Prevalence of leptospirosis and toxoplasmosis: A study of rodents and shrews in cultivated and fallow land, Morogoro rural district, Tanzania
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Date
2014
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Abstract
Leptospirosis and toxoplasmosis are among understudied zoonotic diseases that are also not
diagnosed routinely in Tanzania. Humans get leptospirosis and toxoplasmosis through contact with an
environment contaminated with Leptospira bacteria and Toxoplasma protozoa from reservoir hosts, which
are rodents and cats, respectively. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of
Leptospira and Toxoplasma infections in rodents and shrews in Mikese area of Morogoro Rural District in
eastern Tanzania. A total of 89 rodents and one shrew from cultivated and fallow land were tested for
leptospirosis using six Leptospira serovars: Sokoine, Kenya, Canicola, Lora, Hebdomadis and Pomona.
Toxoplasmosis was determined in 46 rodents brain smears. The prevalence of leptospirosis was 25.8%, and
Leptospira serovar Sokoine was the most prevalent serovar (16.9%). Toxoplasma was detected in one
rodent (2.17%) individual while three rodent individuals had Toxoplasma-like parasites hence were
considered suspect positive. Findings suggest potential existence of human leptospirosis which needs to
be further investigated. Public awareness of leptospirosis and toxoplasmosis should be promoted and their
diagnosis considered in patients in health care facilities.
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Keywords
Leptospirosis, toxoplasmosis, land use, zoonosis, rodents, shrews, Tanzania