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European orthohantaviruses (Puumala orthohantavirus (PUUV); Dobrava-Belgrade orthohantavirus (DOBV), genotype Kurkino; Tula orthohantavirus (TULV)), and Leptospira spp. are small mammal-associated zoonotic pathogens that cause diseases with potentially similar symptoms in humans. We investigated the frequency of Leptospira spp. and hantavirus single and double infections in small mammals from 22 sites in Thuringia, central Germany, during 2017. TULV infections were detected at 18 of 22 sites (mean prevalence 13.8%, 93/674). PUUV infections were detected at four of 22 sites (mean prevalence 1.5%, 7/471), and respective PUUV sequences formed a novel phylogenetic clade, but DOBV infections were not detected at all. Leptospira infections were detected at 21 of 22 sites with the highest overall prevalence in field voles (Microtus agrestis) with 54.5% (6/11) and common voles (Microtus arvalis) with 30.3% (205/676). Leptospira-hantavirus coinfections were found in 6.6% (44/671) of common voles but only in two of 395 bank voles. TULV and Leptospira coinfection probability in common voles was driven by individual (age) and population-level factors. Coinfections seemed to be particularly associated with sites where Leptospira spp. prevalence exceeded 35%. Future investigations should evaluate public health consequences of this strong spatial clustering of coinfections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rickettsiae of the spotted fever group (SFG) are zoonotic tick-borne pathogens. Small mammals are important hosts for the immature life stages of two of the most common tick species in Europe, Ixodes ricinus and Dermacentor reticulatus . These hosts and vectors can be found in diverse habitats with different vegetation types like grasslands and forests. To investigate the influence of environmental and individual factors on Rickettsia prevalence, this study aimed to analyse the prevalence of SFG rickettsiae in ticks and small mammals in different small-scale habitats in central Germany for the first time. Small mammals of ten species and ticks of two species were collected from grasslands and forests in the Hainich-Dün region, central Germany. After species identification, DNA samples from 1098 ticks and ear snips of 1167 small mammals were screened for Rickettsia DNA by qPCR targeting the gltA gene. Positive samples were retested by conventional PCR targeting the ompB gene and sequencing. Rickettsia DNA was detected in eight out of ten small mammal species. Small mammal hosts from forests (14.0%) were significantly more often infected than those from grasslands (4.4%) ( p < 0.001). The highest prevalence was found in the mostly forest-inhabiting genus Apodemus (14.8%) and the lowest in Microtus (6.6%), which inhabits grasslands. The prevalence was higher in D. reticulatus (46.3%) than in the I. ricinus complex (8.6%). Adult ticks were more often infected than nymphs ( p = 0.0199). All sequenced rickettsiae in I. ricinus complex ticks were R. helvetica , and the ones in D. reticulatus were R. raoultii . Unlike adults, questing nymphs have had only one blood meal, which explains the higher prevalence in I. ricinus adults. Interestingly, habitat type did influence infection probability in small mammals, but did not in ticks. A possible explanation may be the high prevalence in Apodemus flavicollis and A. sylvaticus which were more abundant in the forest.

Bat-associated hantaviruses have been detected in Asia, Africa and Europe. Recently, a novel hantavirus (Brno loanvirus, BRNV) was identified in common noctule bats (Nyctalus noctula) in the Czech Republic, but nothing is known about its geographical range and prevalence. The objective of this study was to evaluate the distribution and host specificity of BRNV by testing bats from neighbouring countries Germany, Austria and Poland. One thousand forty-seven bats representing 21 species from Germany, 464 bats representing 18 species from Austria and 77 bats representing 12 species from Poland were screened by L segment broad-spectrum nested reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) or by BRNV-specific real-time RT-PCR. Three common noctules from Germany, one common noctule from Austria and three common noctules from Poland were positive in the hantavirus RNA screening. Conventional RT-PCR and primer walking resulted in the amplification of partial L segment and (almost) complete S and M segment coding sequences for samples from Germany and partial L segment sequences for samples from Poland. Phylogenetic analysis of these nucleotide sequences showed highest similarity to BRNV from Czech Republic. The exclusive detection of BRNV in common noctules from different countries suggests high host specificity. The RNA detection rate in common noctules ranged between 1 of 207 (0.5%; Austria), 3 of 245 (1.2%; Germany) and 3 of 20 (15%; Poland). In conclusion, this study demonstrates a broader distribution of BRNV in common noctules in Central Europe, but at low to moderate prevalence. Additional studies are needed to prove the zoonotic potential of this hantavirus and evaluate its transmission within bat populations., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

