Molecular survey of rodent-borne Trypanosoma in Niger with special emphasis on T. lewisi imported by invasive black rats.
Invading rodent species can harbor parasites with potential transmission to native rodents and/or humans. To investigate trypanosomes prevalence in rodents, the spleen of 76 rodents from Niger identified by their karyotype was used as a DNA source for Trypanosoma detection using a newly developed qPCR assay. Of the invasive black rat, Rattus rattus, 71% (10/14) were PCR positive as well as 6% (4/62) of native African rodents. Sequences of ~400bp of the SSU rDNA gene identified phylogenetically close Trypanosoma lineages. Trypanosoma lewisi was present in all positive black rats and the sequences displayed 100% similarity with T. lewisi-infected humans in Senegal. T. lewisi was also detected in one Acomys johannis, suggesting a possible transmission to native species. In addition to improved knowledge of Trypanosoma diversity in rodents, our data underscore the introduction of the potentially pathogenic T. lewisi kinetoplastid through the human-mediated invasion of black rats all over West Africa.
Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, Centre de Biologie pour la Gestion des Populations, Centre Régional Agrhymet, Niamey, Niger. gauthier.dobigny@ird.fr
Gauthier
G
Dobigny
Philippe
P
Poirier
Karmadine
K
Hima
Odile
O
Cabaret
Philippe
P
Gauthier
Caroline
C
Tatard
Jean-Marc
JM
Costa
Stéphane
S
Bretagne
D000818:Animals; D016172:DNA Fingerprinting; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal / Q000032:analysis* / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D058865:Introduced Species; D009548:Niger; D010802:Phylogeny; D058974:Phylogeography; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015995:Prevalence; D051381:Rats; D012376:Rodent Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000469:parasitology*; D012377:Rodentia / Q000235:genetics / Q000469:parasitology*; D014350:Trypanosoma lewisi / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics*
D004275:DNA, Ribosomal