Volume 29, Number 9—September 2023
Dispatch
Rat Hepatitis E Virus in Norway Rats, Ontario, Canada, 2018–2021
Sarah J. Robinson
, Jamie Borlang, Chelsea G. Himsworth, David L. Pearl, J. Scott Weese, Antonia Dibernardo, Carla Osiowy, Neda Nasheri, and Claire M. Jardine
, Jamie Borlang, Chelsea G. Himsworth, David L. Pearl, J. Scott Weese, Antonia Dibernardo, Carla Osiowy, Neda Nasheri, and Claire M. Jardine
Table
Descriptive statistics for rat demographic variables, land use, season, and year of collection and results from exact logistic regression analyses evaluating associations with hepatitis E virus PCR status among 372 Norway rats (collected in southern Ontario, Canada, during November 2018–June 2021
| Category, no. with data available | No. (%) | PCR-positive (%) | PCR-negative (%) | Odds ratio (95% CI) | p value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sex, n = 361 | |||||
| F | 185 (51.2) | 9 (4.9) | 176 (95.1) | Referent | |
| M |
176 (48.8) |
11 (6.3) |
165 (93.7) |
1.13 (0.43–2.95) |
0.955 |
| Sexual maturity, n = 360 | |||||
| Immature | 126 (35.0) | 1 (0.8) | 125 (99.2) | Referent | |
| Mature |
234 (65.0) |
19 (8.1) |
215 (91.9) |
3.99 (1.14–21.47) |
0.025 |
| Body condition, n = 363 | |||||
| Poor | 251 (69.1) | 11 (4.4) | 240 (95.6) | Referent | |
| Good |
112 (30.9) |
9 (8.0) |
103 (92.0) |
1.66 (0.61–4.36) |
0.361 |
| Land use, n = 372* | |||||
| Residential | 195 (52.4) | 11 (5.6) | 184 (94.4) | Referent | |
| Nonresidential |
177 (47.6) |
10 (5.6) |
167 (94.4) |
0.92 (0.35–2.39) |
1.000 |
| Season, n = 372† | |||||
| Summer/fall | 154 (41.4) | 8 (5.2) | 146 (94.8) | Referent | |
| Winter/spring |
218 (58.6) |
13 (6.0) |
205 (94.0) |
1.03 (0.39–2.80) |
1.000 |
| Year of collection, n = 372 | |||||
| 2018 | 43 (11.6) | 4 (9.3) | 39 (90.7) | Referent | |
| 2019 | 193 (51.9) | 11 (5.7) | 182 (94.3) | 0.47 (0.14–1.84) | 0.307 |
| 2020 | 93 (25.0) | 2 (2.2) | 91 (97.8) | 0.17 (0.02–1.12) | 0.069 |
| 2021 | 43 (11.6) | 4 (9.3) | 39 (90.7) | 0.80 (0.15–4.04) | 1.000 |
*Land use was defined as residential and nonresidential (i.e., institutional, industrial, commercial, and mixed). †Seasons were defined as winter (December–February), spring (March–May), summer (June–August), and fall (September–November).
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Page updated: August 20, 2023
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