In Europe, zoonotic Leptospira spp. and orthohantaviruses are mainly associated with specific rodent hosts. These pathogens cause febrile human diseases with similar symptoms and disease progression. In Lithuania, the presence of Dobrava-Belgrade orthohantavirus (DOBV), Tula orthohantavirus (TULV) and Leptospira spp. in rodent reservoirs is still unknown, and Puumala orthohantavirus (PUUV) was detected in bank voles (Clethrionomys glareolus) at only one site. Therefore, we collected and screened 1617 rodents and insectivores from Lithuania for zoonotic (re-)emerging Leptospira and orthohantaviruses. We detected Leptospira DNA in six rodent species, namely striped field mouse (Apodemus agrarius), yellow-necked mouse (Apodemus flavicollis), bank vole, common vole (Microtus arvalis), field vole (Microtus agrestis) and root vole (Microtus oeconomus). Leptospira DNA was detected with an overall mean prevalence of 4.4% (range 3.7%-7.9% per rodent species). We detected DOBV RNA in 5.6% of the striped field mice, PUUV RNA in 1% of bank voles and TULV RNA in 4.6% of common voles, but no Leptospira DNA in shrews and no hantavirus-Leptospira coinfections in rodents. Based on the complete coding sequences of the three genome segments, two distant DOBV phylogenetic lineages in striped field mice, one PUUV strain in bank voles and two TULV strains in common voles were identified. The Leptospira prevalence for striped field mice and yellow-necked mice indicated a significant negative effect of the distance to water points. The detection of (re-)emerging human pathogenic Leptospira and three orthohantaviruses in rodent reservoirs in Lithuania calls for increased awareness of public health institutions and allows the improvement of molecular diagnostics for pathogen identification., (© 2022 The Authors. Transboundary and Emerging Diseases published by Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

The selective conversion of syngas to higher alcohols is an attractive albeit elusive route in the quest for effective production of chemicals from alternative carbon resources. We report the tandem integration of solid cobalt Fischer-Tropsch and molecular hydroformylation catalysts in a one-pot slurry-phase process. Unprecedented selectivities (>50 wt %) to C 2+ alcohols are achieved at CO conversion levels >70 %, alongside negligible CO 2 side-production. The efficient overall transformation is enabled by catalyst engineering, bridging gaps in operation temperature and intrinsic selectivity which have classically precluded integration of these reactions in a single conversion step. Swift capture of 1-olefin Fischer-Tropsch primary products by the molecular hydroformylation catalyst, presumably within the pores of the solid catalyst is key for high alcohol selectivity. The results underscore that controlled cooperation between solid aggregate and soluble molecular metal catalysts, which pertain to traditionally dichotomic realms of heterogeneous and homogeneous catalysis, is a promising blueprint toward selective conversion processes., (© 2022 The Authors. Angewandte Chemie International Edition published by Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

