Molecular and serological survey of Brucella spp. among rodents in western Iran

Abstract Introduction and purpose Brucellosis is a prevalent bacterial zoonosis globally, affecting a broad range of hosts. The role of rodents in the survival and transmission of Brucella species to humans remains uncertain. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of Brucella infection among...

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Main Authors: Majid Hemati, Mohammad Khalili, Saber Esmaeili, Ahmad Mahmoudi, Hossein Ahangari Cohan, Ehsan Mostafavi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-04-01
Series:BMC Veterinary Research
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-025-04698-9
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author Majid Hemati
Mohammad Khalili
Saber Esmaeili
Ahmad Mahmoudi
Hossein Ahangari Cohan
Ehsan Mostafavi
author_facet Majid Hemati
Mohammad Khalili
Saber Esmaeili
Ahmad Mahmoudi
Hossein Ahangari Cohan
Ehsan Mostafavi
author_sort Majid Hemati
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Introduction and purpose Brucellosis is a prevalent bacterial zoonosis globally, affecting a broad range of hosts. The role of rodents in the survival and transmission of Brucella species to humans remains uncertain. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of Brucella infection among wild rodents in western Iran, specifically in KabudarAhang County within Hamadan Province. Materials and methods Sampling was conducted across various regions of KabudarAhang County in western Iran between April 2014 and September 2017. Serological testing was performed using the standard tube agglutination method while molecular investigation was carried out through real-time PCR analysis. Subsequently, molecularly positive samples underwent species identification via conventional PCR. Results Serological testing revealed 7 positive samples (1.76%), including four Meriones persicus, one Mus musculus, one Meriones libycus, and one Spermophilus fulvus. In the molecular survey, three samples (0.68%) tested positive for Brucella; these included one M. musculus and two M. persicus. The molecular species identification test detected B. abortus in M. musculus among those positive for Brucella. Conclusion These findings suggest that wild rodents may play an overlooked role in the maintenance of pathogenic Brucella species in natural environments. Furthermore, in situations where standard diagnostic guidelines for brucellosis in wildlife are not well established, employing multiple testing approaches is crucial for accurate detection.
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spelling doaj-art-574c0e708a884012baac7a7e6480501c2025-08-20T02:25:40ZengBMCBMC Veterinary Research1746-61482025-04-012111710.1186/s12917-025-04698-9Molecular and serological survey of Brucella spp. among rodents in western IranMajid Hemati0Mohammad Khalili1Saber Esmaeili2Ahmad Mahmoudi3Hossein Ahangari Cohan4Ehsan Mostafavi5Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Shahid Bahonar University of KermanDepartment of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Shahid Bahonar UniversityNational Reference Laboratory for Plague, Tularemia and Q Fever, Research Centre for Emerging and Reemerging Infectious Diseases, Pasteur Institute of IranDepartment of Biology, Faculty of Science, Urmia UniversityNational Reference Laboratory for Plague, Tularemia and Q Fever, Research Centre for Emerging and Reemerging Infectious Diseases, Pasteur Institute of IranNational Reference Laboratory for Plague, Tularemia and Q Fever, Research Centre for Emerging and Reemerging Infectious Diseases, Pasteur Institute of IranAbstract Introduction and purpose Brucellosis is a prevalent bacterial zoonosis globally, affecting a broad range of hosts. The role of rodents in the survival and transmission of Brucella species to humans remains uncertain. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of Brucella infection among wild rodents in western Iran, specifically in KabudarAhang County within Hamadan Province. Materials and methods Sampling was conducted across various regions of KabudarAhang County in western Iran between April 2014 and September 2017. Serological testing was performed using the standard tube agglutination method while molecular investigation was carried out through real-time PCR analysis. Subsequently, molecularly positive samples underwent species identification via conventional PCR. Results Serological testing revealed 7 positive samples (1.76%), including four Meriones persicus, one Mus musculus, one Meriones libycus, and one Spermophilus fulvus. In the molecular survey, three samples (0.68%) tested positive for Brucella; these included one M. musculus and two M. persicus. The molecular species identification test detected B. abortus in M. musculus among those positive for Brucella. Conclusion These findings suggest that wild rodents may play an overlooked role in the maintenance of pathogenic Brucella species in natural environments. Furthermore, in situations where standard diagnostic guidelines for brucellosis in wildlife are not well established, employing multiple testing approaches is crucial for accurate detection.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-025-04698-9BrucellaRodentSurveyPCRWright testIran
spellingShingle Majid Hemati
Mohammad Khalili
Saber Esmaeili
Ahmad Mahmoudi
Hossein Ahangari Cohan
Ehsan Mostafavi
Molecular and serological survey of Brucella spp. among rodents in western Iran
BMC Veterinary Research
Brucella
Rodent
Survey
PCR
Wright test
Iran
title Molecular and serological survey of Brucella spp. among rodents in western Iran
title_full Molecular and serological survey of Brucella spp. among rodents in western Iran
title_fullStr Molecular and serological survey of Brucella spp. among rodents in western Iran
title_full_unstemmed Molecular and serological survey of Brucella spp. among rodents in western Iran
title_short Molecular and serological survey of Brucella spp. among rodents in western Iran
title_sort molecular and serological survey of brucella spp among rodents in western iran
topic Brucella
Rodent
Survey
PCR
Wright test
Iran
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-025-04698-9
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AT mohammadkhalili molecularandserologicalsurveyofbrucellasppamongrodentsinwesterniran
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AT ahmadmahmoudi molecularandserologicalsurveyofbrucellasppamongrodentsinwesterniran
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