Understanding and managing sanitary risks due to rodent zoonoses in an African city: beyond the Boston Model

摘要: The Boston Model describes a successful rodent management plan that succeeded in first-world city the USA. In third-world cities, which often contain informal shack settlements, it is debatable whether would apply. Durban, major harbor of three million people on east coast South Africa, we investigated sanitary risks due to rodents both formal (residential and commercial) (shacks) sectors, evaluated relative merits different interventions suggested by Model. Blood tissue samples six species (Rattus norvegicus, R. tanezumi, rattus, Mus musculus, Mastomys natalensis, Tatera brantsi) from 262 live-trapped 54 localities were tested for antibodies or DNA plague (n = 193: antibody test), leptospirosis 221 test; n 69 polymerase chain reaction test DNA) toxoplasmosis 217: test). We conducted socioeconomic survey 90 household determine environmental disease risk factors settlement Cato Crest . No seropositive plague, but nine Norway rats, norvegicus (4.1% sample tested) toxoplasmosis, 22 (10.0% leptospirosis. Disease endemic areas concentrated commercial district Durban. Serology tests humans living 219) showed 0% exposure 23% 35% toxoplasmosis. Compared with shack-dwellers, residents brick houses had slightly lower levels Based our results, hygiene rodent-trapping campaigns launched Crest. initiative owes much its current success implementation principles inherent Model, even though certain elements lacking.