Background: Ixodid ticks are important vectors for zoonotic pathogens, with Ixodes ricinus being the most important in Europe. Rodents are hosts of immature life stages of I. ricinus ticks and are considered main reservoirs for tick-borne pathogens, e.g. Borrelia burgdorferi. The aim of this study was to analyse the prevalence as well as genospecies and sequence type (ST) diversity of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato in ticks and small mammals from central Germany and to elaborate on the influence of environmental and/or individual host and vector factors on Borrelia prevalence., Methods: After species identification, 1167 small mammal skin samples and 1094 ticks from vegetation were screened by B. burgdorferi sensu lato real-time polymerase chain reaction, and positive samples were characterized by multilocus sequence typing. Generalized linear (mixed) models were used to estimate how seasonality, small mammal species/tick life stage and habitat affect individual infection status., Results: In total, 10 small mammal species and three tick species, Ixodes ricinus, Ixodes inopinatus (both considered members of the I. ricinus complex) and Dermacentor reticulatus, were investigated. Borrelia DNA was detected in eight host species, i.e. the striped field mouse (Apodemus agrarius), the yellow-necked field mouse (Apodemus flavicollis), the wood mouse (Apodemus sylvaticus), the water vole (Arvicola amphibius), the bank vole (Clethrionomys glareolus), the field vole (Microtus agrestis), the common vole (Microtus arvalis), and the common shrew (Sorex araneus). Two species were Borrelia negative, the greater white-toothed shrew (Crocidura russula) and the pygmy shrew (Sorex minutus). The average prevalence was 6.2%, with two genospecies detected, Borrelia afzelii and Borrelia garinii, and at least three STs that had not been previously reported in small mammals. Borrelia prevalence in small mammals did not differ between seasons. Six genospecies of Borrelia-Borrelia afzelii, Borrelia valaisiana, Borrelia garinii, Borrelia lusitaniae, Borrelia spielmanii, and Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto-and 25 STs of Borrelia, of which 12 have not been previously described at all and five have not been previously reported in Germany, were detected in 13% of I. ricinus complex ticks. Prevalence was highest in adult females (25.3%) and lowest in nymphs (11.4%). Prevalence was significantly higher in ticks from grassland (16.8%) compared to forests (11.4%)., Conclusions: The high level of small mammal diversity in this region of Germany seems to be reflected in a wide variety of genospecies and STs of B. burgdorferi., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

The striped field mouse (Apodemus agrarius) is known to carry several zoonotic pathogens, including Leptospira spp. and Dobrava-Belgrade orthohantavirus (DOBV). Since its first detection in 1996 in south-east Austria, the striped field mouse has further expanded its range in Austria. Here, we screened 35 striped field mice collected in an Austrian region near the Hungarian border for DOBV, Leptospira spp. and seven vector-borne pathogens. Hantavirus RT-PCR screening and DOBV IgG ELISA analysis led to the detection of two DOBV-positive striped field mice. The complete coding sequences of all three genome segments of both strains were determined by a combination of target enrichment and next-generation sequencing. Both complete coding S segment sequences clustered within the DOBV genotype Kurkino clade with the highest similarity to a sequence from Hungary. In one of 35 striped field mice, Leptospira borgpetersenii sequence type (ST) 146 was detected. Bartonella spp., Borrelia miyamotoi and Neoehrlichia mikurensis DNA was detected in four, one and two of 32 mice, respectively. Babesia, Anaplasma, Ehrlichia and Rickettsia specific DNA was not detected. Future investigations will have to determine the prevalence and invasion of these pathogens with the ongoing range expansion of the striped field mouse in Austria., (© 2021 The Authors. Transboundary and Emerging Diseases published by Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

The common vole (Microtus arvalis) is a major agricultural pest in Europe and is a reservoir for several zoonotic agents, such as Leptospira spp. and Tula orthohantavirus (TULV). However, little is known about the occurrence of those pathogens in voles from Spain, where the species has largely expanded its distribution range in the past decades, causing agricultural pests and zoonotic diseases. For a molecular survey, 580 common voles and six Lusitanian pine voles (Microtus lusitanicus) were collected in 26 localities from four provinces of northwestern Spain. We assessed the presence of Leptospira spp. DNA in kidney tissue by PCR targeting the lipL32 gene, detecting a prevalence of 7.9% (95% confidence interval, 5.9-10.4) for common voles and of 33.3% (95% confidence interval, 4.3-77.7) for Lusitanian pine voles. We identified Leptospira kirschneri in 24 animals and Leptospira borgpetersenii in two animals, using secY gene-specific PCR. We analyzed environmental and demographic factors (such as age class, weight, and sex) and population dynamics data for their potential effect on the Leptospira spp. prevalence in those voles. The Leptospira spp. DNA detection rate in common voles increased significantly with maximum air temperature, vole weight, and amount of accumulated rainfall during the 90 d before capture and within the peak phase of the population cycle. We assessed the presence of TULV in lung tissue of 389 voles by reverse-transcription PCR, with no positive results. The absence of TULV might be explained by the evolutionary isolation of the common vole in Spain. The detection of two Leptospira genomospecies underlines the necessity for further typing efforts to understand the epidemiology of leptospiral infection in the common vole and the potential risk for human health in Spain., (© Wildlife Disease Association 2021.)

