Terrestrial and Subterranean Mammals as Reservoirs of Zoonotic Diseases in the Central Part of European Russia
, Ekaterina Boyarova 2, Oleg Brandler 3, Andrei Tukhbatullin 3 and Svetlana Kapustina 3Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
The term vector is frequently used throughout the manuscript. Do the authors really mean vector – the animal that transmits the pathogen to other hosts – or reservoirs – the species that maintains the pathogen in nature during a defined period of time? Vectors and reservoirs are epidemiologically different terms.
The specific hantavirus detected is not mentioned. This is a significant deficiency. The seriousness of the HFRS disease and consequences of human infection can vary significantly depending on the hantavirus infection involved. For example, Puumala virus causes milder disease than Dobrava-Belgrade virus does in humans. If the identification of the hantaviruses cannot be made, that weakness should be pointed out and some possible public health consequences discussed.
How would humans come into contact with the subterranean greater mole rats or their secreta and become infected with either tularemia bacteria or a hantavirus? What are the possible points of contact and how might that affect the risk of acquiring infection?
Line 21 and 24. HFRS is a clinical syndrome. The mole rat could be a vector or reservoir of the virus or viruses that cause HFRS but not the syndrome itself.
Line 62. .. carriers of zoonotic pathogens would be better
Lines 70-71. What is meant by sensitivity in an epidemiological context?
Line 83. … manifestation or occurrence … ?
Line 129 andline 133 . Cite the manufacturer where the Gero-type traps and pressure traps can be purchased.
Lines 181-203, Table 1 (for. Each of the 3 pathogens and not only the total n tested.). Give number of each species as well as % or proportion
Author Response
Response and comments to 1 reviewer
Dear reviewer, thank you very much. We agree with your comments and questions. Corrections were made to the manuscript. We give the answers in more detail here.
The term vector is frequently used throughout the manuscript. Do the authors really mean vector – the animal that transmits the pathogen to other hosts – or reservoirs – the species that maintains the pathogen in nature during a defined period of time? Vectors and reservoirs are epidemiologically different terms.
Answer: done. We changed to “reservoirs”
The specific hantavirus detected is not mentioned. This is a significant deficiency. The seriousness of the HFRS disease and consequences of human infection can vary significantly depending on the hantavirus infection involved. For example, Puumala virus causes milder disease than Dobrava-Belgrade virus does in humans. If the identification of the hantaviruses cannot be made, that weakness should be pointed out and some possible public health consequences discussed.
Answer: identification of hantavirus species cannot be performed in the laboratories of the region. We understand this as a main drawback of the study, as we fully agree with you about differences in the HFRS disease and its consequences. Therefore we add text in the end of Discussion:
The main drawback of this study was the inability of the laboratories in the region to identify HFRS viruses. Rodents are the main host of various hantaviruses such as Dobrava-Belgrade ortho-hantavirus, Tula ortho-hantavirus, Puumala ortho-hantavirus [46] and the new Rusne hantavirus [47]. However, human infections vary in severityand consequences. Therefore, strengthening laboratory capacity in the region would help to improve the quality of public health in the future.
- Milholland, M.T., Castro-Arellano, I., Suzán, G., Garcia-Peña, G.E., Lee Jr, T.E., Rohde, R.E., Aguirre, A.A., Mills, J.N. Global diversity and distribution of hantaviruses and their hosts. Ecohealth 2018, 15, 163–208.
- Drewes, S., Jeske, K., Straková, P., Balčiauskas, L., Ryll, R., Balčiauskienė, L., Kohlhause, D., Schnidrig, G.A., Hiltbrunner, M., Špakova, A., Insodaitė, R., Petraitytė-Burneikienė, R., Heckel, G., Ulrich, R.G. Identification of a novel hantavirus strain in the root vole (Microtus oeconomus) in Lithuania, Eastern Europe. Infect Genet Evol. 2021, 90, 104520.
How would humans come into contact with the subterranean greater mole rats or their secreta and become infected with either tularemia bacteria or a hantavirus? What are the possible points of contact and how might that affect the risk of acquiring infection?
Answer: People can come into contact with underground mammals and their secretions by doing earthworks (garden, cottages). There are many summer cottages in the habitat areas of these mammals. In addition, we have previously studied animal tenants in the burrows of underground mammals. Many other animal species have been identified there. They can carry sources of infection and infect people.
Line 21 and 24. HFRS is a clinical syndrome. The mole rat could be a vector or reservoir of the virus or viruses that cause HFRS but not the syndrome itself.
Answer: done
Line 62. .. carriers of zoonotic pathogens would be better
Answer: done
Lines 70-71. What is meant by sensitivity in an epidemiological context?
Answer: done. Sensitivity in the epidemiological context refers to the degree of infection of populations.
Line 83. … manifestation or occurrence … ?
Answer: done. «Occurrence».
Line 129 and line133 . Cite the manufacturer where the Gero-type traps and pressure traps can be purchased.
Answer:done. (manufacturer Stayer Standard, St. Petersburg, Russia)
Lines 181-203, Table 1 (for. Each of the 3 pathogens and not only the total n tested.). Give number of each species as well as % or proportion
Answer: done.
Author Response File: 
Author Response.docx
Reviewer 2 Report
The paper is a good manuscript. The understanding that subterranean mammals like moles may be part of the zoonotic transmission chain is important.
There are some changes to be made namely:
1. Page 5, line 174 , space to be placed between 'weretrapped'
2. Page 6, line 141, "The leading way of infection of the population in the past year....." This sentence needs rephrasing as it is not correct in the current form.
3. Page 8, lines 294-295, rephrase the first sentence as it is not coherent.
4. Page 8, lines 3001-301, rephrase the final statement as well as it does not read correctly.
Author Response
Response and comments to 2 reviewer
Dear reviewer, thank you very much. We agree with your comments and questions. Corrections were made to the manuscript. We give the answers in more detail here.
The paper is a good manuscript. The understanding that subterranean mammals like moles may be part of the zoonotic transmission chain is important.
There are some changes to be made namely:
- Page 5, line 174 , space to be placed between 'weretrapped'
Answer: done
- Page 6, line 141, "The leading way of infection of the population in the past year....." This sentence needs rephrasing as it is not correct in the current form.
Answer Line 241: we changed text to “The main mode of infection in the humans last year was contact with small mammals and their secretions at home (53 cases).”
- Page 8, lines 294-295, rephrase the first sentence as it is not coherent.
Answer Line 294: we changed text to “There are different groups of animals in the region in terms of their susceptibility to zoonotic infections, however, only a few species may be an important reservoir.”
- Page 8, lines 3001-301, rephrase the final statement as well as it does not read correctly
Answer Line 300: we changed text to “Among subterranean mammals, tularemia and HFRS was carried only by greater mole rats, European moles were free of these pathogens.”
Author Response File: Author Response.docx
Round 2
Reviewer 1 Report
None
Author Response
Dear Editor,
Thank you very much. Absolutely right. About double infections it concerned subterranean mammals. Among terrestrial mammals, they are noted in two species. We've added it.
According to the Latin names of the genus at the beginning of sentences and at the first mention, they added.
Best regards,
authors
