serikali ya mapinduzi zanzibar care tanzania and department

viruses. Recent work has pointed to the role of Rattus rattus on islands as important in
the transmission of Fasciola hepatica, a fluke (flatworm) important in the human
disease fascioliasis. Valero et al. (1998) studied experimentally infected Rattus rattus
on Corsica in Italy, and suggested that Rattus rattus found in the wild may act as a
reservoir for the fluke and contributed to its wide extent on Corsica. Mas-Cona et al.
(1999) found that human fascioliasis was present even where the fluke was not a
veterinary problem, suggesting that Rattus rattus may be important in the life cycle of
the parasite. Helminth parasites of Rattus also may be involved in the transmission of
parasites to cattle as well.
Specific observations and recommendations on Rattus rattus in Ngezi - Vumawimbi
forest reserves
The lack of data on Rattus rattus (and any other rodents which may be found on
Pemba, such as Rattus norvegicus) is of concern not only with regard to Ngezi forest
reserve, but also to the well being of the human population on all parts of the island
and the economy generally.
The lack of published data from Pemba on Rattus rattus leads to the suggestion of
the following priorities:
The need for regular, periodic trapping surveys of Rattus rattus (and possibly Rattus
norvegicus and others) using standardized techniques, to follow the reproductive
trends in the rodent populations.
It is important to recognize the disease potential present in the Rattus population,
which is found not only in association with dwellings, but also in natural and
disturbed habitats. Evidence suggests that any intensive study of rodents will yield
various types of viruses.
If suitable funding and personnel can be found, it should be feasible to conduct
parasite surveys at the same time as the general rodent surveys are conducted. There is
every likelihood of finding new viruses, because such was the case when a population
of R. norvegicus was studied in Australia (Macdonald et al. 1999).
There is also a need to carefully assess the damage done to various crops (as well as
possibly to tree seeds and seedlings) by Rattus rattus. This could be done with the
assistance of local farmers using a participatory research process, as well as by
quantified assessment of crop damage in the field.
The issue of whether or not other rodents were ever found on Pemba is of much more
than theoretical interest, it has considerable ecological implications. This might be
done by careful examination of fossil remains, as well as examining bones associated
with early human settlements excavated in Pemba.
Bats
At least 14 species of bats occur in Pemba and 42% of the bat species known for
Pemba were recorded in Ngezi forest during the survey. Bats are abundant in Ngezi
and surrounding areas occupying a variety of habitats including forest, woodland,
thickets and caves. Two bat species occurring in Pemba are threatened, including the
Pemba flying fox (Pteropus voeltzkowi) which is endemic to Pemba and is classified
by IUCN as threatened, and Decken's Horse-shoe Bat (Rhinolophus deckeni) which is
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