Tula orthohantavirus (TULV) is a rodent-borne hantavirus with broad geographical distribution in Europe. Its major reservoir is the common vole ( Microtus arvalis ), but TULV has also been detected in closely related vole species. Given the large distributional range and high amplitude population dynamics of common voles, this host-pathogen complex presents an ideal system to study the complex mechanisms of pathogen transmission in a wild rodent reservoir. We investigated the dynamics of TULV prevalence and the subsequent potential effects on the molecular evolution of TULV in common voles of the Central evolutionary lineage. Rodents were trapped for three years in four regions of Germany and samples were analyzed for the presence of TULV-reactive antibodies and TULV RNA with subsequent sequence determination. The results show that individual (sex) and population-level factors (abundance) of hosts were significant predictors of local TULV dynamics. At the large geographic scale, different phylogenetic TULV clades and an overall isolation-by-distance pattern in virus sequences were detected, while at the small scale (<4 km) this depended on the study area. In combination with an overall delayed density dependence, our results highlight that frequent, localized bottleneck events for the common vole and TULV do occur and can be offset by local recolonization dynamics.

Hantaviruses are zoonotic pathogens that can cause subclinical to lethal infections in humans. In Europe, five orthohantaviruses are present in rodents: Myodes-associated Puumala orthohantavirus (PUUV), Microtus-associated Tula orthohantavirus, Traemmersee hantavirus (TRAV)/ Tatenale hantavirus (TATV)/ Kielder hantavirus, rat-borne Seoul orthohantavirus, and Apodemus-associated Dobrava-Belgrade orthohantavirus (DOBV). Human PUUV and DOBV infections were detected previously in Lithuania, but the presence of Microtus-associated hantaviruses is not known. For this study we screened 234 Microtus voles, including root voles (Microtus oeconomus), field voles (Microtus agrestis) and common voles (Microtus arvalis) from Lithuania for hantavirus infections. This initial screening was based on reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) targeting the S segment and serological analysis. A novel hantavirus was detected in eight of 79 root voles tentatively named "Rusne virus" according to the capture location and complete genome sequences were determined. In the coding regions of all three genome segments, Rusne virus showed high sequence similarity to TRAV and TATV and clustered with Kielder hantavirus in phylogenetic analyses of partial S and L segment sequences. Pairwise evolutionary distance analysis confirmed Rusne virus as a strain of the species TRAV/TATV. Moreover, we synthesized the entire nucleocapsid (N) protein of Rusne virus in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. We observed cross-reactivity of antibodies raised against other hantaviruses, including PUUV, with this new N protein. ELISA investigation of all 234 voles detected Rusne virus-reactive antibodies exclusively in four of 79 root voles, all being also RNA positive, but not in any other vole species. In conclusion, the detection of Rusne virus RNA in multiple root voles at the same trapping site during three years and its absence in sympatric field voles suggests root voles as the reservoir host of this novel virus. Future investigations should evaluate host association of TRAV, TATV, Kielder virus and the novel Rusne virus and their evolutionary relationships., (Copyright © 2020 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The effect of both the Fe : Ni ratio (5 to 1 : 1) and the relative Lewis acidity of a metal oxide support on catalytic activity, selectivity and stability was investigated in the CO 2 mediated oxidative dehydrogenation of ethane (CO 2 -ODH). To avoid effects of varying pore sizes, shapes and volumes of the supports, chromia and zirconia overlayers were coated onto a common γ-Al 2 O 3 carrier (CrO x @Al 2 O 3 and ZrO x @Al 2 O 3 ). Separately, oxidic Fe x Ni y alloy precursor nanoparticles were prepared using a nonaqueous surfactant-free method and deposited by sonication onto the carrier. In comparison to previous studies in the field, this synthesis technique yields closely associated iron and nickel increasing the chances for alloy formation. During reduction, a mixture of a bcc and a fcc alloy phase was formed, with the content of bcc increasing with increasing iron content as predicted by the bulk phase diagram. Upon exposure to carbon dioxide at elevated temperatures, the bcc metallic phase is selectively oxidised to an inverse spinel structure via the dissociation of CO 2 . When exposed to CO 2 -ODH conditions, the bare ZrO x @Al 2 O 3 support shows no activity. The presence of FeNi phases increases the conversion of ethane and CO 2 marginally (<2%) but forms ethylene at high selectivity (S C 2 H 4 > 80%). The CrO x @Al 2 O 3 support shows some initial activity (X C 2 H 6 < 5%) at very high ethylene selectivity (S C 2 H 4 > 90%) but deactivates with time on stream. Comparison of the ethane and carbon dioxide conversions suggests that direct dehydrogenation rather than the oxidative pathway is taking place. When FeNi particles with the highest Fe content are added, the ethane conversion behavior hardly changes, but the CO 2 conversion is increased now supporting the stoichiometric CO 2 -ODH reaction (S C 2 H 4 > 95%). It is therefore evident that a tandem catalyst system between a reducible oxide carrier and the FeNi species is required. Increasing the Ni content results in an increase in activity and stability while changing the dominant reaction pathway to a combination of dry reforming, CO 2 -ODH and possibly the reverse Boudouard reaction, with the latter countering catalyst deactivation through carbon deposition.

