Exotic Small Mammals as Potential Reservoirs of Zoonotic Bartonella spp, Article Critique Example

Article Source:

Inoue, K; Maruyama, S; Kabeya, H.et al. (2009). Exotic Small Mammals as Potential Reservoirs of Zoonotic Bartonella spp. University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan.

The need to make sure that human health is assured of its safety. Understandably, it could be realized that it is because of this that all possible options of developmental science are being given particular attention to so as to create programs that would make it easier for human health to be properly protected. Along with the desire to do so, it is very important that the different possible sources of health issues be specifically identified and rather controlled at the most possible effective process available. For the study of Inoue and his colleagues, establishing a more defined indication of whether or not small mammals kept as pets by owners in Japan could be possible carriers or reservoirs of Zoonotic Bartonella spp has been given attention to. This particular vector-borne bacterium is known to carry specific health imbalances in humans that could cause nervous system infections. Hence, making sure of this particular matter so as to promote better health for pet owners is an essential part of the desire to protect human health.

The study has been founded upon three core objectives. One is to examine the occurrence of Bartonella spp in small mammals imported into Japan from the North American and Asian territories. Second is the desire to compare the diversity of the Bartonella strains in different species through the use of the difference courses of statistical analysis. Third is the desire to evaluate the possibility that small mammals do serve as carriers and/or reservoirs of the said bacteria hence endangering the health and life of the pet owners who buy them.

Through the utilization of the DNA Extraction and PCR and the analysis of results through using DNA sequencing phylogenic analysis and the statistical analysis of the numerical coefficients of the gained results, it has been found out that it is indeed possible for small mammals to carry and reserve the said bacteria in their system. In relation to this though, certain concentrations on regional growth has been considered as a relative patter for the bacteria’s growth in the animal. The result yielded that at least 26% high prevalence have been measured from animals captured and imported from Asia compared to the lower result gained when animals from North America have been tested. Hence, to prevent further human infection from Bartonella spp bacteria, it is necessary that a quarantine system be established early on at the moment of receipt of the animals from the regions of source. In a way, this process shall assure the containment of the bacteria in case it does remain in the system of a particular small mammal even before it is released to buyong pet owners.

Although the research was able to contend to complete the desired objectives it has been established upon, it could be noted that the researchers strongly suggested the fact that further study is needed so as to be able to create a diagrammatic presentation or a more clarified discussion that would identify the specific route of transmission that Bartonella spp takes towards entering the human immune and nervous system so as to make the study more responsive for practical utilization.