Rodent control a tool for prevention of leptospirosis - A success story on human leptospirosis with gujarat state

Abstract

Leptospirosis is a debilitating zoonosis for humans as well as domestic animals worldwide and widespread in tropical and sub tropical areas with high rainfall. India being a tropical country is potential for this debilitating disease. Among mammals, rodents are most important and widely distributed reservoirs of leptospiral infection. Four species of rodents i.e., Rattus norvegicus, Rattus rattus, Bandicota indica and Bandicota bengalensis, are known vectors for this disease and transmit the infection in rural and urban areas. Hence, rodent control in larger areas is recommended for preventing the spread of this disease. Gujarat is one of the States having established leptospirosis endemic pockets, particularly in Valsad, Navsari, Tapi and Surat districts. Hence, the Departments of Health and Agriculture, Gujarat conducted coordinated rodent vector control campaigns to prevent the disease spread. All activities were guided by National Institute of Plant Health Management, Hyderabad and funded under National Plan on Rodent Pest Management of Department of Agriculture and Cooperation, Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India. The initial pilot scale rodent control campaigns conducted in 114 villages covering 5,127 hectares jointly by Agriculture and Health Departments of the state in 2009 brought a reduction of 61% leptospirosis disease prevalence. Following this success, large scale community based rodent control campaigns were organized during 2012 in these districts in 1822 villages covering 4,70,782 hectares and obtained 82% reduction in the disease prevalence. It was observed that the inter-departmental coordination of Agriculture and Health Departments brought these significant results, which can be replicated and adopted elsewhere to prevent leptospirosis in the country.