Ectoparasites and Rodents in the Republic of Guinea: A Critical Interface for Disease Transmission

Parasites affect their hosts by disrupting physiological functions or by reproducing excessively. This study aimed to assess the role of rodent ectoparasites in the transmission of zoonotic agents in the Republic of Guinea, in order to identify potential health risks and propose appropriate control strategies. Between April 2021 and August 2022, 200 Sherman traps were deployed across eight prefectures representing diverse ecosystems, leading to the capture of 1114 rodents belonging to 18 species, including Rattus rattus (n = 427), Mus musculus (n = 170), Mus spp. (n = 145), and Cricetomys gambianus (n = 72). A total of 356 ectoparasites were collected, comprising three mite species and four insect species. Molecular analyses (PCR and RT-PCR) revealed the presence of Mammarenavirus Lassa (3 cases), Borrelia spp. (36 cases), Anaplasma spp. (5 cases), Ehrlichia spp. (4 cases), Leptospira spp. (4 cases), and Coxiella burnetii (1 case). The prefectures of Nzérékoré and Kindia emerged as high-risk areas for zoonotic transmission. These findings highlight the importance of epidemiological surveillance of rodents and their ectoparasites to prevent infectious diseases in humans.