Detection and phylogenetic analysis of Streptobacillus moniliformis, the causative agent of rat-bite fever and Haverhill fever, in free-living greater bandicoot rats in Northeastern India.
A A P Milton, Aleimo G Momin, K Srinivas, G Bhuvana Priya, P N Gandhale, D M Firake, Samir Das, S Ghatak, A Sen
{"title":"Detection and phylogenetic analysis of <i>Streptobacillus moniliformis</i>, the causative agent of rat-bite fever and Haverhill fever, in free-living greater bandicoot rats in Northeastern India.","authors":"A A P Milton, Aleimo G Momin, K Srinivas, G Bhuvana Priya, P N Gandhale, D M Firake, Samir Das, S Ghatak, A Sen","doi":"10.14202/vetworld.2025.455-460","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background and aim: </strong><i>Streptobacillus moniliformis</i> is the causative agent of zoonotic diseases such as rat-bite fever (RBF) and Haverhill fever (HF). While human infections are well-documented, limited studies have explored its presence in rodents in India. This study aimed to detect <i>S. moniliformis</i> in free-living bandicoots (<i>Bandicota bengalensis</i> and <i>Bandicota indica</i>) in Northeastern India and perform a phylogenetic analysis to assess its genetic relationship with global isolates.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>A total of 106 bandicoots (<i>B. bengalensis</i>, n = 76; <i>B. indica</i>, n = 30) were captured from various environments in Meghalaya, India. Fecal and tissue samples were collected and subjected to DNA extraction. Molecular detection of <i>S. moniliformis</i> was conducted using species-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) targeting the 16S ribosomal RNA gene. Positive amplicons were sequenced, analyzed using Basic Local Alignment Search Tool, and subjected to phylogenetic analysis.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>PCR-based detection revealed a fecal prevalence of 3.3% (1/30) in <i>B. indica</i> and 0% in <i>B. bengalensis</i>. No tissue samples tested positive for <i>S. moniliformis</i>. The detected isolate exhibited 100% sequence identity with previously reported <i>S. moniliformis</i> strains and 99.63% similarity to <i>Streptobacillus notomytis</i>. Phylogenetic analysis clustered the recovered isolate with human and rodent-derived <i>S. moniliformis</i> strains from multiple global regions, suggesting potential zoonotic transmission.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This study presents the first molecular detection of <i>S. moniliformis</i> in bandicoots from India, highlighting its zoonotic potential. Given its transmission risks through rodent bites and excreta contamination, public health surveillance is essential. Clinicians should consider RBF and HF in patients presenting with prolonged fever, particularly in rodent-endemic areas.</p>","PeriodicalId":23587,"journal":{"name":"Veterinary World","volume":"18 2","pages":"455-460"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7000,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11963573/pdf/","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Veterinary World","FirstCategoryId":"1085","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.14202/vetworld.2025.455-460","RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":null,"ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"2025/2/19 0:00:00","PubModel":"Epub","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"AGRICULTURE, DAIRY & ANIMAL SCIENCE","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Background and aim: Streptobacillus moniliformis is the causative agent of zoonotic diseases such as rat-bite fever (RBF) and Haverhill fever (HF). While human infections are well-documented, limited studies have explored its presence in rodents in India. This study aimed to detect S. moniliformis in free-living bandicoots (Bandicota bengalensis and Bandicota indica) in Northeastern India and perform a phylogenetic analysis to assess its genetic relationship with global isolates.
Materials and methods: A total of 106 bandicoots (B. bengalensis, n = 76; B. indica, n = 30) were captured from various environments in Meghalaya, India. Fecal and tissue samples were collected and subjected to DNA extraction. Molecular detection of S. moniliformis was conducted using species-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) targeting the 16S ribosomal RNA gene. Positive amplicons were sequenced, analyzed using Basic Local Alignment Search Tool, and subjected to phylogenetic analysis.
Results: PCR-based detection revealed a fecal prevalence of 3.3% (1/30) in B. indica and 0% in B. bengalensis. No tissue samples tested positive for S. moniliformis. The detected isolate exhibited 100% sequence identity with previously reported S. moniliformis strains and 99.63% similarity to Streptobacillus notomytis. Phylogenetic analysis clustered the recovered isolate with human and rodent-derived S. moniliformis strains from multiple global regions, suggesting potential zoonotic transmission.
Conclusion: This study presents the first molecular detection of S. moniliformis in bandicoots from India, highlighting its zoonotic potential. Given its transmission risks through rodent bites and excreta contamination, public health surveillance is essential. Clinicians should consider RBF and HF in patients presenting with prolonged fever, particularly in rodent-endemic areas.
期刊介绍：
Veterinary World publishes high quality papers focusing on Veterinary and Animal Science. The fields of study are bacteriology, parasitology, pathology, virology, immunology, mycology, public health, biotechnology, meat science, fish diseases, nutrition, gynecology, genetics, wildlife, laboratory animals, animal models of human infections, prion diseases and epidemiology. Studies on zoonotic and emerging infections are highly appreciated. Review articles are highly appreciated. All articles published by Veterinary World are made freely and permanently accessible online. All articles to Veterinary World are posted online immediately as they are ready for publication.
求助内容：
应助结果提醒方式：
京公网安备 11010802042870号
