Browsing by Author "Massawe, A. W."
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Item Arenavirus infection correlates with lower survival of its natural rodent host in a long-term capture-mark-recapture study(2018) Mariën, J.; Sluydts, V.; Borremans, B.; Gryseels, S.; Broecke, B. V.; Sabuni, C. A.; Katakweba, A. A. S.; Mulungu, L. S.; Günther, S.; de Bellocq, J. G.; Massawe, A. W.; Leirs, HBackground: Parasite evolution is hypothesized to select for levels of parasite virulence that maximise transmission success. When host population densities fluctuate, low levels of virulence with limited impact on the host are expected, as this should increase the likelihood of surviving periods of low host density. We examined the effects of Morogoro arenavirus on the survival and recapture probability of multimammate mice (Mastomys natalensis) using a seven-year capture-mark-recapture time series. Mastomys natalensis is the natural host of Morogoro virus and is known for its strong seasonal density fluctuations. Results: Antibody presence was negatively correlated with survival probability (effect size: 5–8% per month depending on season) but positively with recapture probability (effect size: 8%). Conclusions: The small negative correlation between host survival probability and antibody presence suggests that either the virus has a negative effect on host condition, or that hosts with lower survival probability are more likely to obtain Morogoro virus infection, for example due to particular behavioural or immunological traits. The latter hypothesis is supported by the positive correlation between antibody status and recapture probability which suggests that risky behaviour might increase the probability of becoming infected.Item Breeding dynamics of rodent species inhabiting farm–fallow mosaic fields in Central Tanzania(2012-04) Massawe, A. W.; Makundi, R. H.; Mulungu, L. S.; Katakweba, A.; Shayo, T. N.The breeding dynamics of three species of rodents, Mastomys natalensis, Aethomys chrysophilus and Gerbilliscus vicina were investigated in a seasonal environment (wet versus dry) in Berega in the eastern parts of central Tanzania. Berega has a distinct unimodal rainfall pattern, with most rainfall from November to April/May. We hypothesized that breeding of rodents in central Tanzania would be confined to the wet season, when unlimited resources would be available for reproduction. We provide evidence of breeding discontinuity in the three species, showing that breeding was seasonally restricted to the wet season and early in the dry season. The observed discontinuity could largely be ascribed to variation in primary productivity between the wet and dry seasons. Reproductively active females were found in the population as early as November, a month into the rainy season, but when early rains occurred, some individuals were already breeding in October. Breeding was more intensive in the latter part of the wet season (March–May) and completely ceased during the dry season. For M. natalensis, survival was highest in the wet period and low in the dry season. The study provides knowledge on the breeding dynamics of rodents in central Tanzania, which can help farmers to take proactive rodent management decisions to prevent high rodent densities and reduce crop damage in the fields. Application of control measures by the community early in the season when populations of reproductive females is lowest will be most rewarding.Item Breeding patterns of Arvicanthis neumanni in central Tanzania(Blackwell Publishing Ltd, Afr. J. Eco, 2007) Massawe, A. W.; Mrosso, F. P.; Makundi, Rhodes H.; Mulungu, Loth S.The breeding pattern of the grass rat, Arvicanthis neumanni, was investigated in central Tanzania in 2002 ⁄ 2003. Nine hundred and forty-seven animals were captured in three age groups: juveniles, sub adults and adults. These age groups were present in the population for an extended duration, but there was an increase in the number of sexually active individuals and juveniles 2–3 months after the onset of the rains (December 2002–May 2003). A peak in reproductive activity occurred between January and April. Litter size ranged between 5.58 ± 0.42 and 6.1 ± 0.26 in two study sites. There were no significant differences in the number of embryos implanted in the right and left horns of the uterus of pregnant females (t 22 = 0, P > 0.05 and t 36 = 1.68, P > 0.05, respec- tively). Sex ratio of A. neumanni was not skewed to either males or females. Breeding was seasonal and seemed to be associated with