Rodents play a pivotal role as vectors in the transmission of zoonotic diseases, those that transfer from animals to humans. Acting as vital reservoirs for over 60 distinct illnesses with the potential to impact human health, these creatures underscore the intricate interplay between wildlife and public well-being (Dahmana et al., 2020). Concerns are growing globally regarding communicable diseases, especially with influence of climate change, urbanization, and intensified agriculture. These factors can contribute to the spread or resurgence of zoonotic and emerging diseases in new areas previously believed to be disease-free (Jones et al., 2013).
Rodents carry various diseases carried by bacteria (e.g. Babesia, plague, leptospirosis, Lyme disease, relapsing fevers), protozoans (e.g. leishmaniasis, toxoplasmosis etc) or helminthes (e.g. trichinellosis, echinococcosis, capillariasis) (Ganjeer et al., 2021). Leptospirosis is an infectious bacterial disease caused by various serotypes of the genus leptospira. It poses an economic risk to farm animals as well as an important zoonotic disease in human beings. The symptoms in humans resemble to those of other better known parasitic, viral, and bacterial infections such as malaria, dengue, and other viral hemorrhagic fevers, salmonellosis, and brucellosis (Rahman et al., 2020). Hence, it is difficult to diagnose as a result, the disease is frequently not recognized, misdiagnosed and consequently severely neglected in humid tropical and sub-tropical areas (Hartskeerl et al., 2011). Leptospira, the causative agent of leptospirosis, can be readily extracted from diverse pathological sources, including blood, cerebral spinal fluid, and both urine and kidney tissues. The field of leptospirosis diagnostics has witnessed a transformative leap forward with the advent of PCR-based detection methods, which have greatly streamlined the molecular diagnosis of this disease, revolutionizing our capacity to swiftly and accurately identify infections.
Toxoplasma gondii, as illuminated by the research of Murray et al., 2015, emerges as a captivating protozoan assailant that afflicts a diverse array of warm-blooded creatures, including the human species. This enigmatic malady stems from the cunning T. gondii, a secretive, obligate intracellular protozoan that finds its origins within the feline kingdom, and yet extends its grasp to encompass humanity and other unsuspecting mammals, even infiltrating the avian realm as intermediate conduits. The shadow of Toxoplasma gondii looms ubiquitously across the global landscape (Dubey, 2016). Remarkably, the feline cohort emerges as pivotal figures within this parasitic drama, serving as the exclusive custodians capable of dispersing the hardy, environmentally-resistant phase (Montazeri et al., 2020). Meanwhile, our own species, the humans, fall prey to this insidious intruder post-natally, often due to the consumption of undercooked meat, ingestion of tainted comestibles, or the inadvertent intake of oocysts from our surroundings (Hussien et al., 2017). Recent scholarly focus has honed in on the genetic tapestry of T. gondii isolates, distinguishing between those harbored by seemingly robust hosts and those ensnared within the clutches of sickness (Manzoor et al., 2023). T. gondii was identified as 2Q2Qw2221211111 conclusively in tissues of a congenitally-infected infant in New York City, USA (Wolf et al., 1939), Its profound veterinary significance came to light in 1957, when it orchestrated tumultuous abortion waves among unsuspecting sheep in Australia, an event chronicled by Hartley and Marshall (Aldomy et al., 2009).
Babesiosis, a relatively rare parasitic ailment, is instigated by piroplasms, a group of protozoan parasites hailing from the Babesia genus (Young et al., 2019). Typically, this pathogenic culprit finds its way through the intricate network of ticks, sometimes partnering with Lyme disease as seen in the instance of Babesia microti, which shares its tick vector, Ixodes scapularis (Nelder et al., 2016). Furthermore, in areas where Babesia is endemic, there's an alternate route of transmission through blood transfusion (Leiby, 2006; Wei et al., 2001). The manifestations of Babesia infection run the gamut, ranging from asymptomatic (frequently observed with B. microti and B. duncani in the USA and Japan) to inducing mild, nonspecific malaise (as seen with B. divergens in Europe). In severe cases, particularly among infants, the elderly, and those with weakened immune systems, the infection can lead to fatal consequences (Kletsova et al., 2017). Notably, in regions where malaria is prevalent, the symptoms often mimic those of Plasmodium infection, frequently causing a misdiagnosis (Waked & Krause, 2022).
The objectives of this work were to identify wild rats using morphological features as well as identify Babesia, leptospira and Toxoplasma gondi species from wild rats using molecular techniques such PCR (Miriam et al., 2023). This is because the diagnosis of the following disease-causing bacteria could be easily misconstrued. Molecular techniques can help to not just identify presence but the strain.