@article{RyllEidenHeuseretal.2018,
  author    = {Ryll, Rene and Eiden, Martin and Heuser, Elisa and Weinhardt, Markus and Ziege, Madlen and Hoeper, Dirk and Groschup, Martin H. and Heckel, Gerald and Johne, Reimar and Ulrich, Rainer G.},
  title     = {Hepatitis E virus in feral rabbits along a rural-urban transect in Central Germany},
  series = {Infection, genetics and evolution : journal of molecular epidemiology and evolutionary genetics and infectious diseases (MEEGID)},
  volume    = {61},
  journal   = {Infection, genetics and evolution : journal of molecular epidemiology and evolutionary genetics and infectious diseases (MEEGID)},
  publisher = {Elsevier},
  address   = {Amsterdam},
  issn      = {1567-1348},
  doi       = {10.1016/j.meegid.2018.03.019},
  pages     = {155 -- 159},
  year      = {2018},
  abstract  = {Rabbit associated genotype 3 hepatitis E virus (HEV) strains were detected in feral, pet and farm rabbits in different parts of the world since 2009 and recently also in human patients. Here, we report a serological and molecular survey on 72 feral rabbits, collected along a rural-urban transect in and next to Frankfurt am Main, Central Germany. ELISA investigations revealed in 25 of 72 (34.7\%) animals HEV-specific antibodies. HEV derived RNA was detected in 18 of 72 (25\%) animals by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction assay. The complete genomes from two rabbitHEV-strains, one from a rural site and the other from an inner-city area, were generated by a combination of high-throughput sequencing, a primer walking approach and 5′- and 3′- rapid amplification of cDNA ends. Phylogenetic analysis of open reading frame (ORF)1-derived partial and complete ORF1/ORF2 concatenated coding sequences indicated their similarity to rabbit-associated HEV strains. The partial sequences revealed one cluster of closely-related rabbitHEV sequences from the urban trapping sites that is well separated from several clusters representing rabbitHEV sequences from rural trapping sites. The complete genome sequences of the two novel strains indicated similarities of 75.6-86.4\% to the other 17 rabbitHEV sequences; the amino acid sequence identity of the concatenated ORF1/ORF2-encoded proteins reached 89.0-93.1\%. The detection of rabbitHEV in an inner-city area with a high human population density suggests a high risk of potential human infection with the zoonotic rabbitHEV, either by direct or indirect contact with infected animals. Therefore, future investigations on the occurrence and frequency of human infections with rabbitHEV are warranted in populations with different contact to rabbits.},
  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}
}
@article{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 = {Toxins},
  volume    = {12},
  journal   = {Toxins},
  number    = {2},
  publisher = {MDPI},
  address   = {Basel},
  issn      = {2072-6651},
  doi       = {10.3390/toxins12020080},
  pages     = {1 -- 22},
  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}
}