Emerging Zoonoses Bats and rodents as a source of emerging human disease in Kenya

E. Cook1,2, E. Dobson2, A. Kiyonga2, J. Akoko2, A. Ogendo3, M. Bronsvoort4, S. Kemp2, B. Agwanda5 and E. Fèvre1,2

Bats and rodents are the most numerous and widely distributed mammal groups globally

Bats are reservoirs of highly pathogenic organisms: Nipah, Hendra, Lyssavirus

Rodents are long recognised reservoirs of zoonotic disease: Leptospira sp, Yersinia sp

Background

Materials and methods

1Centre for Infectious Diseases and Centre for Immunity,

Infection and Evolution, University of Edinburgh, Ashworth

Laboratories, West Mains Rd, Edinburgh, EH9 3JT UK

2International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI),

Old Naivasha Road, PO Box, 30709-00100,

Nairobi, Kenya

4Epidemiology, Economics and Risk Assessment

Group, The Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh,

Easter Bush, EH25 9RG, UK

5National Museums of Kenya

PO Box 40658, 00100, Nairobi, Kenya

Study site Randomly selected

households within

45km radius from Busia, Kenya

Sampling procedure Capture animals—

bats in mist nets, rodents in Sherman

traps Anaesthetise

Draw heart blood

Euthanase

Necropsy

Samples collected Fresh tissues

(frozen)

Fixed tissues Serum

Whole blood Faeces

Sample analysis Blood smear exam

PCR tissues and

sequence for

zoonotic patho-

gens Histopathology of

fixed tissues

We would like to thank the MRC, Wellcome Trust, ILRI and the University of Edinburgh for supporting this work

Fig 2 A&B Haemosporidia sp; C Trypanosoma sp

from Scotoecus; D Trypanosoma sp from Rattus

Conclusions and Future plans Three previously undescribed parasite species identified in Kenyan wildlife

Planned characterisation and speciation of parasites March 2013

PCR & Next-Generation sequencing of tissues for novel pathogens (April-July 2013)

Histologic exam of fixed tissues to determine pathology (April-July 2013)

A

B

C

D

Results—to date

Figure 1 Map indicating location and

number of species caught in study area

Key findings 5/8 Epomophorus

gambianus positive for

Haemosporidia sp

2/8 Scotoecus sp positive

for Trypanosoma sp

2/22 Rattus rattus positive

for Trypanosoma sp

3Department of Veterinary Services

PO BOX 222 Nambale Kemya

Justification Next emerging

disease likely

to come from

wildlife

Objective Screen bats

and rodents for zoonotic

pathogens