Trypanosomes infection in rodents and their zoonotic potential from Ruaha Ward in Kilosa District, Tanzania

Abstract

Zoonotic haemoparasites are among of the public health problems that affect human population and are capable of being transmitted from wildlife reservoirs. Study on trypanosomes infection in rodents from Ruaha ward in Kilosa district, Tanzania was carried out on March 2020. The total of 99 individuals of rodents were captured from different localities in Ruaha, using Sherman live traps. Blood samples were collected from supraorbital vein of captured individuals, both thick and thin smears were made, dried and stained with Giemsa at the ratio of 1:10. After washing and drying they were observed under microscope at 100 magnifications with oil immersion for trypanosomes infection. Out of 99 rodents captured there were, Rattus rattus 22 (22.22%), Mastomys natalensis 72 (72.73%), and Aethomys chrysophilus 5 (5.05%). Among the captured rodents, 62 (62.63%) were males and 37 (37.37%) were females. Rattus rattus appeared to be predominant species in resident areas, while Mastomys natalensis followed by Aethomys chrysophilus bieng dominant in fallow and cultivated land areas. The infectious agent (Protozoa) belonging to genus Trypanosoma was found infecting the rodent population. Rattus rattus (n=3/99, 3.03%) were shown to have high prevalence compared to Mastomys natalensis (n=1/99, 1.01%), meanwhile Aethomys chrysophilus (n=0/99, 0.00%) were found not infected with any trypanosomes. The overall prevalence of trypanosomes were (n=4/99, 4.04%), however, captured female rodents were not infected. It is concluded that zoonotic agent (Trypanosoma spp.) are prevalent to rodents in Ruaha ward, hence it is recommended that more survey of trypanosomes infections in rodents are crucial for disease surveillance as the way toward ending Trypanosomiasis by 2030.