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Local perception of rodent-associated problems in Sahelian urban areas: a survey in Niamey, Niger

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Abstract

Rodents are involved in the epidemiology of many pathogens and are major pests for agriculture. Local perception and beliefs about rodents and their damages is a key element of control programs. We here present the first survey focusing on the human perception of rodent-associated problems in an African town, namely Niamey, Niger. In total, 170 interviews were conducted in 18 different urban districts where rodents (Mastomys natalensis, Rattus rattus and Mus musculus) are widespread and abundant. Rodent-associated problems were mentioned in almost all instances (96.5 %). Eight different categories of rodent-induced nuisances could be recurrently identified. The most frequently cited one consists in damages on food and food stocks (63.1 %), followed by damages on houses (47.3 %), furniture (19.5 %) and clothes (16.8 %). There was no significant association between damages and districts, which means that the perception of rodent-associated problems did not vary significantly across the city. Our survey strongly suggests that rodents may represent major pests not only for farmers, but also for inhabitants of towns, thus contributing to reinforce economic vulnerability. Finally, no mention of sanitary or medical problems was ever recorded during our survey, thus pointing towards an apparent absence of knowledge about the potential role of rodents in some public health issues.

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Acknowledgements

We are grateful to A. Adoum, K. Hima, C. Tatard, L. Granjon and J.M. Duplantier for their help on the field, in the rodent or geographic lab and/or comments on the present work. The suggestions of an anonymous reviewer were very helpful in improving the manuscript. Field and lab works were funded by the ‘Institut de Recherche pour le Développement’ (France). M. Garba was provisionally transferred from the ‘Direction Générale de la Protection des Végétaux’ (Minister of Agriculture, Niger) to Abdou Moumouni University (Niamey, Niger) as a PhD student (2009–2012; decision number 0326/MFP/T). The satellite image of Niamey used for Fig. 1 is part of a Spot Image (scene reference number 506 132 308 121 010 151 32 T, CNES 2008 ©) and was obtained under licence through the ISIS program (file number 553). Researches in Niger were conducted in the framework of the scientific partnership agreement (number 301027/00) between IRD and the Republic of Niger.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre Régional Agrhymet, Département Formation Recherche, BP 1011, Niamey, Niger

    Madougou Garba, Sama Gagare & Gauthier Dobigny

  2. Faculté des Sciences, Université Abdou Moumouni, BP 10662, Niamey, Niger

    Madougou Garba & Ramatou Sidikou

  3. Direction Générale de la Protection des Végétaux, Ministère de l’Agriculture, BP 323, Niamey, Niger

    Madougou Garba

  4. Centre de Biologie pour la Gestion des Populations (CBGP, UMR IRD-INRA-Cirad-SupAgro Montpellier), Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), Campus ISRA-IRD de Dakar-Bel-Air, BP 1386, Dakar, CP, 18524, Senegal

    Mamadou Kane

  5. Centre Régional Agrhymet FewsNet, BP1011, Niamey, Niger

    Ibrahima Kadaoure

  6. Institut National de Recherche Agronomique, CBGP, Campus International de Baillarguet CS30016, 34988, Montferrier-sur-Lez, France

    Jean-Pierre Rossi

  7. IRD, CBGP, Campus International de Baillarguet CS30016, 34988, Montferrier-sur-Lez, France

    Gauthier Dobigny

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  1. Madougou Garba
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  2. Mamadou Kane
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  7. Gauthier Dobigny
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Correspondence to Gauthier Dobigny.

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Garba, M., Kane, M., Gagare, S. et al. Local perception of rodent-associated problems in Sahelian urban areas: a survey in Niamey, Niger. Urban Ecosyst 17, 573–584 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11252-013-0336-x

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