Rodent malaria parasites detected in the invasive Rattus rattus in Gabon

Abstract

Invasive species are increasingly recognized for their role in reshaping host–parasite dynamics. This study reports the first molecular detection of Plasmodium yoelii in the invasive black rat (Rattus rattus) in Gabon, based on a systematic molecular screening of 527 rodents captured in rural villages between 2021 and 2022. Two R. rattus individuals tested positive for P. yoelii, with phylogenetic analysis confirming identity with strains previously isolated from native rodents in the region. These findings challenge the traditional view that rodent malaria parasites are restricted to native hosts and highlight R. rattus as a potential, albeit likely incidental, host within local Plasmodium transmission networks. Despite a low infection prevalence (0.38 %), this result raises important questions about the capacity of invasive rodents to integrate into local parasite cycles and influence disease dynamics.