seasonal variations in primary productiv- ity, which relates to rainfall patterns.Item Breeding seasonality and population dynamics of three rodent species in the Magamba Forest Reserve, Western Usambara Mountains, north-east Tanzania(Blackwell Publishing Ltd, 2006) Makundi, Rhodes H.; Massawe, A. W.; Mulungu, Loth S.We investigated breeding seasonality and population dynamics of three rodent species, Lophuromys flavopuncatus, Grammomys dolichurus and Praomys delectorum, in the Magamba Forest, Western Usambara Mountains, northeast Tanzania. Capture–mark–recapture studies were conducted in 2002–2004. Reproductive conditions of males and females showed temporal variations, an indication of breeding seasonality. Animals were reproductively active between February and May. Rainfall in November–January was instrumental for the onset of breeding and continued throughout the wet season. The recruitment of new individuals born during the season led to highest population densities between end of May and August. Populations declined progressively towards the end of the dry season (September–October). Only P. delectorum showed a marked density increase during January–February, indicating greater survival and/or recruitment during the November– January rains. The study shows that despite a relatively stable environment of the forest reserve, rainfall has strong influence on reproduction and population dynamics, probably because of its effect on primary food resources. Key words: breeding, dynamics, Grammomys, Lophuromys, Praomys, Tanzania Re´sume´ Nous avons e´tudie´ la chronologie saisonnie`re de la reproduction et la dynamique de la population de trois espe`ces de rongeurs, Lophuromys flavopunctatus, Grammomys dolichurus et Praomys delectorum, dans la foreˆt de Magamba, dans la partie ouest des monts Usambara, au nord-est de la Tanzanie. Des e´tudes par capture – marquage – re-capture ont e´te´ re´alise´es en 2002 – 2004. La condition reproductrice des maˆles et des femelles pre´sentait des variations saisonnie`res, un indice de saisonnalite´ de la reproduction. Les animaux e´taient en e´tat de reproduction active entre fe´vrier et mai. Les chutes de pluie de novembre a` janvier e´taient tre`s importantes pour le de´clenchement de la reproduction et continuaient pendant toute la saison des pluies. Le recrutement de nouveaux individus ne´s durant cette saison conduisait a` une densite´ de population qui culminait entre fin mai et aouˆ t. Les populations de´clinaient progressivement jusque vers la fin de la saison se`che (septembre – octobre). Seul P. delectorum montrait un taux de recrutement et/ou de survie plus e´leve´ pendant les pluies de novembre a` janvier. Cette e´tude montre que malgre´ l’environnement relativement stable de la re´serve forestie`re, les chutes de pluie ont une forte influence sur la reproduction et la dynamique des populations, probablement a` cause de leur effet sur les ressources primaires en nourriture.Item Do farming practices influence population dynamics of rodents? A case study of the multimammate field rats, Mastomys natalensis, in Tanzania(Blackwell Publishing Ltd, Afr. J. Ecol., 2006) Massawe, A. W.; Rwamugira, W; Leirs, H; Makundi, Rhodes H.; Mulungu, Loth S.A capture-mark-recapture study was conducted in crop fields in Morogoro, Tanzania, to investigate how the population dynamics of multimammate field rats, Mastomys natalensis, was influenced by the commonly practised land preparation methods and cropping systems. Two land preparation methods (tractor ploughing and slash and burn) and two cropping systems (mono-cropping with maize and inter-cropping with maize and beans) were investigated in a Complete Randomized Design experiment with 2 · 2 factors, and two 0.5 ha replicates per treatment. Mastomys natalensis comprised 97.8% of the abundance of the three rodent species captured in the study area. The slash and burned fields had higher rodent population densities than tractor ploughed fields (P < 0.05). Recruitment rates were higher in the slash and burn fields than in the tractor ploughed fields, suggesting that the former were more favourable habitats for M. natalensis. Land preparation methods appeared to influence the population dynamics of M. natalensis through recruitment of new individuals in the population and most probably survival. Apart from the temporal changes in population density, which were reflected in both tractor ploughed and slash and burn fields, cropping systems (mono- and inter-crop) had little effect on the population dynamics of M. natalensis [F(1,8) ¼ 6.50; P > 0.05]. The study shows that land preparation methods should be considered a component of rodent pest management in ecologically based or integrated management practices. In maize fields in Tanzania, the crop is most susceptible to damage by M. natalensis in the first 2 weeks after planting, and therefore, lower densities of rodents will result into lower crop damage in tractor ploughed fields.Item Does exploratory behavior or activity in a wild mouse explain susceptibility to virus infection?