@misc{MaazKrueckenBluemkeetal.2018,
  author    = {Maaz, Denny and Kr{\"u}cken, J{\"u}rgen and Bl{\"u}mke, Julia and Richter, Dania and McKay-Demeler, Janina and Matuschka, Franz-Rainer and Hartmann, Susanne and von Samson-Himmelstjerna, Georg},
  title     = {Factors associated with diversity, quantity and zoonotic potential of ectoparasites on urban mice and voles},
  series = {Postprints der Universit{\"a}t Potsdam Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Reihe},
  journal   = {Postprints der Universit{\"a}t Potsdam Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Reihe},
  number    = {685},
  issn      = {1866-8372},
  doi       = {10.25932/publishup-42684},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-426843},
  pages     = {32},
  year      = {2018},
  abstract  = {Wild rodents are important hosts for tick larvae but co-infestations with other mites and insects are largely neglected. Small rodents were trapped at four study sites in Berlin, Germany, to quantify their ectoparasite diversity. Host-specific, spatial and temporal occurrence of ectoparasites was determined to assess their influence on direct and indirect zoonotic risk due to mice and voles in an urban agglomeration. Rodent-associated arthropods were diverse, including 63 species observed on six host species with an overall prevalence of 99\%. The tick Ixodes ricinus was the most prevalent species, found on 56\% of the rodents. The trapping location clearly affected the presence of different rodent species and, therefore, the occurrence of particular host-specific parasites. In Berlin, fewer temporary and periodic parasite species as well as non-parasitic species (fleas, chiggers and nidicolous Gamasina) were detected than reported from rural areas. In addition, abundance of parasites with low host-specificity (ticks, fleas and chiggers) apparently decreased with increasing landscape fragmentation associated with a gradient of urbanisation. In contrast, stationary ectoparasites, closely adapted to the rodent host, such as the fur mites Myobiidae and Listrophoridae, were most abundant at the two urban sites. A direct zoonotic risk of infection for people may only be posed by Nosopsyllus fasciatus fleas, which were prevalent even in the city centre. More importantly, peridomestic rodents clearly supported the life cycle of ticks in the city as hosts for their subadult stages. In addition to trapping location, season, host species, body condition and host sex, infestation with fleas, gamasid Laelapidae mites and prostigmatic Myobiidae mites were associated with significantly altered abundance of I. ricinus larvae on mice and voles. Whether this is caused by predation, grooming behaviour or interaction with the host immune system is unclear. The present study constitutes a basis to identify interactions and vector function of rodent-associated arthropods and their potential impact on zoonotic diseases.},
  language  = {en}
}
@misc{RaafatMrochenAl’Sholuietal.2020,
  author    = {Raafat, Dina and Mrochen, Daniel M. and Al'Sholui, Fawaz and Heuser, Elisa and Ryll, Ren{\´e} and Pritchett-Corning, Kathleen R. and Jacob, Jens and Walther, Bernd and Matuschka, Franz-Rainer and Richter, Dania},
  title     = {Molecular epidemiology of methicillin-susceptible and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in wild, captive and laboratory rats},
  series = {Zweitver{\"o}ffentlichungen der Universit{\"a}t Potsdam : Humanwissenschaftliche Reihe},
  journal   = {Zweitver{\"o}ffentlichungen der Universit{\"a}t Potsdam : Humanwissenschaftliche Reihe},
  number    = {2},
  issn      = {1866-8364},
  doi       = {10.25932/publishup-51237},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-512379},
  pages     = {24},
  year      = {2020},
  abstract  = {Rats are a reservoir of human- and livestock-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). However, the composition of the natural S. aureus population in wild and laboratory rats is largely unknown. Here, 144 nasal S. aureus isolates from free-living wild rats, captive wild rats and laboratory rats were genotyped and profiled for antibiotic resistances and human-specific virulence genes. The nasal S. aureus carriage rate was higher among wild rats (23.4\%) than laboratory rats (12.3\%). Free-living wild rats were primarily colonized with isolates of clonal complex (CC) 49 and CC130 and maintained these strains even in husbandry. Moreover, upon livestock contact, CC398 isolates were acquired. In contrast, laboratory rats were colonized with many different S. aureus lineages—many of which are commonly found in humans. Five captive wild rats were colonized with CC398-MRSA. Moreover, a single CC30-MRSA and two CC130-MRSA were detected in free-living or captive wild rats. Rat-derived S. aureus isolates rarely harbored the phage-carried immune evasion gene cluster or superantigen genes, suggesting long-term adaptation to their host. Taken together, our study revealed a natural S. aureus population in wild rats, as well as a colonization pressure on wild and laboratory rats by exposure to livestock- and human-associated S. aureus, respectively.},
  language  = {en}
}