Periodicals; Communicable Diseases -- immunology -- Periodicals; Communicable Diseases -- veterinary -- Periodicals; Allergy and Immunology -- Periodicals; Microbiology -- Periodicals; Veterinary Medicine -- Periodicals; Immunologie -- Périodiques; Microbiologie -- Périodiques; Maladies infectieuses -- Périodiques; Communicable diseases; Immunology; Microbiology; Electronic journals; Periodicals; 636.08969
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cimid.2020.101598
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0147-9571

Abstract

Highlights: There is some evidence about the circulation of F. tularensis in livestock and human populations in western Iran. We tested the exposure to F. tularensis using the standard tube agglutination method, ELISA, and TaqMan real-time PCR. Of the 51 surveyed human sera, two samples were positive and one sample had a borderline status. However, all animal sera and spleen samples were negative for tularemia. Surface water, arthropod bite, and rodent activity are probable transmission routes of F. tularensis in human populations at these areas. Abstract: Tularemia is a zoonotic disease that transmitted to humans and domestic animals by wildlife, especially rodents. There are some evidences of the circulation of F. tularensis in rodents, livestock, human populations, and surface waters in western parts of Iran. In this study, we investigated the exposure of livestock and ranchers to F. tularensis in the endemic regions of western Iran. Blood samples were collected from 289 sheep, 103 cattle, and 51 ranchers in 2018. Animal sera were tested by standard tube agglutination method. The specific IgGs against F. tularensis were evaluated by ELISA in human sera. Moreover, the extracted DNAs from 50 sheep spleen samples were evaluated using TaqMan real-time PCR for the presence of ISFtu2 and FopA genes. All animal sera and spleen samples were negative for tularemia. Of the 51 human samples, two samples were seropositive and one sample showed a borderline status for tularemia. Serologic evidence of F. tularensis in the ranchers but negative results in the livestock indicates different transmission routes in human populations and domestic animals in western Iran. Therefore, drinking contaminated water, contact to wildlife or rodents and arthropod bite should be considered as probable routes in the suspicious areas.