Adjusting hydrocarbon product distributions in the Fischer-Tropsch (FT) synthesis is of notable significance in the context of so-called X-to-liquids (XTL) technologies. While cobalt catalysts are selective to long-chain paraffin precursors for synthetic jet- and diesel-fuels, lighter (C 10- ) alkane condensates are less valuable for fuel production. Alternatively, iron carbide-based catalysts are suitable for the coproduction of paraffinic waxes alongside liquid (and gaseous) olefin chemicals; however, their activity for the water-gas-shift reaction (WGSR) is notoriously detrimental when hydrogen-rich syngas feeds, for example, derived from (unconventional) natural gas, are to be converted. Herein the roles of pore architecture and oxide promoters of Lewis basic character on CoRu/Al 2 O 3 FT catalysts are systematically addressed, targeting the development of catalysts with unusually high selectivity to liquid olefins. Both alkali and lanthanide oxides lead to a decrease in turnover frequency . The latter, particularly PrO x , prove effective to boost the selectivity to liquid (C 5-10 ) olefins without undesired WGSR activity. In situ CO-FTIR spectroscopy suggests a dual promotion via both electronic modification of surface Co sites and the inhibition of Lewis acidity on the support, which has direct implications for double-bond isomerization reactivity and thus the regioisomery of liquid olefin products. Density functional theory calculations ascribe oxide promotion to an enhanced competitive adsorption of molecular CO versus hydrogen and olefins on oxide-decorated cobalt surfaces, dampening (secondary) olefin hydrogenation, and suggest an exacerbated metal surface carbophilicity to underlie the undesired induction of WGSR activity by strongly electron-donating alkali oxide promoters. Enhanced pore molecular transport within a multimodal meso-macroporous architecture in combination with PrO x as promoter, at an optimal surface loading of 1 Pr at nm -2 , results in an unconventional product distribution, reconciling benefits intrinsic to Co- and Fe-based FT catalysts, respectively. A chain-growth probability of 0.75, and thus >70 C% selectivity to C 5+ products, is achieved alongside lighter hydrocarbon (C 5-10 ) condensates that are significantly enriched in added-value chemicals (67 C%), predominantly α-olefins but also linear alcohols, remarkably with essentially no CO 2 side-production (<1%). Such unusual product distributions, integrating precursors for synthetic fuels and liquid platform chemicals, might be desired to diversify the scope and improve the economics of small-scale gas- and biomass-to-liquid processes., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing financial interest., (© 2021 The Authors. Published by American Chemical Society.)

We report molecular evidence of Tula virus infection in an immunocompetent patient from Germany who had typical signs of hantavirus disease. Accumulating evidence indicates that Tula virus infection, although often considered nonpathogenic, represents a threat to human health.

