Small rodents, huge impact: A scoping review of European Apodemus species in the ecology of directly transmitted, environmentally mediated, and interface-associated zoonotic pathogens

European Apodemus rodents host zoonotic pathogens across wildlife, agricultural and peri-urban interfaces, but the evidence remains fragmented. We conducted a PRISMA-guided scoping review of English-language, peer-reviewed primary studies published during 2000–2025 reporting positive Apodemus-specific evidence for zoonotic viral or bacterial pathogens in Europe. Europe PMC, PubMed, Web of Science and CABI Digital Library were searched, with supplementary citation searching. Of 4051 pathogen-specific records screened, 166 eligible pathogen-specific article records were retained, representing 141 unique publications and 241 pathogen-study records. We charted pathogen, host, geography, diagnostic method, evidence type and ecological determinants. Evidence was strongest for Hantaviridae and Leptospira spp.; moderate or context-dependent for Arenaviridae, Poxviridae, Francisella tularensis, Yersinia spp., Campylobacter spp., Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus; and sparse or principally detection-oriented for Astroviridae, Coronaviridae, Paramyxoviridae, Clostridioides difficile and Mycobacterium spp. Reported determinants included host traits and abundance, seasonality, resource pulses, habitat and land use, rainfall, temperature, humidity, flooding and synanthropic exposure. Substantial heterogeneity in study design, assays, host identification, denominators and ecological covariates precluded pooled prevalence or effect synthesis. Detection or seropositivity was therefore not interpreted as proof of reservoir competence. European Apodemus species are best regarded as potential reservoirs in selected systems and, more broadly, as ecological interface hosts connecting wildlife, environmental, livestock, peri-urban and human-exposure pathways. One Health surveillance should integrate host monitoring and identification with pathogen diagnostics, environmental indicators, veterinary reporting, public-health data and human-exposure surveillance at shared spatial and temporal scales.