Sorex araneus is a pathogenic microbial threat in commercial poultry farms

Abstract

• Rodents can be abundant around poultry houses, share their habitat with waterfowl and can readily enter poultry houses. Infective bacteria have been found in the feces, urine, and blood of Eurasian Shrew (Sorex Araneus) that live in poultry farms. 22 shrews were caught, and their guts were examined for harmful germs. In feces, Escherichia coli and Proteus species were found in 59.09% and 18.18% of cases, respectively. Salmonella spp. were found in 72.72% of feces and urine samples. Rodents can be abundant around poultry houses, share their habitat with waterfowl and can readily enter poultry houses. Different viruses and bacteria can replicate in rodents without adaptation, resulting in high viral titres in lungs and nasal turbinates, virus presence in nasal washes and saliva, and transmission to naïve contact animals. Therefore, active viruses shedding by infected rodents may play a role in transmission to poultry. Making poultry houses rodent-proof and the immediate surroundings unattractive for rodents are recommended as preventive measures against possible any viruses and bacteria introduction. It is determined that common shrews serve as a reservoir for dangerous microorganisms, which can be avoided using effective shrew-eradication measures on poultry farms.