Emerging Zoonoses
Bats and rodents as a source of emerging human disease in Kenya
E. Cook1,2
, E. Dobson2
, A. Kiyonga2
, J. Akoko2
, A. Ogendo3
, M. Bronsvoort4
, S. Kemp2
, B. Agwanda5
and E. Fèvre1,2
 Bats and rodents are the most numerous and widely distributed mammal groups globally
 Bats are reservoirs of highly pathogenic organisms: Nipah, Hendra, Lyssavirus
 Rodents are long recognised reservoirs of zoonotic disease: Leptospira sp, Yersinia sp
Background
Materials and methods
1Centre for Infectious Diseases and Centre for Immunity,
Infection and Evolution, University of Edinburgh, Ashworth
Laboratories, West Mains Rd, Edinburgh, EH9 3JT UK
2International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI),
Old Naivasha Road, PO Box, 30709-00100,
Nairobi, Kenya
4Epidemiology, Economics and Risk Assessment
Group, The Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh,
Easter Bush, EH25 9RG, UK
5National Museums of Kenya
PO Box 40658, 00100, Nairobi, Kenya
Study site
Randomly selected
households within
45km radius from
Busia, Kenya
Sampling procedure
Capture animals—
bats in mist nets,
rodents in Sherman
traps
Anaesthetise
Draw heart blood
Euthanase
Necropsy
Samples collected
Fresh tissues
(frozen)
Fixed tissues
Serum
Whole blood
Faeces
Sample analysis
 Blood smear exam
 PCR tissues and
sequence for
zoonotic patho-
gens
 Histopathology of
fixed tissues
We would like to thank the MRC, Wellcome Trust, ILRI and the University of Edinburgh for supporting this work
Fig 2 A&B Haemosporidia sp; C Trypanosoma sp
from Scotoecus; D Trypanosoma sp from Rattus
Conclusions and Future plans
 Three previously undescribed parasite species identified in Kenyan wildlife
 Planned characterisation and speciation of parasites March 2013
 PCR & Next-Generation sequencing of tissues for novel pathogens (April-July 2013)
 Histologic exam of fixed tissues to determine pathology (April-July 2013)
A
B
C
D
Results—to date
Figure 1 Map indicating location and
number of species caught in study area
Key findings
5/8 Epomophorus
gambianus positive for
Haemosporidia sp
2/8 Scotoecus sp positive
for Trypanosoma sp
2/22 Rattus rattus positive
for Trypanosoma sp
3Department of Veterinary Services
PO BOX 222 Nambale Kemya
Justification
Next emerging
disease likely
to come from
wildlife
Objective
Screen bats
and rodents for
zoonotic
pathogens