(Current Zoology, 2017) Broecke, B. V.; Borremans, B.; Mariën, J.; Makundi, R. H .; Massawe, A. W.; Hughes, N. K.; Leirsa, H.Exploration and activity are often described as trade-offs between the fitness benefits of gathering information and resources, and the potential costs of increasing exposure to predators and parasites. More exploratory individuals are predicted to have higher rates of parasitism, but this relationship has rarely been examined for virus infections in wild populations. Here, we used the multimammate mouse Mastomys natalensis to investigate the relationship between exploration, activity, and infection with Morogoro virus (MORV). We characterized individual exploratory behavior (open field and novel object tests) and activity (trap diversity), and quantified the relationship between these traits and infection status using linear regression. We found that M. natalensis expresses consistent individual differences, or personality types, in exploratory behavior (repeatability of 0.30, 95% CI: 0.21–0.36). In addition, we found a significant contrasting effect of age on exploration and activity where juveniles display higher exploration levels than adults, but lower field-activity. There was however no statistical evidence for a behavioral syndrome between these 2 traits. Contrary to our expectations, we found no correlation between MORV infection status and exploratory behavior or activity, which suggests that these behaviors may not increase exposure probability to MORV infection. This would further imply that variation in viral infection between individuals is not affected by between-individual variation in exploration and activity.Item Ecological considerations for management of rodent pests in Tanzania(2006) Makundi, R. S.; Massawe, A. W.; Mulungu, L.S.Item Ecologically based rodent management in Africa: potential and challenges(CSIRO Publishing, 2011) Makundi, Rhodes H.; Massawe, A. W.Rodent management in agriculture remains a major challenge in developing countries where resource-poor farmers are ill-equipped to deal with pest species. It is compounded by unpredictable outbreaks, late control actions, lack of/or inadequate expert interventions, expensive rodenticides and other factors. Ecologically based rodent management (EBRM) is recommended as the way forward for rodent management in Africa. EBRM relies on understanding the ecology of pest species and formulating this knowledge into management programs. The present paper evaluates the potential for establishing EBRM in Africa and the challenges that have to be overcome to implement it. The major constraints for establishing EBRM in Africa include the absence of key studies on the taxonomy and ecology of rodents, inadequate research on EBRM, lack of knowledge by farmers on available technologies and agricultural policies that are unfavourable. The development of EBRM and its success in Asia is a strong encouragement to African scientists to develop similar management strategies for the most important pest species such as the multi mammate rats, Mastomysnatalensis. EBRM initiatives such as the Development of Ecologically Based Rodent Management for the Southern Africa Region (ECORAT) project undertook studies on e.g. rodent ecology, taxonomy, knowledge, attitude and practices and rodent–human interactions in rural agricultural communities. Through this project, EBRM interventions were introduced in Tanzania, Swaziland and Namibia to provide solutions to local rodent-pest problems. Intervention actions including community-based intensive trapping of rodents, habitat manipulation and sanitary measures demonstrated that the impacts of rodents on communities could be drastically reduced. EBRM programs in Africa must address how to change attitudes of target communities, building scientific capacity, implanting rodent-management skills by translating the developed technologies and strategies into simple understandable and easy-to-implement actions and influencing policy makers to accept the