PREVALENCE OF BLOOD PROTOZOANS OF MURINE RODENTS IN DHAKA CITY, BANGLADESH

Abstract

Rodents are small mammals which are responsible for the transmission of various deadly pathogens with zoonotic significance. Blood borne protozoans play a crucial role in this regards. The present study was performed to determine the prevalence of blood protozoan parasites of murine rodents in Dhaka city, Bangladesh. A total of 80 rodents with four rodent species were captured, namely, Rattus norvegicus (n=28), Rattus rattus (n=14), Bandicota bengalensis (n=30) and Mus musculus (n=8). The rodents were live captured by using traps from stationary/grocery shops (n=25), local rent houses (n=20), houses from slum areas (n=15) and fish markets (n=20). The overall prevalence of this study was 50%. The highest infection rate was found in R. norvegicus (57.14%) followed by B. bengalensis (53.33%), M. musculus (37.5%) and R. rattus (35.71%). Among the different areas, the highest prevalence was recorded in slum areas (66.67%) followed by fish markets (50%), stationary/grocery shops (48%), and local rent houses (40%). Five blood protozoa detected from the rodents which were Plasmodium spp. (31.25%), Anaplasma marginale (21.25%), Anaplasma centrale (17.5%), Babesia spp. (10%), and Trypanosoma spp. (3.75%). The ratio of single and mixed infection was equal (50%). Among the observed blood protozoa, Trypanosoma spp. and Babesia spp. have a great public health significance. Therefore, proper attention is recommended to prevent rodent born protozoal zoonosis through integrated control program.