Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in commensal rodents sampled across Senegal, West Africa

• Published in: Parasite
• Main Authors: Brouat Carine, Diagne Christophe Amidi, Ismaïl Khadija, Aroussi Abdelkrim, Dalecky Ambroise, Bâ Khalilou, Kane Mamadou, Niang Youssoupha, Diallo Mamoudou, Sow Aliou, Galal Lokman, Piry Sylvain, Dardé Marie-Laure, Mercier Aurélien
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: EDP Sciences 2018
• Subjects: africa; rodents; senegal; seroprevalence; toxoplasma gondii; Infectious and parasitic diseases; RC109-216; Rattus rattus
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1051/parasite/2018036; https://doaj.org/article/718167199a4f4727a5173f7208a69df7

Risks related to Toxoplasma gondii infection in humans remain poorly known in Senegal. Although rodent surveys could help to assess the circulation of T. gondii, they have seldom been set up in sub-Saharan Africa. The aim of this study was to examine Toxoplasma seroprevalence in rodents from villages and towns across Senegal. Rodents were sampled in 40 localities using a standardised trapping protocol. Detection of T. gondii antibodies was performed on 1205 rodents, using a modified agglutination test (MAT) technique. Seroprevalence data were analysed depending on geography, the local rodent community, and individual characteristics of the rodent hosts. We found 44 seropositive rodents from four different species (Mastomys erythroleucus, Mastomys natalensis, Mus musculus domesticus, Rattus rattus). Toxoplasma seroprevalence was low, averaging 4% in the localities. Higher Toxoplasma seroprevalence (up to 24%) was found in northern Senegal, a region known to be the heart of pastoral herding in the country.