concepts and practices to be introduced. Further, we need to demonstrate that EBRM is economically feasible and sustainable and that through community participation, EBRM will become deeply rooted in those communities.Item Effect of Seedbed Type on Yield and Yield Components of Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) Commercial Cultivars(Asia Network for Scientific Information, 2006) Mulungu, Loth S; Tarimo, A. J. P.; Reuben, O.W.M.; Lema, D. N.; Makundi, Rhodes H.; Massawe, A. W.Two experiments were conducted, one in 1997 during the long rain season (April-July) and another in 2004 during dry season (September - December) at Sokoine University of Agriculture plots, Morogoro, Tanzania to evaluate the effect of seedbed types on crop performance of beans of different growth types. Treatments were laid out in a split plot arrangement in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. In 1997, the main plots consisted of four common bean cultivars namely SUA 90, Canadian wonder, Kablanketi and Glory. Three seedbed types constituted the sub-plots namely ridge cultivation, flat cultivation and ngolo cultivation. In 2004, the main plots consisted of two bean cultivars namely SUA 90 and Kablanketi. Four seedbed types constituted the sub-plots viz., ridge cultivation, flat cultivation, ngolo cultivation and fipa mound seedbed. The data recorded included number of harvested plants m-2, number of branches plant-1, pods plant-1, pod length, seeds pod-1, grain yield plant-1, yield ha-1 and 100 seed weight. Results showed that bean cultivars differed in yield components and determinate cultivars showed consistently higher seed yield per plant while indeterminate showed consistely higher 100 seed weight. Ridge seedbed showed superiority on number of pods per plant, pod length and yield per plant only during dry season. However, flat seedbeds showed consistently good performance for many variables investigated. Increased grain yield in flat seedbeds, therefore, at both cropping seasons was reflected in increased production of pods per plant, longer pods and yield per plant. Therefore, flat seedbed type is recommended for bean production in the studied location.Item Effect of synthetic hormones on reproduction in Mastomys natalensis(Journal of Pest Science., 2018) Massawe, A. W.; Makundi, Rhodes H.; Zhang, Z.; Mhamphi, G.; Liu, M.; Jun Li, H.; Belmain, S. R.Rodent pest management traditionally relies on some form of lethal control. Developing effective fertility control for pest rodent species could be a major breakthrough particularly in the context of managing rodent population outbreaks. This laboratory-based study is the first to report on the effects of using fertility compounds on an outbreaking rodent pest species found throughout sub-Saharan Africa. Mastomys natalensis were fed bait containing the synthetic steroid hormones quinestrol and levonorgestrel, both singly and in combination, at three concentrations (10, 50, 100 ppm) for 7 days. Consumption of the bait and animal body mass was mostly the same between treatments when analysed by sex, day and treatment. However, a repeated measures ANOVA indicated that quinestrol and quinestrol + levonorgestrel treatments reduced consumption by up to 45%, particularly at the higher concentrations of 50 and 100 ppm. Although there was no clear concentration effect on animal body mass, quinestrol and quinestrol + levonorgestrel lowered body mass by up to 20% compared to the untreated and levonorgestrel treatments. Quinestrol and quinestrol + levonorgestrel reduced the weight of male rat testes, epididymis and seminal vesicles by 60–80%, and sperm concentration and motility were reduced by more than 95%. No weight changes were observed to uterine and ovarian tissue; however, high uterine oedema was observed among all female rats consuming treated bait at 8 and 40 days from trial start. Trials with mate pairing showed there were significant differences in the pregnancy rate with all treatments when compared to the untreated control group of rodents.Item Experimental treatment-control studies of ecologically based rodent management in Africa: balancing conservation and pest management(CSIRO PUBLISHING, 2012) Taylor, P. J.; Downs, S.; Monadjem, A.; Eiseb, S. J.; Mulungu, Loth S.; Massawe, A. W.; Mahlaba, T. A.; Kirsten, F.; Maltitz, E. V.; Malebane, P.; Makundi, Rhodes H.; Lamb, J.; Belmain, S. R.Context. Rodent pests severely affect crop production, particularly in monocultures where one or two rodent pest species dominate. We predict