Abstract:
Clinically healthy wild rodents and shrews (Crocidura spp.) were captured from different localities in
Morogoro, Tanga, Dodoma, Singida, Mbeya, Kilimanjaro and Mtwara regions of Tanzania. Blood
samples were collected from the captured animals and screened for infectious agents of public health
importance, including; Trypanosoma spp., Plasmodium spp., Borrelia spp. and Bacillus spp. Out of
4,963 blood smears examined, 424 (8.5%) were from shrews and 4,539 (91.5%) were from rodents.
Trypanosoma spp. were demonstrated in 198 (3.9%) and 7 (0.1%) blood smears of rodents and
shrews, respectively. Borrelia spp. were demonstrated in 6 (0.2%) and 5 (1.2%) rodents and shrews,
respectively. Bacillus spp. were found in 149 (3.6%) and 27 (6.4%) rodents and shrews respectively.
Mastomys natalensis, Rattus rattus and Crocidura spp. were found to host all of the five
haemoparasites detected. The public health significance of this study is notable from the fact that
haemoparasites that were demonstrated in apparently healthy rodents are potential human pathogens.
