Browsing by Author "Belmain, Steven R."

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Dietary differences of the multimammate mouse, Mastomys natalensis (Smith, 1834), across different habitats and seasons in Tanzania and Swaziland
(CSIRO PUBLISHING) Mulungu, Loth S.; Mahlaba, Themb’alilahlwa A.; Massawe, Apia W.; Kennis, Jan; Crauwels, Dieter; Eiseb, Seth; Monadjem, Ara; Makundi, Rhodes H.; Katakweba, Abdul A. S.; Leirs, Herwig; Belmain, Steven R.
Differences in diet between two rodent species, Mastomys natalensis and Gerbilliscus vicinus, in fallow land habitats in central Tanzania
Mulungu, Loth S.; Massawe, Apia W.; Kennis, Jan; Crauwels, Dieter; Eiseb, Seth; Mahlaba, Themb’alilahlwa A.; Monadjem, Ara; Makundi, Rhodes H.; Katakweba, Abdul A. S.; Leirs, Herwig; Belmain, Steven R.
Differences in diet between two rodent species, Mastomys natalensis and Gerbilliscus vicinus, in fallow land habitats in central Tanzania
(2011-10) Mulungu, Loth S.; Massawe, Apia W.; Kennis, Jan; Crauwels, Dieter; Eiseb, Seth; Mahlaba, Themb’alilahlwa A.; Monadjem, Ara; Makundi, Rhodes H.; Katakweba, Abdul A. S.; Leirs, Herwig; Belmain, Steven R.
Differences in the ecological niche requirements among rodent species competing in the same habitat may result from differences in the use of one to three resources: space, time and food or some combination of these. Alternatively, differences in resource use utilization among animal species may simply reflect availability of food, and when food is limited, different animal species compete. In this study, the diet of two rodent pest species, Mastomys natalensis and Gerbilliscus vicinus, coexisting in fallow land in central Tanzania were studied to assess the degree of diet differentiation among them. Dietary niche breadth of G. vicinus was greater than that of M. natalensis in all stages of the maize cropping seasons. The rodent species studied overlapped considerably in the food items consumed ranging from niche overlap (Ojk) of 0.77–0.89. Grains/seeds featured high in the diet of M. natalensis while plant material occurrence was high in G. vicinus. These two food categories may have contributed to differences in diet partitioning, which may, in turn, facilitate their coexistence in fallow land.
Enhancing knowledge among smallholders on pollinators and supporting field margins for sustainable food security
(Elsevier Ltd.) Elisante, Filemon; Ndakidemi, Patrick A.; Arnold, Sarah E.J.; Belmain, Steven R.; Gurr, Geoff M.; Darbyshire, Iain; Xie, Gang; Tumbo, Julie; Stevenson, Philip C.
Leptospira serovars for diagnosis of leptospirosis in humans and animals in Africa: common leptospira isolates and reservoir hosts
Mgode, Georgies F.; Machang’u, Robert S.; Mhamphi, Ginethon G.; Katakweba, Abdul; Mulungu, Loth S.; Durnez, Lies; Leirs, Herwig; Hartskeerl, Rudy A.; Belmain, Steven R.
Leptospira serovars for diagnosis of leptospirosis in humans and animals in Africa: common leptospira isolates and reservoir hosts
(2015) Mgode, Georgies F.; Machang’u, Robert S.; Mhamphi, Ginethon G.; Katakweba, Abdul; Mulungu, Loth S.; Durnez, Lies; Leirs, Herwig; Hartskeerl, Rudy A.; Belmain, Steven R.
The burden of leptospirosis in humans and animals in Africa is higher than that reported from other parts of the world. However, the disease is not routinely diagnosed in the continent. One of major factors limiting diagnosis is the poor availability of live isolates of locally circulating Leptospira serovars for inclusion in the antigen panel of the gold standard microscopic agglutination test (MAT) for detecting antibodies against leptospirosis. To gain insight in Leptospira serovars and their natural hosts occurring in Tanzania, concomitantly enabling the improvement of the MAT by inclusion of fresh local isolates, a total of 52 Leptospira isolates were obtained from fresh urine and kidney homogenates, collected between 1996 and 2006 from small mammals, cattle and pigs. Isolates were identified by serogrouping, cross agglutination absorption test (CAAT), and molecular typing. Common Leptospira serovars with their respective animal hosts were: Sokoine (cattle and rodents); Kenya (rodents and shrews); Mwogolo (rodents); Lora (rodents); Qunjian (rodent); serogroup Grippotyphosa (cattle); and an unknown serogroup from pigs. Inclusion of local serovars particularly serovar Sokoine in MAT revealed a 10-fold increase in leptospirosis prevalence in Tanzania from 1.9% to 16.9%in rodents and 0.26% to 10.75% in humans. This indicates that local serovars are useful for diagnosis of human and animal leptospirosis in Tanzania and other African countries.
