1
|
Mwalimu CD, Mgode G, Sabuni C, Msigwa F, Mghamba J, Nyanga A, Mohamed A, Kwesi E, Nagu N, Kishimba R, John L, Manoza S, Boay M, Mleli J, Lutambi J, Mwingira VS, Subi L, Kweka EJ, Kilonzo B. Preliminary investigation and intervention of the suspected plague outbreak in Madunga, Babati District - Tanzania. Acta Trop 2022; 233:106566. [PMID: 35724712 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2022.106566] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2021] [Revised: 06/07/2022] [Accepted: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Rodents are known to be reservoirs of plague bacteria, Yesinia pestis in the sylvatic cycle. A preliminary investigation of the suspected plague outbreak was conducted in Madunga Ward, Babati District Council in Manyara Region December-2019-January 2020 Following reported two cases which were clinically suspected as showing plague disease symptoms. METHOD The commensal and field rodents were live trapped using Sherman traps in Madunga Ward, where plague suspect cases were reported and, in the Nou-forest reserve areas at Madunga Ward, Babati District Council, to assess plague risk in the area. Fleas were collected inside the houses using light traps and on the rodents 'body after anaesthetizing the captured rodent to determine flea indices which are used to estimate the risk of plague transmission. Lung impression smears were made from sacrificed rodents to examine for possible bipolar stained Yersinia spp bacilli. RESULTS A total of 86 rodents consisting of ten rodent species were captured and identified from the study sites. Nine forest rodent species were collected. Field/fallow rodent species were dominated by Mastomys natalensis. whereas domestic rodent species captured was Rattus rattus. Overall lung impression smear showed bipolar stain were 14 (16.28%) while House Flea Index (HFI) was 3.1 and Rodent Flea Index (RFI) was 1.8. CONCLUSION The findings of this study have shown that, the presence of bipolar stained bacilli in lung impression smears of captured species of rodents indicates (not confirmed) possible circulation of Yesrsinia pests in rodents and the high flea indices in the area which included the most common flea species known to be plague vectors in Tanzania could have played transmission role in this suspected outbreak. The study recommends surveillance follow-up in the area and subject collected samples to the standard plague confirmatory diagnosis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Charles D Mwalimu
- Ministry of Health, Community Development, Gender, Elderly and Children, Dodoma Tanzania; Tanzania Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Program (TFELTP), Dar es Salaam.
| | - Georgies Mgode
- Pest Management Centre, Sokoine University of Agriculture, Morogoro
| | | | | | - Janeth Mghamba
- Ministry of Health, Community Development, Gender, Elderly and Children, Dodoma Tanzania; Tanzania Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Program (TFELTP), Dar es Salaam
| | - Ally Nyanga
- Tanzania Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Program (TFELTP), Dar es Salaam
| | - Ally Mohamed
- Tanzania Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Program (TFELTP), Dar es Salaam
| | - Elias Kwesi
- Tanzania Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Program (TFELTP), Dar es Salaam
| | - Neema Nagu
- Ministry of Health, Community Development, Gender, Elderly and Children, Dodoma Tanzania
| | - Rogath Kishimba
- Ministry of Health, Community Development, Gender, Elderly and Children, Dodoma Tanzania; Tanzania Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Program (TFELTP), Dar es Salaam
| | - Loveness John
- Ministry of Health, Community Development, Gender, Elderly and Children, Dodoma Tanzania; Tanzania Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Program (TFELTP), Dar es Salaam
| | | | - Marcos Boay
- Council Health Management Team- Babati District Council, Manyara, Tanzania
| | - James Mleli
- Council Health Management Team- Babati District Council, Manyara, Tanzania
| | - Juma Lutambi
- Council Health Management Team- Babati District Council, Manyara, Tanzania
| | - Victor S Mwingira
- National Institute for Medical Research, Amani Research Centre, P.O. Box 81, Muheza, Tanzania
| | - Leonard Subi
- Ministry of Health, Community Development, Gender, Elderly and Children, Dodoma Tanzania
| | - Eliningaya J Kweka
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Entomology, School of Medicine, Catholic University of Health Sciences, P.O. Box 1464, Mwanza, Tanzania; Tropical Pesticides Research Institute, Division of Livestock and Human Disease Vector Control, Mosquito Section, P.O. Box 3024, Arusha, Tanzania.
| | - Bukheti Kilonzo
- Pest Management Centre, Sokoine University of Agriculture, Morogoro
| |
Collapse
|