higher species richness of native small mammal species in more heterogeneous mosaic (crop–fallow–bush) subsistence agro-ecosystems in Africa. Conservation and agro-ecological imperatives require that such diverse natural communities should be maintained and may benefit crop protection through limiting domination of pest species. Ecologically based rodent-management alternatives to rodenticides are urgently required and one such method (community trapping) is herein advocated. Aims. To provide baseline information on rodent and shrew communities in agro-ecosystems in three African countries and to demonstrate efficacy of ecologically based rodent management (EBRM) in Africa (e.g. community household trapping). Methods. Removal-trapping in a variety of agro-ecological habitats provided accurate small-mammal species lists. Intensive kill-trapping by rural agricultural communities was carried out experimentally where the efforts of communities were scientifically monitored by kill-trapping to measure impact on rodent numbers and the levels of post-harvest damage to stored grains. Key results. Our study revealed a high diversity of endemic species in agricultural habitats in Tanzania and Namibia (but not Swaziland) and the existence of undescribed and possibly rare species, some of which may be at risk of extinction from unchecked habitat transformation for agriculture. Treatment-control studies showed that communities in three African countries could effectively reduce pest rodent populations and rodent damage by intensive trapping on a daily basis in and around the community. Conclusions. Community trapping reduced pest rodent populations and damage to stored grains. Unlike the use of indiscriminate rodenticide, this practice is expected to have a negligible effect on beneficial non-target rodent and shrew species. Implications. Ecologically based rodent management approaches such as community trapping will conserve beneficial non-pest rodent communities and ultimately improve crop protection.Item Impact of crop cycle on movement patterns of pest rodent species between fields and houses in Africa(CSIRO Publishing, 2011) Monadjem, A.; Mahlaba, T. A.; Dlamini, N.; Eiseb, S. J.; Belmain, S. R.; Mulungu, L. S.; Massawe, A. W.; Makundi, Rhodes H.; Mohr, K.; Taylor, P. J.Context. Rodent pests can have severe impacts on crop production in sub-Saharan Africa. In particular ,the multimammate mouse Mastomysnatalensis severely damages agricultural crops in southern and eastern Africa ,leading to significant losses. Both its population ecology and breeding biology have been studied in agricultural and natural habitats. Population numbers erupt depending on the timing and amount of rainfall and may reach plague proportions, especially in agricultural settings, where it may become a serious pest. However, the ecology of this species, in particular its interactions with other species within the context of human settlement ,is poorly understood. It may occasionally enter houses, but the degree to which it does so and the factors influencing this movement are not known. Aims. We investigated the relationship between Rattus spp. and M. natalensis entering buildings in an agro-ecological setting. We predicted that M. natalensis would enter houses more readily when food availability was lowest in the surrounding fields, and when the larger Rattus spp. were absent. Methods. We followed 40 individuals ofM.natalensis in Swaziland and Namibia by radio-telemetry. Mice were captured in maize fields within 50m of a home stead and fitted with radio-transmitters at three different times corresponding to different stages of crop development: pre-harvest, post-harvest and pre-planting. To corroborate the findings of the telemetry study, a non-toxic marker, rhodamine B, was mixed with standard bait and left at bait stations inside houses in 10 homesteads in Swaziland and Tanzania. Key results. Mice remained in the fields during the entire period of study in Swaziland, but entered buildings in Namibia during the post-harvest stage, which may represent a period of food shortage for these mice in the field. Rodents captured after baiting with rhodamine B demonstrated that Rattus spp. predominated within the houses. A small number of rhodamine B-marked M. natalensis were captured outside the houses, the proportion declining with distance away from the houses. Conclusions. These results suggest that in a typical rural African setting dominated by subsistence agriculture, Rattus spp. (when present) competitively exclude