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) 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.
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.
Socio-Economic tools for rodent management research: recent experience from Africa and Asia
(ICRBM) Krebs, Charles; Zhang, Zhibin; Tuat, Nguyen Van; Singleton, Grant; Makundi, Rhodes H.; Hinds, Lyn; Ylönen, Hannu; Leirs, Herwig; Sudarmaji; Belmain, Steven R.; Jacob, Jens; Brown, Peter; Zhang, Jianxu; Avenant, N.L.
Socio-Economic tools for rodent management research: recent experience from Africa and Asia
(ICRBM, 2006) Krebs, Charles; Zhang, Zhibin; Tuat, Nguyen Van; Singleton, Grant; Makundi, Rhodes H.; Hinds, Lyn; Ylönen, Hannu; Leirs, Herwig; Sudarmaji; Belmain, Steven R.; Jacob, Jens; Brown, Peter; Zhang, Jianxu; Avenant, N.L.
The scientific development of anti-coagulant rodenticides led to a complete transformation of rodent pest control services throughout the world. Suddenly it became economically practical to eradicate localised rodent populations in agricultural or urban environments. The success of chronic poisons became doctrine among rodent experts. However, understanding how rodent behaviour was exploited by chronic poisons, the differences between chronic and acute poisons, and the way poisons need to be delivered, continue to be poorly understood by the general public and people attempting to manage their own rodent pest problems. The success of chronic rodenticides has its limitations prescribed by human knowledge, socio-cultural context and, of course, by the nature of the rodent pest problem experienced. In short, our best rodent management tools can and do fail when individuals and experts do not understand the circumstances and tools with which they are attempting to carry out rodent management. Recently completed research to develop ecologically-based rodent management (EBRM) strategies for rural agricultural communities in Bangladesh and South Africa has shown that it is vitally important to understand the knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) of people experiencing rodent pest problems. Tools for evaluating ethno-ecology and human behaviour were developed and implemented as part of these EBRM research projects. Community focus groups were used to understand the decision making process and the risks and benefits of rodents and management actions. Resource maps, cropping calendars and decision analysis matrices helped describe the opportunities and constraints experienced by community members; while changes in human behaviour in response to rodent management interventions were monitored through the use of individual KAP survey questionnaires and farmer diaries. By using these socio-economic tools, it was possible to quantify the impact of rodent pests on people’s livelihoods as well as the cost-benefits of new rodent management strategies. Data from these studies showed that communities could cost-beneficially reduce rodent impacts. Participatory approaches of research were adopted which allowed rodent ecology research to be carried out that would not have otherwise been feasible, while at the same time improving knowledge among community members about rodents and appropriate management strategies. The prospects of positive long-term changes in human behaviour were enhanced through using these socio-economic tools. Anthropological and economic studies are essential when trying to understand the impact of rodents on people’s lives. Research in the RatZooMan project studying the role of rodents in the transmission of zoonotic diseases in southern Africa showed that human behaviour and actions are often responsible for the persistence and spread of zoonosis in the environment as well as affecting the individual risk of exposure to disease. Socio- economics also affect people’s health care seeking behaviour, causing delay or inappropriate treatment choices. Witchcraft, curses, superstitions and religion can influence the fundamental knowledge within a community about human disease and can even affect the way in which rodent pest problems are perceived and managed. Scientists who desire to be praised (and not cursed) for their research on rodent pest management would ignore the socio-economic aspects of rodent management at their peri
Spatial and temporal population dynamics of rodents in three geographically different regions in Africa: implication for ecologically-based rodent management
(Tailor & Francis) Massawe, Apia W.; Mulungu, Loth S.; Makundi, Rhodes H.; Dlamini, Nomfundo; Eiseb, Seth J.; Kirsten, Frikkie; Mahlaba, Themb’alilahlwa; Malebane, Phanuel; Maltitz, Emil Von; Monadjem, Ara; Taylor, Peter; Tutjavi, Vassana; Belmain, Steven R.