Cowpox virus (CPXV) belongs to the genus Orthopoxvirus in the Poxviridae family and is endemic in western Eurasia. Based on seroprevalence studies in different voles from continental Europe and UK, voles are suspected to be the major reservoir host. Recently, a CPXV was isolated from a bank vole ( Myodes glareolus ) in Germany that showed a high genetic similarity to another isolate originating from a Cotton-top tamarin ( Saguinus oedipus ). Here we characterize this first bank vole-derived CPXV isolate in comparison to the related tamarin-derived isolate. Both isolates grouped genetically within the provisionally called CPXV-like 3 clade. Previous phylogenetic analysis indicated that CPXV is polyphyletic and CPXV-like 3 clade represents probably a different species if categorized by the rules used for other orthopoxviruses. Experimental infection studies with bank voles, common voles ( Microtus arvalis ) and Wistar rats showed very clear differences. The bank vole isolate was avirulent in both common voles and Wistar rats with seroconversion seen only in the rats. In contrast, inoculated bank voles exhibited viral shedding and seroconversion for both tested CPXV isolates. In addition, bank voles infected with the tamarin-derived isolate experienced a marked weight loss. Our findings allow for the conclusion that CPXV isolates might differ in their replication capacity in different vole species and rats depending on their original host. Moreover, the results indicate host-specific differences concerning CPXV-specific virulence. Further experiments are needed to identify individual virulence and host factors involved in the susceptibility and outcome of CPXV-infections in the different reservoir hosts., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Vole-associated hantaviruses occur in the Old and New World. Tula orthohantavirus (TULV) is widely distributed throughout the European continent in its reservoir, the common vole (Microtus arvalis), but the virus was also frequently detected in field voles (Microtus agrestis) and other vole species. TULV and common voles are absent from Great Britain. However, field voles there harbor Tatenale and Kielder hantaviruses. Here we screened 126 field voles and 13 common voles from Brandenburg, Germany, for hantavirus infections. One common vole and four field voles were anti-TULV antibody and/or TULV RNA positive. In one additional, seropositive field vole a novel hantavirus sequence was detected. The partial S and L segment nucleotide sequences were only 61.1% and 75.6% identical to sympatrically occurring TULV sequences, but showed highest similarity of approximately 80% to British Tatenale and Kielder hantaviruses. Subsequent determination of the entire nucleocapsid (N), glycoprotein (GPC), and RNA-dependent RNA polymerase encoding sequences and determination of the pairwise evolutionary distance (PED) value for the concatenated N and GPC amino acid sequences confirmed a novel orthohantavirus species, tentatively named Traemmersee orthohantavirus. The identification of this novel hantavirus in a field vole from eastern Germany underlines the necessity of a large-scale, broad geographical hantavirus screening of voles to understand evolutionary processes of virus-host associations and host switches.

Cowpox virus (CPXV) is a zoonotic orthopoxvirus (OPV) that infects a wide range of mammals. CPXV-specific DNA and antibodies were detected in different vole species, such as common voles ( Microtus arvalis ) and bank voles ( Myodes glareolus ). Therefore, voles are the putative main reservoir host of CPXV. However, CPXV was up to now only isolated from common voles. Here we report the detection and isolation of a bank vole-derived CPXV strain (GerMygEK 938/17) resulting from a large-scale screening of bank voles collected in Thuringia, Germany, during 2017 and 2018. Phylogenetic analysis using the complete viral genome sequence indicated a high similarity of the novel strain to CPXV clade 3 and to OPV "Abatino" but also to Ectromelia virus (ECTV) strains. Phenotypic characterization of CPXV GerMygEK 938/17 using inoculation of embryonated chicken eggs displayed hemorrhagic pock lesions on the chorioallantoic membrane that are typical for CPXV but not for ECTV. CPXV GerMygEK 938/17 replicated in vole-derived kidney cell lines but at lower level than on Vero76 cell line. In conclusion, the first bank vole-derived CPXV isolate provides new insights into the genetic variability of CPXV in the putative reservoir host and is a valuable tool for further studies about CPXV-host interaction and molecular evolution of OPV.

