Lack of evidence for the presence of Leprosy Bacilli in Red Squirrels from North-West Europe

Maria Tió-Coma; Hein Sprong; Marja Kik; Jaap T. van Dissel; Xiang-Yang Han; Toine Pieters; Annemieke Geluk

doi:10.1111/tbed.13423

Lack of evidence for the presence of Leprosy Bacilli in Red Squirrels from North-West Europe

Maria Tió-Coma, Hein Sprong, Marja Kik, Jaap T. van Dissel, Xiang-Yang Han, Toine Pieters, Annemieke Geluk

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

Abstract

Leprosy is a human infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae or Mycobacterium lepromatosis that can also occur in animals and even manifest as zoonosis. Recently, both mycobacteria were detected in red squirrels (Sciurus vulgaris) from the British Isles. To further explore the presence of leprosy-bacilli in North-West Europe, we screened Belgian and Dutch squirrels. Tissue samples from 115 animals tested by qPCR were negative for both pathogens. No molecular or pathological evidence was found of the presence of these zoonotic pathogens in North-West Europe.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	1032-1034
Number of pages	3
Journal	Transboundary and Emerging Diseases
Volume	67
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1111/tbed.13423
Publication status	Published - 1 Mar 2020

Keywords

M. lepromatosis
leprosy
OneHealth
red squirrel
zoonosis

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.1111/tbed.13423

tbed.13423Final published version, 339 KBLicence: Taverne

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title = "Lack of evidence for the presence of Leprosy Bacilli in Red Squirrels from North-West Europe",

abstract = "Leprosy is a human infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae or Mycobacterium lepromatosis that can also occur in animals and even manifest as zoonosis. Recently, both mycobacteria were detected in red squirrels (Sciurus vulgaris) from the British Isles. To further explore the presence of leprosy-bacilli in North-West Europe, we screened Belgian and Dutch squirrels. Tissue samples from 115 animals tested by qPCR were negative for both pathogens. No molecular or pathological evidence was found of the presence of these zoonotic pathogens in North-West Europe.",

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T1 - Lack of evidence for the presence of Leprosy Bacilli in Red Squirrels from North-West Europe

AU - Tió-Coma, Maria

AU - Sprong, Hein

AU - Kik, Marja

AU - van Dissel, Jaap T.

AU - Han, Xiang-Yang

AU - Pieters, Toine

AU - Geluk, Annemieke

PY - 2020/3/1

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N2 - Leprosy is a human infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae or Mycobacterium lepromatosis that can also occur in animals and even manifest as zoonosis. Recently, both mycobacteria were detected in red squirrels (Sciurus vulgaris) from the British Isles. To further explore the presence of leprosy-bacilli in North-West Europe, we screened Belgian and Dutch squirrels. Tissue samples from 115 animals tested by qPCR were negative for both pathogens. No molecular or pathological evidence was found of the presence of these zoonotic pathogens in North-West Europe.

AB - Leprosy is a human infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae or Mycobacterium lepromatosis that can also occur in animals and even manifest as zoonosis. Recently, both mycobacteria were detected in red squirrels (Sciurus vulgaris) from the British Isles. To further explore the presence of leprosy-bacilli in North-West Europe, we screened Belgian and Dutch squirrels. Tissue samples from 115 animals tested by qPCR were negative for both pathogens. No molecular or pathological evidence was found of the presence of these zoonotic pathogens in North-West Europe.

KW - M. lepromatosis

KW - leprosy

KW - OneHealth

KW - red squirrel

KW - zoonosis

U2 - 10.1111/tbed.13423

DO - 10.1111/tbed.13423

M3 - Article

SN - 1865-1674

VL - 67

SP - 1032

EP - 1034

JO - Transboundary and Emerging Diseases

JF - Transboundary and Emerging Diseases

IS - 2

ER -

Lack of evidence for the presence of Leprosy Bacilli in Red Squirrels from North-West Europe

Abstract

Keywords

UN SDGs

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