A survey of some zoonotic bacteria in house mice (Mus musculus) in rural areas of Shahrekord, Iran

Mice play a significant role in public health, mainly due to their role as carriers or reservoirs for microorganisms associated with infections and diseases that can be transmitted to humans. The present work was conducted to determine the presence of some zoonotic bacteria in the caecal, liver, kidney and nasopharynx samples of house mice (Mus musculus) trapped in rural houses of Shahrekord district in central, Iran. One hundred and seven mice living on rural houses (or in their vicinity) were randomly trapped and collected. This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted in a period of six months. A total of four hundred and twenty eight specimens of nasopharynx, intestinal contents, liver and kidney (each=107) were used to isolate Strptobacillus moniliformis, streptococci, staphylococci, salmonella serotypes, E. coli and to detect pathogenic leptospira infection using PCR method. Data were presented as frequency and percentage. Infection by pathogenic Leptospira, S. moniliformis and coagulase positive Staphylococcus were not detected in specimens of liver, kidney and nasopharynx. The bacteria isolated in this study were E. coli (58.9%), Proteous vulgaris (7.5%) and Salmonella serotypes (5.6%). Coagulase negative staphylococci (19.6%), α –hemolytic Streptococcus (4.7%), β-hemolytic Streptococcus (7.5%) were the other dominant isolated bacteria. We concluded that the house mice in the studied areas may carry Salmonella spp, and β- hemolytic Streptococcus. In this study did not found other bacteria. It is essential to conduct the same survey at different times and places.