Evidence of multiple bacterial, viral, and parasitic infectious disease agents in Mastomys natalensis rodents in riverine areas in selected parts of Zambia

Samuel Munalula Munjita; Annie Kalonda; Benjamin Mubemba; Manu Vanaerschot; Cristina Tato; Lusajo Mwakibete; John Tembo; Simbarashe Chitanga; Katendi Changula; Masahiro Kajihara; Walter Muleya; Hirofumi Sawa; Ayato Takada; Matthew Bates; Sody Munsaka; Edgar Simulundu

doi:10.1080/20008686.2024.2441537

Evidence of multiple bacterial, viral, and parasitic infectious disease agents in Mastomys natalensis rodents in riverine areas in selected parts of Zambia

Infect Ecol Epidemiol. 2024 Dec 31;15(1):2441537. doi: 10.1080/20008686.2024.2441537. eCollection 2025.

Authors

Samuel Munalula Munjita¹, Annie Kalonda¹, Benjamin Mubemba², Manu Vanaerschot³, Cristina Tato³, Lusajo Mwakibete³, John Tembo⁴, Simbarashe Chitanga^{1

5}, Katendi Changula⁶, Masahiro Kajihara^{7

8}, Walter Muleya⁹, Hirofumi Sawa^{10

11

12

13}, Ayato Takada^{10

11

14}, Matthew Bates^{4

15}, Sody Munsaka¹, Edgar Simulundu¹⁶

Affiliations

¹ Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Health Sciences, University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia.
² Department of Wildlife Sciences, Copperbelt University, Kitwe, Zambia.
³ Chan-Zuckerberg Biohub, San Francisco, CA, USA.
⁴ HerpeZ, University Teaching Hospital, Lusaka, Zambia.
⁵ Department of Preclinical Studies, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Namibia, Windhoek, Namibia.
⁶ Department of Paraclinical Studies, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia.
⁷ Division of International Research Promotion, International Institute for Zoonosis Control, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan.
⁸ Hokudai Centre for Zoonosis Control in Zambia, University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia.
⁹ Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia.
¹⁰ One Health Research Center, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan.
¹¹ International Collaboration Unit, International Institute for Zoonosis Control, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan.
¹² Global Virus Network, Baltimore, MD, USA.
¹³ Institute for Vaccine Research and Development (HU-IVReD), Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan.
¹⁴ Division of Global Epidemiology, International Institute for Zoonosis Control, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan.
¹⁵ Joseph Banks Laboratories, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Lincoln, Lincolnshire, UK.
¹⁶ Macha Research Trust, Choma, Zambia.

Abstract

Background: Infectious disease agents pose significant threats to humans, wildlife, and livestock, with rodents carrying a third of these agents, many linked to human diseases. However, the range of pathogens in rodents and the hotspots for disease remain poorly understood.

Aim: This study evaluated the prevalence of viral, bacterial, and parasitic pathogens in Mastomys natalensis rodents in riverine and non-riverine areas in selected districts in Zambia.

Methods: The study applied metagenomic next generation sequencing (mNGS). Tissues analysed included semen, foetal tissues, and blood-rich organs (liver, spleen, kidneys, and lungs). A multivariate logistic regression model explored the relationship between pathogen presence and host or ecological factors.

Results: A total of 182 rodents were captured, and 14 pathogens were detected in 10.4% of the samples (19/182). Detected organisms included zoonoses (Klebsiella michiganensis, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Salmonella enterica, and Bartonella elizabethae); Emerging zoonoses (Elizabethkingia miricola, Klebsiella variicola, Bartonella tribocorum, and Cardiovirus B); among others (Eimeria papillata etc). Riverine areas showed higher odds of pathogen presence (OR = 8.45; p < 0.001; 95% CI: 3.07-23.26).

Conclusion: These results suggest that M. natalensis harbours multiple infectious agents with zoonotic potential, and riverine regions may be key hotspots for rodent-borne pathogens in Zambia.

Keywords: Hotspots; Riverine areas; Rodents; Semen; Zambia; Zoonoses.

Grants and funding

This research was supported by the Africa Centre of Excellence for Infectious Disease of Humans and Animals (ACEIDHA) project [grant number P151847] funded by the World Bank. Financial support was provided fully by HerpeZ based at the University Teaching Hospital in Lusaka Zambia. It was also provided in part by the Science and Technology Research Partnership for Sustainable Development (SATREPS) [grant number JP22jm0110019], grants for the Japan Program for Infectious Diseases Research and Infrastructure [grant number JP21wm0125008, JP20wm0225003] from Japan’s Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED) and by the European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP2) programme under the PANDORA-ID-NET Consortium [EDCTP Reg/Grant RIA2016E–1609]. The study was also partly supported by the Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED) [grant number JP223fa627005]. The funders had no role in study design, collection, analysis and interpretation of data, manuscript writing, and decision to submit the article for publication.