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

Khalilou Bâ,Lokman Galal,Marie-Laure Dardé,Mamoudou Diallo,Mamadou Kane,Sylvain Piry,Khadija Ismaïl,Christophe Amidi Diagne,Ambroise Dalecky,Carine Brouat,Aurélien Mercier,Youssoupha Niang,Abdelkrim Aroussi,Aliou Sow

doi:10.1051/parasite/2018036

Abstract

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.

Highlights

Toxoplasma gondii [25] is an intracellular pathogen with a worldwide distribution [17]
Rodent surveys could help to assess the circulation of T. gondii, they have seldom been set up in sub-Saharan Africa
Detection of T. gondii antibodies was performed on 1205 rodents, using a modified agglutination test (MAT) technique

Summary

Introduction

Toxoplasma gondii [25] is an intracellular pathogen with a worldwide distribution [17]. Infections range in severity from asymptomatic to lethal, and are dangerous to the unborn child during pregnancy and to. Brouat et al.: Parasite 2018, 25, 32 For this reason, they are often considered relevant markers to assess the circulation of T. gondii in commensal habitats [23, 30]. The seroprevalence of Toxoplasma in animal populations has rarely been characterised in Senegal [8, 12]

Objectives

Methods

Results