Background: Rodents which constitute 42% of the world’s mammalian population are major reservoirs of pathogens that
cause zoonoses. Currently we know little about rodents’ potential zoonotic transfer from human settlements into protected
areas and how any such threats might be reduced.
Objective: To investigate the role of rodents as reservoirs of zoonotic pathogens along the boundary of Bwindi.
Methods: A rodent inventory in three villages along the edge of Bwindi, was carried using live trapping techniques and the
local rodents’ ecto and endoparasite fauna investigated.
Results: Two hundred eighty eight rodents captured belonged to 24 species, 17 genera and 4 families with
Lophuromys aquilus
being most abundant (30.2%). 240 ectoparasites which included mites, fleas and ticks were collected from 88 rodents
out of 249.
Proamys jacksoni
rodents were most infested. Although the mites represented the largest proportion (84.6%), the
highest species diversity was shown among the fleas (9 species). Some 36.9% of the rodents were infected with endoparasites
of which L. aquilus haboured most. Endoparasitic genera identified included Nippostrongylus,
Ascaris
,
Strongyloides,
Trichuris,
Hymenolepis
,
Taenia
and
Cryptosporidium
.
Conclusion: Rodents have a zoonotic potentiality. There is need for developing effective integrated rodent management
programs against rodent to reduce chances of parasite transmission within the protected areas.
