Institute of Pest Management

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Community structure and seasonal abundance of rodents of maize farms in Southwestern Tanzania
(Belg. J. Zool, 2005-12) ODHIAMBO, Richard; Makundi, Rhodes; Leirs, Herwig; Verhagen, Ron
Community characteristics and seasonal abundance of rodents were investigated in a small-scale maize field-fallow land mosaic in southwestern Tanzania between February 2001 and May 2002. During the study, a total of 2568 rodents were captured in 9150 trapnights giving a 28 % trap success. Also shrews of the genus Croci- dura (Soricidae) were recorded. Mastomys natalensis comprised the highest proportion of rodents caught account- ing for 82.9 % of all captures. Other rodent genera captured included : Tatera, Saccostomus, Graphiurus, and Steat- omys. Relative densities as measured by both trap success and the number of rodents per hectare, and biomass varied between seasons with and without crop in the field but not between habitat types. The work reports seasonal- ity in breeding for the two most commonly trapped species, Mastomys natalensis and Tatera leucogaster.
Does cattle milieu provide a potential point to target wild exophilic anopheles arabiensis (diptera: culicidae) with entomopathogenic fungus? a bioinsecticide zooprophylaxis strategy for vector control.
(Hindawi Publishing Corporation, 2012) Lyimo, I. N.; Ng'habi, K. R.; Mpingwa, M. W.; Daraja, A. A.; Mwasheshe, D. D.; Nchimbi, N. S.; Lwetoijera, D. W.; Mnyone, L. L.
Background. Anopheles arabiensis is increasingly dominating malaria transmission in Africa. The exophagy in mosquitoes threatens the effectiveness of indoor vector control strategies. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of fungus against An. arabiensis when applied on cattle and their environments. Methods. Experiments were conducted under semi-field and small-scale field conditions within Kilombero valley. The semi-field reared females of 5-7 days old An. arabiensis were exposed to fungus-treated and untreated calf. Further, wild An. arabiensis were exposed to fungus-treated calves, mud-huts, and their controls. Mosquitoes were recaptured the next morning and proportion fed, infected, and survived were evaluated. Experiments were replicated three times using different individuals of calves. Results. A high proportion of An. arabiensis was fed on calves (>0.90) and become infected (0.94) while resting on fungus-treated mud walls than on other surfaces. However, fungus treatments reduced fecundity and survival of mosquitoes. Conclusion. This study demonstrates for the first time the potential of cattle and their milieu for controlling An. arabiensis. Most of An. arabiensis were fed and infected while resting on fungus-treated mud walls than on other surfaces. Fungus treatments reduced fecundity and survival of mosquitoes. These results suggest deployment of bioinsecticide zooprophylaxis against exophilic An. arabiensis.
Does cattle milieu provide a potential point to target wild exophilic anopheles arabiensis (Diptera: Culicidae) with entomopathogenic fungus? a bioinsecticide zooprophylaxis strategy for vector control.
(Hindawi Publishing Corporation, 2012) Lyimo, I. N.; Ng'habi, K. R.; Mpingwa, M. W.; Daraja, A. A.; Mwasheshe, D. D.; Nchimbi, N. S.; Lwetoijera, D. W.; Mnyone, L. L.
Background.Anophelesarabiensis isincreasinglydominatingmalariatransmissioninAfrica.Theexophagyinmosquitoesthreatens the eﬀectiveness of indoor vector control strategies. This study aimed to evaluate the eﬀectiveness of fungus against An. arabiensis when applied on cattle and their environments. Methods. Experiments were conducted under semi-ﬁeld and small-scale ﬁeld conditions within Kilombero valley. The semi-ﬁeld reared females of 5–7 days old An. arabiensis were exposed to fungus-treated and untreated calf. Further, wild An. arabiensis were exposed to fungus-treated calves, mud-huts, and their controls. Mosquitoes were recaptured the next morning and proportion fed, infected, and survived were evaluated. Experiments were replicated three times using diﬀerent individuals of calves. Results. A high proportion of An. arabiensis was fed on calves (>0.90) and become infected (0.94) while resting on fungus-treated mud walls than on other surfaces. However, fungus treatments reduced fecundity and survival of mosquitoes. Conclusion. This study demonstrates for the ﬁrst time the potential of cattle and their milieu for controlling An. arabiensis. Most ofAn. arabiensis were fed and infected while resting on fungus-treated mud walls than on other surfaces. Fungus treatments reduced fecundity and survival of mosquitoes. These results suggest deployment of bioinsecticide zooprophylaxis against exophilic An. arabiensis.
