Rodent-Related Zoonotic Pathogens at the Human-Animal-Environment Interface in Qatar: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Abstract

Rodents are one of the most diversified terrestrial mammals, and they perform several beneficial activities in nature. These animals are also important as carriers of many pathogens with public health importance. The current systematic review was conducted to formulate a true depiction of rodent-related zoonoses in Qatar. Following systematic searches on PubMed, Scopus, Science Direct, and Web of Science and a screening process, a total of 94 published articles were selected and studied. The studied articles reported 23 rodent-related zoonotic pathogens that include nine bacterial, eleven parasitic, and three viral pathogens, from which the frequently reported pathogens were Mycobacterium tuberculosis (32 reports), Escherichia coli (23), and Salmonella spp. (16). The possible pathway of entry of the rodent-borne pathogens can be the land port, seaports, and airport of Qatar through carrier humans and animals, contaminated food, and agricultural products. The pathogens can be conserved internally by rodents, pets, and livestock; by agricultural production systems; and by food marketing chains. The overall estimated pooled prevalence of the pathogens among the human population was 4.27% (95%CI: 4.03-4.51%; p < 0.001) with significant heterogeneity (I² = 99.50%). The top three highest prevalent pathogens were M.tuberculosis (30.90%; 22.75-39.04%; p < 0.001; I² = 99.70%) followed by Toxoplasmagondii (21.93%; 6.23-37.61%; p < 0.001; I² = 99.30%) and hepatitis E virus (18.29%; 11.72-24.86%; p < 0.001; I² = 96.70%). However, there is a knowledge gap about the listed pathogens regarding the occurrence, transmission pathways, and rodent role in transmission dynamics at the human-animal-environment interface in Qatar. Further studies are required to explore the role of rodents in spreading zoonotic pathogens through the One Health framework, consisting of zoologists, ecologists, microbiologists, entomologists, veterinarians, and public health experts in this country.

Keywords: One Health; Qatar; environment; meta-analysis; pathogens; public health; rodents.

Figure 1

PRISMA flow diagram describing selection of published articles on rodent-related diseases with public health importance in Qatar and the inclusion/exclusion process used in the study.

Figure 2

Possible transmission pathways of the rodent-related zoonotic pathogens at the human–animal–environmental interface in Qatar. The stars indicate the plausible routes of entry of rodent-related pathogens in Qatar via carrier immigrants and the importing of contaminated food and agricultural products. “A” indicates that rodents can be a source of transmission of pathogens among livestock animals and humans inside Qatar. Similarly, the figure illustrates how rodents can facilitate zoonotic pathogens transmission among agricultural products and humans “B”, residential areas between humans and pet animal “C”, in the environment between stray cats and dogs, wildlife, and humans “D”, fresh food in households, restaurants, markets, and humans “E”, and through the sewage system “F”. Rodents can interlink zoonotic pathogens “G” between A, B, C, D, E, and F.

Figure 3

Forest plot of the pooled overall prevalence of rodent-related pathogens in Qatar. The central square represents point estimates, whereas the square size represents the weight of each study in the meta-analysis.

Figure 4

Rodent-related zoonotic pathogens identified at the human–animal–environmental interface in Qatar.