the smaller M. natalensis from entering houses. Implications. Interactions between rodent pest species may be important in determining which rodent species enter houses in rural African landscapes. Consideration of such interactions may play an important role when developing pest management strategies.Item Interaction between rodent species in agro-forestry habitats in the western Usambara Mountains, north-eastern Tanzania, and its potential for plague transmission to humans(Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research, 2003) Makundi, R. S.; Kilonzo, B. S.; Massawe, A. W.This study was carried out to determine rodent species composition and abundance, the interaction between them, and the possible implication in plague dissemination to humans. Over 2000 rodents were captured, identified and the relative species abundance determined. These animals belonged to six species, namely Mastomys natalensis, Arvicanthis nairobe, Lophuromys flavopunctatus, Grammomys dolichurus, Mus sp. and Praomys sp. They were distributed in two principal habitats, namely fallow land and forest. The distribution of the species overlapped, indicating interaction between them, but their abundance varied considerably between the habitats. Three species of fleas were collected from rodents. Of these, Dinopsylus lypusus was most abundant, followed by Leptopsylla aethiopica and Nosopsyllus fasciatus. Rodent population densities declined rapidly in August and September and were followed by outbreaks of human plague in October. The observations made in the current study suggest that declining rodent population abundance leads to more ‘free’ fleas which probably seek alternative hosts, including humans. This consequently facilitates an increase in the transfer of plague from rodents to humans. The study further indicated that M. natalensis and A. nairobe form a continuum between forest-inhabiting rodent species and peri-domestic premises which therefore creates an avenue for transferring the disease from a potential forest reservoir to the human population. The presence of specific anti-plague immunoglobulin (IgG and IgM) antibodies in blood sera of rodents was tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The presence of Yersinia pestis DNA was tested by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Both tests revealed that M. natalensis, A. nairobe, Rattus rattus (captured in houses) and L. flavopunctatus were the potential rodent reservoirs of plague in the western Usambara Mountains. Grammomys dolichurus and Praomys sp. tested negative for plague, but more specimens will be tested to confirm this finding.Item Potential mammalian reservoirs in a bubonic plague outbreak focus in Mbulu District, northern Tanzania, in 2007(Walter de Gruyte, 2008) Makundi, Rhodes H.; Massawe, A. W.; Mulungu, L.S.; Katakweba, Abdul; Mbise, Thomas; Mgode, GeorgiesThis study investigated mammalian involvement in an outbreak of bubonic plague in Mbulu District, northern Tanzania, in March 2007. Plague is a rodent-borne zoo- notic disease that spreads to humans through fleas infected with Yersinia pestis. Live trapping of rodents and shrews was conducted in fallow and crop fields, peri- domestic areas, houses and the neighboring forest reserve. Serum was separated from blood of captured animals. A rapid diagnostic test (RDT) was used for diag- nosis of plague infection. An ELISA technique was used to detect antibodies against Yersinia pestis fraction 1 antigen. Wild and commensal rodents tested positive by RDT, indicating current infection in clinically healthy ani- mals. The ELISA showed that wild rodents (Lophuromys flavopunctatus, Praomys delectorum, Graphiurus muri- nus, Lemniscomys striatus) and commensal rats (Rattus rattus, Mastomys natalensis, Mus minutoides) were Y. pestis-positive. Two potential vectors, Xenopsylla brasi- liensis and Dinopsyllus lypusus, were found on wild and commensal rodents with a flea index of 1.8. We conclude that diverse potential mammalian reservoirs and efficient vectors of Y. pestis are present in abundance in Dongo- besh and could lead to persistence and future plague outbreaks.Item Survival and recruitment of the multimammate mouse, Mastomys natalensis (smith 1834), in a rice agro-ecosystem(Mammalia, 2016) Mulungu, L. S.; Ngowo, V.; Mdangi, M. E.; Katakweba, A. S.; Tesha, P.; Mrosso, F. P.; Mchomvu, M.; Massawe, A. W.; Monadjem, A.; Kilonzo, B.; Belmain, S. R.We investigated the recruitment and survival of the multimammate mouse, Mastomys natalensis, within irrigated