Ecologically based rodent management in Africa: potential and challenges
(CSIRO Publishing, 2011) Makundi, Rhodes H.; Massawe, A. W.
Rodent management in agriculture remains a major challenge in developing countries where resource-poor farmers are ill-equipped to deal with pest species. It is compounded by unpredictable outbreaks, late control actions, lack of/or inadequate expert interventions, expensive rodenticides and other factors. Ecologically based rodent management (EBRM) is recommended as the way forward for rodent management in Africa. EBRM relies on understanding the ecology of pest species and formulating this knowledge into management programs. The present paper evaluates the potential for establishing EBRM in Africa and the challenges that have to be overcome to implement it. The major constraints for establishing EBRM in Africa include the absence of key studies on the taxonomy and ecology of rodents, inadequate research on EBRM, lack of knowledge by farmers on available technologies and agricultural policies that are unfavourable. The development of EBRM and its success in Asia is a strong encouragement to African scientists to develop similar management strategies for the most important pest species such as the multi mammate rats, Mastomysnatalensis. EBRM initiatives such as the Development of Ecologically Based Rodent Management for the Southern Africa Region (ECORAT) project undertook studies on e.g. rodent ecology, taxonomy, knowledge, attitude and practices and rodent–human interactions in rural agricultural communities. Through this project, EBRM interventions were introduced in Tanzania, Swaziland and Namibia to provide solutions to local rodent-pest problems. Intervention actions including community-based intensive trapping of rodents, habitat manipulation and sanitary measures demonstrated that the impacts of rodents on communities could be drastically reduced. EBRM programs in Africa must address how to change attitudes of target communities, building scientiﬁc capacity, implanting rodent-management skills by translating the developed technologies and strategies into simple understandable and easy-to-implement actions and inﬂuencing policy makers to accept the concepts and practices to be introduced. Further, we need to demonstrate that EBRM is economically feasible and sustainable and that through community participation, EBRM will become deeply rooted in those communities.
A faunal survey in Kingu Pira (south Tanzania), with new karyotypes of several small mammals and the description of a new Murid species (Mammalia, Rodentia)
(ZOOSYSTEMA, 2011) Denys, Christiane; Lalis, Aude; Lecompte, Emilie; Cornette, Raphaël; Moulin, Sibyle; Makundi, Rhodes H.; Volobouev, Vitaly; Machang'u, Robert S.; Aniskine, Vladimir M.
A multidisciplinary approach combining morphology, classical morphometry and cytogenetics allowed to establish an updated taxonomic inventory of small mammals from Kingu Pira in the Selous region (south Tanzania). Among the 229 rodents and 21 shrews that were captured during the fi eldwork in Ngarembe village in July 2003, 45 specimens were karyotyped. Concerning rodents, this allowed the description of a new karyotype of Acomys and Grammomys, while the cytotypes of Paraxerus fl avovittis and Pelomys fallax are here fi gured for the fi rst time. Taxonomic revisions of the literature allowed to clarify the status of Lemniscomys rosalia and Aethomys chrysophilus in Tanzania. Using a combination of morphological and cytogenetical characters, a new species of Grammomys is described. For shrews, we provide here the fi rst description of C. hirta karyotype. Comparisons with voucher of genetically typed specimens of diff erent east African collections confi rmed the important biodiversity of this region for conservation and the necessity to preserve the coastal forest of south Tanzania.
Host use of bactrocera latifrons, a new invasive tephritid species in Tanzania
(Entomological Society of America, 2010-02) Makundi, Rhodes H; Mziray, Hendry A; Mwatawala, Maulid; Maerere, Amon; Meyer, Marc DE
Bactrocera latifrons (Hendel) is a pest of Asian origin, Þrst detected in Africa in 2006. We assessed the host utilization of this quarantine pest in Morogoro region, eastern central Tanzania, by collecting a wide range of cultivated and wild host plants of species belonging to Solanaceae and Cucurbitaceae from April 2007 to April 2008. Fruit were collected from 29 plant species and varieties (16 Solanaceae and 13 Cucurbitaceae) in all agroecological zones of Morogoro region. Twelve solanaceous fruit species yielded B. latifrons of which four are new host records: Capsicum annuum L. cov. longum A. DC., Capsicum chinense Jacq., Solanum sodomeum L., and Solanum scabrum Mill. Similarly, three cucurbitaceous fruit species provided positive rearings and are new host records: Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum & Nakai, Cucumis dipsaceus L., and Momordica cf trifoliata L. The infestation rate and incidence of the pest was mainly high in the solanaceous hosts of nightshades (Solanum nigrum L. and Solanum scabrum) and African eggplants (Solanum aethiopicum Lam. and Solanum anguivi). In a host preference study involving limited number of cultivated solanaceous crops, S. scabrum was recorded as the most preferred host. The pest has been found to outnumber Bactrocera invadens (Drew et al.), Bactrocera cucurbitae (Coquillett), and Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) in most of the common solanaceous hosts.
