role of rodents as reservoirs for some diseases in new reclaimed areas in north Sinai

ABSTRACT

In a trial to determine the role of Sinai rodents as reservoirs to rickettsial diseases, the IFA technique was used to detect the presence of R. typhi and spotted fever group in blood of some commensal and wild rodent species collected in Sinai during the last five years [1985-1989]. Out of 277 Rattus spp. collected in El Arish [47.3%] were positive to R. typhi and only [5.9%] of 35 Mus musculus were positive to R. typhi As for GerbiIlus spp. only [1.5%] of 206 animals were positive for R. typhi. The positive cases of spotted fever group were [34.6%] in Rattus spp. and [18.8%] in Gerbillus spp. With the presence of ticks and fleas in Sinai, the potentiality for rickettsial disease transmission exists. Such disease impose serious impacts on manpower in Sinai especially with the ambicious development plans ongoing presently