Background: Rodents are important reservoirs for zoonotic vector-borne agents. Thus, the distribution of rodents and their vicinity to humans and companion animals may have an important impact on human and animal health. However, the reservoir potential of some rodent genera, e.g. Microtus, has not yet been precisely examined concerning tick-borne pathogens in Central Europe. Therefore, we examined small mammals from Germany and the Czech Republic for the following vector-borne pathogens: Babesia spp., Bartonella spp., Anaplasma phagocytophilum, "Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis" (CNM) and Coxiella burnetii. Spleen DNA from 321 small mammals belonging to four genera, Myodes (n = 78), Apodemus (n = 56), Microtus (n = 149), Sorex (n = 38), collected during 2014 in Germany and the Czech Republic were available for this study. DNA samples were examined for the presence of Babesia and Bartonella DNA by conventional PCR targeting the 18S rRNA gene and the 16S-23S rRNA intergenic spacer region, respectively. For the detection of CNM, A. phagocytophilum and C. burnetii real-time PCR assays were performed., Results: Bartonella spp. DNA was detected in 216 specimens (67.3%) with 102/174 (58.6%) positive in Germany and 114/147 (77.6%) in the Czech Republic. The prevalence in each genus was 44.9% for Myodes, 63.2% for Sorex, 77.2% for Microtus and 75% for Apodemus. Four Bartonella species, i.e. Bartonella sp. N40, B. grahamii, B. taylorii and B. doshiae, as well as uncultured bartonellae, were detected. The Bartonella species diversity was higher in rodents than in shrews. In total, 27/321 (8.4%) small mammals were positive for CNM and 3/321 (0.9%) for A. phagocytophilum (S. coronatus and M. glareolus). All samples were negative for Babesia spp. and Coxiella spp., Conclusions: While the detected high prevalence for Bartonella in Apodemus and Myodes spp. is confirmatory with previous findings, the prevalence in Microtus spp. was unexpectedly high. This indicates that individuals belonging to this genus may be regarded as potential reservoirs. Interestingly, only Sorex spp. and M. glareolus were positive for A. phagocytophilum in the present study, suggesting a possible importance of the latter for the maintenance of certain A. phagocytophilum strains in nature.

Francisella tularensis is a zoonotic, gram-negative bacterium that causes tularemia in humans. Depending on its subspecies and the route of transmission, mild to lethal courses have been reported. F. tularensis subsp. holarctica is the only subspecies found in Europe and affects a plenitude of vertebrates including lagomorphs and rodents. Population outbreaks of certain rodent species are likely to be involved in the transmission of this pathogen. This molecular survey aims to evaluate the presence of F. tularensis in small mammals from three Central European countries. Using a real-time polymerase chain reaction, F. tularensis DNA was detected in common voles (Microtus arvalis) from Switzerland and in field voles (Microtus agrestis) and a bank vole (Myodes glareolus) from Germany, but not in any other small mammal species. All common voles from the Czech Republic were negative for F. tularensis DNA. The prevalence in the three vole species varied between 1.3% and 3.0%. In conclusion, Francisella tularensis DNA was detected in three vole species in two of three countries investigated. The observed low prevalence raises questions on the role of voles for the transmission of Francisella tularensis in Central Europe., (© 2018 Blackwell Verlag GmbH.)

Laboratory mice are the most commonly used animal model for Staphylococcus aureus infection studies. We have previously shown that laboratory mice from global vendors are frequently colonized with S. aureus. Laboratory mice originate from wild house mice. Hence, we investigated whether wild rodents, including house mice, as well as shrews are naturally colonized with S. aureus and whether S. aureus adapts to the wild animal host. 295 animals of ten different species were caught in different locations over four years (2012-2015) in Germany, France and the Czech Republic. 45 animals were positive for S. aureus (15.3%). Three animals were co-colonized with two different isolates, resulting in 48 S. aureus isolates in total. Positive animals were found in Germany and the Czech Republic in each studied year. The S. aureus isolates belonged to ten different spa types, which grouped into six lineages (clonal complex (CC) 49, CC88, CC130, CC1956, sequence type (ST) 890, ST3033). CC49 isolates were most abundant (17/48, 35.4%), followed by CC1956 (14/48, 29.2%) and ST890 (9/48, 18.8%). The wild animal isolates lacked certain properties that are common among human isolates, e.g., a phage-encoded immune evasion cluster, superantigen genes on mobile genetic elements and antibiotic resistance genes, which suggests long-term adaptation to the wild animal host. One CC130 isolate contained the mecC gene, implying wild rodents might be both reservoir and vector for methicillin-resistant . In conclusion, we demonstrated that wild rodents and shrews are naturally colonized with S. aureus, and that those S. aureus isolates show signs of host adaptation., (Copyright © 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier GmbH.. All rights reserved.)