Impact of crop cycle on movement patterns of pest rodent species between ﬁelds and houses in Africa
(CSIRO Publishing, 2011) Monadjem, A.; Mahlaba, T. A.; Dlamini, N.; Eiseb, S. J.; Belmain, S. R.; Mulungu, L. S.; Massawe, A. W.; Makundi, Rhodes H.; Mohr, K.; Taylor, P. J.
Context. Rodent pests can have severe impacts on crop production in sub-Saharan Africa. In particular ,the multimammate mouse Mastomysnatalensis severely damages agricultural crops in southern and eastern Africa ,leading to signiﬁcant losses. Both its population ecology and breeding biology have been studied in agricultural and natural habitats. Population numbers erupt depending on the timing and amount of rainfall and may reach plague proportions, especially in agricultural settings, where it may become a serious pest. However, the ecology of this species, in particular its interactions with other species within the context of human settlement ,is poorly understood. It may occasionally enter houses, but the degree to which it does so and the factors inﬂuencing this movement are not known. Aims. We investigated the relationship between Rattus spp. and M. natalensis entering buildings in an agro-ecological setting. We predicted that M. natalensis would enter houses more readily when food availability was lowest in the surrounding ﬁelds, and when the larger Rattus spp. were absent. Methods. We followed 40 individuals ofM.natalensis in Swaziland and Namibia by radio-telemetry. Mice were captured in maize ﬁelds within 50m of a home stead and ﬁtted with radio-transmitters at three different times corresponding to different stages of crop development: pre-harvest, post-harvest and pre-planting. To corroborate the ﬁndings of the telemetry study, a non-toxic marker, rhodamine B, was mixed with standard bait and left at bait stations inside houses in 10 homesteads in Swaziland and Tanzania. Key results. Mice remained in the ﬁelds during the entire period of study in Swaziland, but entered buildings in Namibia during the post-harvest stage, which may represent a period of food shortage for these mice in the ﬁeld. Rodents captured after baiting with rhodamine B demonstrated that Rattus spp. predominated within the houses. A small number of rhodamine B-marked M. natalensis were captured outside the houses, the proportion declining with distance away from the houses. Conclusions. These results suggest that in a typical rural African setting dominated by subsistence agriculture, Rattus spp. (when present) competitively exclude the smaller M. natalensis from entering houses. Implications. Interactions between rodent pest species may be important in determining which rodent species enter houses in rural African landscapes. Consideration of such interactions may play an important role when developing pest management strategies.
Incidence and host range of the melon fruit fly Bactrocera cucurbitae (Coquillett) (Diptera: Tephritidae) in Central Tanzania
(International Journal of Pest Management, 2010) Mwatawala, M.; Maerere, A. P; Makundi, Rhodes H.; De Mayer, M.
The incidence and host range of the melon fruit fly, Bactrocera cucurbitae, was studied in the Morogoro Region of Central Tanzania between October 2004 and October 2006. Occurrence was limited to low to medium altitude locations. Populations reached a peak in the dry season, between July and September. Host plants belonged mostly to the Cucurbitaceae family, with non-cucurbit hosts being infested occasionally and at low infestation rate. Highly preferred cucurbit hosts were cucumber (Cucumis sativus), melon (Cucumis melo) and watermelon (Citrullus lanatus), while Momordica cf trifoliata was the most important wild host. Bactrocera cucurbitae appeared to dominate most indigenous cucurbit infesters, with the exception of Dacus ciliatus which was still dominant in some cucurbitaceous spp.
