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Rodents as reservoir hosts in the transmission of Schistosoma mansoni in Richard-Toll, Senegal, West Africa

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 April 2024

J.M. Duplantier
Affiliation:
Programme 'Eau & Santé', IRD (ex ORSTOM), B.P. 1386, Dakar, Sénégal: Programme RAMSE, IRD B.P. 434, Antananarivo 101, Madagascar:
M. Sène*
Affiliation:
Programme 'Eau & Santé', IRD (ex ORSTOM), B.P. 1386, Dakar, Sénégal: Département de Biologie Animale, Faculté des Sciences et Techniques, Université Cheikh Anta Diop de Dakar, Sénégal
*
*Address for correspondence: Laboratoire de Paludologie, IRD (ex ORSTOM) Bel-Air, B.P. 1386 Dakar, Senegal. Fax: 832 16 75 E-mail: senewade@metissacana.sn

Abstract

More than 2000 animals belonging to six different rodent species and one insectivore species were examined for infection with schistosomes in the region of Richard-Toll, Senegal. Two murid rodents, Arvicanthis niloticus and Mastomys huberti, were found infected with Schistosoma mansoni. Prevalences were about 5% for both rodent species with a mean worm burden of about 20 worms per host. The sex-ratios of S. mansoni worms were always biased towards males. Prevalences and worm burdens, although similar in both male and female rodents, increased significantly with age. The highest prevalences and worm burdens were found near habitations and decreased significantly with the distance from the town of Richard-Toll. Eggs were also observed in the liver and faeces of the two naturally infected rodent species. The results suggest that rodents participate in the transmission of intestinal schistosomiasis in Richard-Toll but the human population is the main source of infection. The genetic resemblance between human and murine isolates of S. mansoni suggests that further epidemiological studies are needed in this region of Senegal.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2000

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