THE GROWTH AND BREEDING OF THE MULTIMAMMATE RAT, RATTUS (MASTOMYS) NATALENSIS (SMITH) IN TANGANYIKA TERRITORY

AbstractInvestigation of home ranges, sex ratio and recruitment of the multimammate rat (Mastomys natalensis) in semi-arid areas of Tanzania was conducted in maize and fallow fields using the capture-mark-release (CMR) technique. The aim of this study was to generate useful data for the management of M. natalensis. The relative home range size of M. natalensis was significantly higher during the wet [544 m2 ± 25 standard error (SE)] than during the dry (447 m2 ± 18 SE) season, in males (521 m2 ± 23 SE) than in females (450 m2 ± 17 SE) and in adults (576 m2 ± 34 SE) than in juveniles (459 m2 ± 16 SE). However, there were no significant differences between habitats. Sex ratio was not significantly different (p = 0.44) between habitats. Recruitment was significantly higher (p = 0.000) in maize fields (mean = 0.43) than in fallow land (mean = 0.32) and differed significantly over time (p < 0.0001) with the highest recruitment recorded from April to July and the lowest from October to December. Management strategies should focus on managing rodents inhabiting maize fields using methods that affect their recruitment in order to reduce the population increase of M. natalensis.

Download Full-text

Host Competency of the Multimammate Rat Mastomys natalensis Demonstrated by Prolonged Spirochetemias with the African Relapsing Fever Spirochete Borrelia crocidurae

American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene ◽

10.4269/ajtmh.19-0590 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 101 (6) ◽

pp. 1272-1275

Author(s):

Kristin Boardman ◽

Kyle Rosenke ◽

David Safronetz ◽

Heinz Feldmann ◽

Tom G. Schwan

Keyword(s):

Mastomys Natalensis ◽

Relapsing Fever ◽

Multimammate Rat

Download Full-text

Short-term effects of avian predation variation on population size and local survival of the multimammate rat, Mastomys natalensis (Rodentia, Muridae)

Mammalia ◽

10.1515/mamm.1998.62.3.329 ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 62 (3) ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

T. VAN GULCK ◽

R. STOKS ◽

R. VERHAGEN ◽

C.A. SABUNI ◽

P. MWANJABE ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Population Size ◽

Mastomys Natalensis ◽

Short Term ◽

Avian Predation ◽

Local Survival ◽

Multimammate Rat ◽

Short Term Effects

Download Full-text

Multimammate rat (Mastomys natalensis), Tristram’s jird (Meriones tristrami) and Wagner’s gerbil (Gerbillus dasyurus) as laboratory models of acute neosporosis

Research in Veterinary Science ◽

10.1016/j.rvsc.2006.10.004 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 82 (3) ◽

pp. 377-381 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

L. Hůrková-Hofmannová ◽

P. Václavek ◽

M. Škorič ◽

P. Fictum ◽

D. Modrý

Keyword(s):

Mastomys Natalensis ◽

Meriones Tristrami ◽

Laboratory Models ◽

Multimammate Rat

Download Full-text

Domestic risk factors for increased rodent abundance in a Lassa fever endemic region of rural Upper Guinea

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-021-00113-z ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Julia Clark ◽

Laith Yakob ◽

Moussa Douno ◽

Joseph Lamine ◽

N.’Faly Magassouba ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Regression Analysis ◽

Lassa Fever ◽

Mastomys Natalensis ◽

Haemorrhagic Fever ◽

Endemic Region ◽

Simple Process ◽

Viral Haemorrhagic Fever ◽

Rodent Abundance ◽

Multimammate Rat

AbstractLassa fever (LF) is a viral haemorrhagic fever endemic in West Africa and spread primarily by the multimammate rat, Mastomys natalensis. As there is no vaccine, reduction of rodent-human transmission is essential for disease control. As the household is thought to be a key site of transmission, understanding domestic risk factors for M. natalensis abundance is crucial. Rodent captures in conjunction with domestic surveys were carried out in 6 villages in an area of rural Upper Guinea with high LF endemicity. 120 rodent traps were set in rooms along a transect in each village for three nights, and the survey was administered in each household on the transects. This study was able to detect several domestic risk factors for increased rodent abundance in rural Upper Guinea. Regression analysis demonstrated that having > 8 holes (RR = 1.8 [1.0004–3.2, p = 0.048), the presence of rodent burrows (RR = 2.3 [1.6–3.23, p = 0.000003), and being in a multi-room square building (RR = 2.0 [1.3–2.9], p = 0.001) were associated with increased rodent abundance. The most addressable of these may be rodent burrows, as burrow patching is a relatively simple process that may reduce rodent entry. Further study is warranted to explicitly link domestic rodent abundance to LF risk, to better characterize domestic risk factors, and to evaluate how household rodent-proofing interventions could contribute to LF control.

Download Full-text