Jigger flea infestation (tungiasis) in rural western Tanzania: high prevalence and severe morbidity
(Elsevier, 2011-12) Mazigo, H.D; Bahemana, E; Konje, E.T; Dyegura, O; Mnyone, L.L; Kweka, E.J; Kidenya, B.R; Heukelbach, J
Epidemiologic and clinical data on the parasitic skin disease tungiasis are limited from sub-Saharan Africa, and virtually nonexistent from the East African region. We performed a community-based cross-sectional study in two villages in Kasulu district, western Tanzania. Study participants were examined for the presence of tungiasis and disease-associated morbidity. In total, 586 individuals >5 years of age were enrolled, and 249 (42.5%; 95% CI: 38.5-46.5) diagnosed with tungiasis. The ≥45 year-olds showed highest prevalence of tungiasis (71.1%) and most severe parasite load (median number of embedded fleas: 17.5; interquartile range: 15-22.5). Prevalence was slightly, but not significantly, higher in males than in females (45.3 vs 39.7%; p=0.17). Itching (68.3%), pain (38.6%) and ulcers (30.1%) were common; 22.1% of individuals found it difficult to walk due to tungiasis, and in 21.3% loss of toenails was observed. Considering the high prevalence and considerable morbidity in the population, we conclude that tungiasis is a public health threat in the study villages and that the disease needs to be recognized by health authorities. Future studies on risk factors, animal reservoirs and evidence-based control measures are needed.
Prevalence of haemoparasites, leptospires and coccobacilli with potential for human infection in the blood of rodents and shrews from selected localities in Tanzania, Namibia and Swaziland
(African Zoology, 2012-02) Katakweba, Abdul A.S.; Mulungu, Loth S.; Eiseb, Seth J.; Mahlaba, Themb’alilahlwa A.; Makundi, Rhodes H.; Massawe, Apia W.; Borremans, Benny; Belmain, Steven R.
The prevalence of haemoparasites, leptospirosis and Yersinia pestis was investigated in rodents and shrews from Tanzania, Namibia and Swaziland. Blood smears originating from rodents and shrews from the three countries indicated the presence of Trypanosoma lewisi (72.7%; n =950), Bacillus spp. (25.6%; n =950), Borrelia sp. (0.01%; n =950) and bipolar coccobacilli (0.01%; n =950). The blood smears from Namibia (n =26) had no haemoparasites while only 1.33% (n =75) of those from Swaziland showed presence of T. lewisi. Leptospira interrogans was found in rodent blood sera from Tanzania in the following serogroup proportions (n =350): Icterohaemorrhagiae (10.29%), Pomona (2.86%), Hardjo (1.14%), Bullum (0.86%), Grippotyphosa (1.43%) and Canicola (1.14%). Serodiagnosis of antibodies against the F1 antigen of Y. pestis using the enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was negative for all the serum samples from central Tanzania, while two samples of serum from two species of rodents, Rhabdomys pumilio and Gerbilliscus leucogaster, collected in the Kavango Region of Namibia were positive. These results suggest an enzootic plague activity in this region in Namibia. It is concluded that zoonotic agents, that are infectious to humans, are prevalent in rodents and shrews in the three countries, and that local communities should apply rodent control measures to reduce the risk of human infections.
Seasonal and habitat dependence of fleas parasitic on small mammals in Tanzania
(ISZS, Blackwell Publishing and IOZ/CA, 2009) Laudisoit, A.; Leirs, H.; Makundi, R.; Krasnov, B. R.
We investigated host and flea species composition across different habitats during dry and rainy seasons in the Western Usambara Mountains in Tanzania. During both seasons, similarity in flea species composition increased with an increase in the similarity in host species composition. Nevertheless, between-season within-habitat as well as within-season between-habitat similarity in host species composition was higher than similarity in flea species composition. Ordination of habitats according to their host and flea species composition demonstrated that the pattern of between-habitat similarity in both host and flea species composition varied seasonally. Despite the relatively rich mammal and flea fauna of the study region, the major contribution to variation in species composition between seasons and among habitats was due to a few species only. Flea assemblages on Lophuromys kilonzoi Verheyen et al., 2007 and Praomys delectorum Thomas, 1910 in different habitats were equally similar in either season. In contrast, flea assemblages on Mastomys natalensis (Smith, 1834) occurring in different habitats were more similar in the dry than in the rainy season, whereas the opposite was the case for fleas on Grammomys sp. In different hosts, the main differences in species composition of flea assemblages between seasons as well as among habitats were due to different flea species. Although our results support the earlier idea that parasite species composition is determined by both host species composition and habitat properties, the former appears to explain variance in flea species composition between localities in the tropics better than between localities in temperate and arid zones.

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