Roles of Rodent Species, Age, and Sex in determining the prevalence and intensity of <i>Trypanosoma</i> and <i>Plasmodium</i> Parasites in rodents of Kakamega Forest area in Western Kenya

Abstract

This study investigated the roles of rodents’ species, age, and sex in prevalence and intensity of Trypanosoma spp. and Plasmodium spp. in the Kakamega forest area. 143 small rodents were captured and categorized by sex and age according to species. Prevalence was determined by giemsa staining while and intensity, by counting the parasite numbers against 10,000 erythrocytes. Praomys jacksoni, Mastomys spp., Mus spp., Mylomys dybowski, and Tachyoryctes spp rodents were captured. Trypanosoma and Plasmodium species were found in P. jacksoni (20.34% and 6.78%) and Mastomys (40.74% and 3.70%), respectively. Trypanosoma spp. prevalence and intensity were observed to be significantly greater in Mastomys than in P. jacksoni (prevalence: χ² =3.935, P=0.047; intensity: U=7.00, p<0.001). In regard to age, adult Mastomys exhibited a significantly higher Trypanosoma spp. prevalence as compared to the younger ones (χ² =7.702, p=0.006). Age and sex of the rodents did not influence the prevalence and intensity of Trypanosoma spp. and Plasmodium spp. in the P. jacksoni rodents. Trypanosoma spp. and Plasmodium spp are only found in Praomys jacksoni, and Mastomys spp rodents of Kakamega forest. Trypanosoma spp prevalence in Mastomys was influenced by age. Praomys jacksoni, and Mastomys spp are potential causes of zoonoses in the Kakamega forest.