Four cowpox virus (CPXV) outbreaks occurred in unrelated alpaca herds in Eastern Germany during 2012-2017. All incidents were initially noticed due to severe, generalized, and finally lethal CPXV infections, which were confirmed by testing of tissue and serum samples. As CPXV-infection has been described in South American camelids (SACs) only three times, all four herds were investigated to gain a deeper understanding of CPXV epidemiology in alpacas. The different herds were investigated twice, and various samples (serum, swab samples, and crusts of suspicious pox lesions, feces) were taken to identify additionally infected animals. Serum was used to detect CPXV-specific antibodies by performing an indirect immunofluorescence assay (iIFA); swab samples, crusts, and feces were used for detection of CPXV-specific DNA in a real-time PCR. In total, 28 out of 107 animals could be identified as affected by CPXV, by iIFA and/or PCR. Herd seroprevalence ranged from 16.1% to 81.2%. To investigate the potential source of infection, wild small mammals were trapped around all alpaca herds. In two herds, CPXV-specific antibodies were found in the local rodent population. In the third herd, CPXV could be isolated from a common vole ( Microtus arvalis ) found drowned in a water bucket used to water the alpacas. Full genome sequencing and comparison with the genome of a CPXV from an alpaca from the same herd reveal 99.997% identity, providing further evidence that the common vole is a reservoir host and infection source of CPXV. Only in the remaining fourth herd, none of the trapped rodents were found to be CPXV-infected. Rodents, as ubiquitous reservoir hosts, in combination with increasingly popular alpacas, as susceptible species, suggest an enhanced risk of future zoonotic infections., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

The majority of hemodialyzed patients suffer from sleep disturbances. In the present study the prevalence of sleep apnea syndrome in hemodialyzed patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD-patients) was investigated by the survey, Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), and polysomnography (PSG). Sixty-one patients: 24 women and 37 men were involved in the study. All subjects participated in the first part of the study consisting of the survey and ESS. The second and third parts consisted of nighttime PSG, performed the night after hemodialysis (17 patients) and between hemodialyses (11 patients). Eleven out of the 61 patients had the symptoms of sleep apnea and heavy daily sleepiness. Eleven subjects were involved in the double PSG study: after and between hemodialyses. Obstructive sleep apnea was found in 7 of those patients during both nights analyzed. Our results confirm the occurrence of sleep disorders in ESRD-patients. Hemodialysis does not change the prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea in chronic renal disease.

Our previous studies indicated the presence of a respiratory effector of carotid baroreceptor activation: the respiratory resistance. A brief decrease in respiratory resistance was observed in response to carotid baroreceptor activation. In the course of aging we found a decrease in the heart response to carotid baroreceptor activation and disappearance of the respiratory response. The aim of the present study was to determine whether the circadian variations of baroreflex sensitivity, as related to aging, are attributable to changes in cardiovascular and respiratory control in the elderly. We evaluated the cardiac responses and the reflex changes of the respiratory resistance to carotid baroreceptor activation every two hours in: 12 healthy male subjects aged 20-38 years, 6 male subjects aged 20-38 years and 6 male subjects aged 70-80 years. Two neck-chambers were used to produce a brief suction, applied to carotid sinus regions, activating the carotid baroreceptor. We found that the circadian courses of the cardiac and respiratory responses to baroreceptor activation were shifted down in the older groups of subjects, as compared with the younger ones. In the 50-80-year old subjects no respiratory response to carotid baroreceptor stimulation was observed. We further found that the impaired carotid baroreflex control of heart function and of respiratory resistance, observed in older subjects, reached a minimum between 3.00 and 7.00 hours in the morning. We conclude that this period is a risk time for the occurrence of cardiac disorders, especially for cardiac arrhythmias, and it is also the time of impaired reflex control of respiratory resistance.

Twelve Hereford bulls were used to sire calves in each of three locations in North Carolina over 6 yr. Three bulls were bred artificially to a random one-third of the cows at each location each year. Locations represented the Mountain, Piedmont and Coastal Plain regions of the Southeast. As yearlings, steer progeny were fed a concentrate diet in a feedlot or grazed on pasture and then slaughtered in the fall. Performance records from 816 calves were used to evaluate sire X location interaction effects for birth weight, preweaning average daily gain and weaning weight. Performance records from 355 steers were used to investigate sire X location and sire X diet interactions for average daily gain, carcass weight and percentage fat in the rib section. For all traits, sire X location and sire X diet interactions were not significant. Estimates of genetic correlations of sire progeny performance across environments ranged from .50 to 1.25. However, when estimates of sire variances within each environment were used to adjust the genetic correlations for bias due to scale effects, all genetic correlations were greater than .90. These results suggest that sires rank similarly for breeding values across the range of locations and diets used in this study.