rice and fallow field habitats at different time periods related to rice crop growth stages. Capture-Mark- Recapture data were collected for M. natalensis each month from June 2010 to May 2012, and both recruitment and survival were estimated in relation to land use (irrigated rice or fallow field) within the agro-ecosystem. Higher recruitment and survival were observed in rice fields than in fallow fields suggesting the relationship was compensatory when there was a higher quality food resource. In terms of management, farmers in the study area should implement management strategies in rice fields at both transplanting and maturity stages of crop growth in order to maintain recruitment and survival at low levels.Item A systematic review of rodent pest research in Afro-Malagasy small-holder farming systems: are we asking the right questions?(PLOS ONE, 2017) Swanepoel, L. H.; Swanepoel, C. M.; Brown, P. R.; Eiseb, S. J.; Goodman, S. M.; Keith, M.; Kirsten, F.; Leirs, H.; Mahlab, T. A. M.; Makundi, R. H.; Malebane, P.; Maltitz, E. F.; Massawe, A. W.; Monadjem, A.; Mulungu, L. S.; Singleton, G. R.; Taylor, P. J.; Soarimalala, V.; Belmain, S. R.Rodent pests are especially problematic in terms of agriculture and public health since they can inflict considerable economic damage associated with their abundance, diversity, generalist feeding habits and high reproductive rates. To quantify rodent pest impacts and identify trends in rodent pest research impacting on small-holder agriculture in the Afro-Malagasy region we did a systematic review of research outputs from 1910 to 2015, by developing an a priori defined set of criteria to allow for replication of the review process. We followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. We reviewed 162 publications, and while rodent pest research was spatially distributed across Africa (32 countries, including Madagascar), there was a disparity in number of studies per country with research biased towards four countries (Tanzania [25%], Nigeria [9%], Ethiopia [9%], Kenya [8%]) accounting for 51% of all rodent pest research in the Afro-Malagasy region. There was a disparity in the research themes addressed by Tanzanian publications compared to publications from the rest of the Afro-Malagasy region where research in Tanzania had a much more applied focus (50%) compared to a more basic research approach (92%) in the rest of the Afro-Malagasy region. We found that pest rodents have a significant negative effect on the Afro-Malagasy small-holder farming communities. Crop losses varied between cropping stages, storage and crops and the highest losses occurred during early cropping stages (46% median loss during seedling stage) and the mature stage (15% median loss). There was a scarcity of studies investigating the effectiveness of various management actions on rodent pest damage and population abundance. Our analysis highlights that there are inadequate empirical studies focused on developing sustainable control methods for rodent pests and rodent pests in the Africa-Malagasy context is generally ignored as a research topicItem Winning the fight against rodent pests: Recent developments in Tanzania(Asian Network for Scientific Information, 2010) Mulungu, L. S.; Ngowo, D. V.; Makundi, R. H.; Massawe, A. W.; Leirs, H.Rodent management programs in Tanzania have been reactive and did not consider the population ecology of the target species. The strategies used to manage rodents were probably most suited to managing low-density rodent populations and were selected to solve localised rodent problems in certain areas. These included bounty schemes, burning of homes and vegetation, trapping and poisoning. In recent years, new developments in rodent pest management include a system designed to provide early warning of potent damage. An understanding of the population processes that give rise to rodent pest's problems provides the framework for evaluating the causes and solutions. Population models for predicting outbreaks have been developed. These have incorporated simulations and aspects of economics in the implementation of control strategies. Simulation based on Bioeconomics models have shown that the most economically rewarding strategies differ significantly from current practices of symptomatic treatment when severe rodent damage is noticed in the fields. Therefore, shifting from symptomatic practices and controlling rodents on a calendar basis can substantially improve the economic conditions for the majority of maize products in Tanzania.