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Dr. Venance Msoffe

Name
Venance Msoffe

Academic Rank
Lecturer

Department
Biological Sciences

Biography

Biography

I am a dedicated researcher and university lecturer specialising in wildlife disease ecology, epidemiology of zoonotic disease pathogens, small mammal ecology, and conservation genetics. 

I have worked extensively with rodents, shrews, bats, ticks, fleas, and mites, applying advanced molecular tools to detect and characterise zoonotic pathogens—particularly Rickettsia, Anaplasma, and parasitic helminths. My broader academic mission is to integrate One Health, conservation genetics, and disease surveillance approaches to inform public health and biodiversity conservation in East Africa.

Contacts

Email:

Email Address
venance.msoffe@muce.ac.tz

Research Interest

Research Interest
Wildlife disease ecology, Epidemiology of zoonotic disease pathogens, small mammals ecology, and conservation genetics.

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Projects

Publications

Publications

Msoffe, V. T., Lyimo, C. M., Olotu, M. I., Katakweba, A. S., Makundi, R. H., Massawe, A. W., Misinzo, G., & Mnyone, L. L. (2025). Potential zoonotic rickettsiales bacteria associated with small mammals and their ectoparasites in africa: A systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Infectious Diseases, 25(1), 1146. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-025-11434-z 

 

Msoffe, V. T., Mwombeki, F. K., Thomas, C. A., Lyimo, C. M., Katakweba, A. S., Olotu, M. I., Misinzo, G., Erick V. Komba., Mnyone, L. L. (2025).  Molecular detection and prevalence of Anaplasma and Rickettsia species in Rodents captured from wildlife-human interfaces in Tanzania, Mammalia, vol. 89, no. 4, 2025, pp. 437-448. https://doi.org/10.1515/mammalia-2024-0170

Msoffe, V. T., Thomas, C. A., Rija, A. A., Nzalawahe, J., Katakweba, A. S., Misinzo, G., & Mnyone, L. L. (2025). Gastrointestinal helminth infections and ectoparasitism in wild rodents along wildlife-human interfaces in Tanzania. International Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife, 26, 101040. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijppaw.2025.101040

Mdee, F. E., Msoffe, V. T., Mafie, E. M., & Mnyone, L. L. (2024). Species richness and abundance of wild tsetse flies collected from selected human-wildlife-livestock interface in Tanzania. Parasite Epidemiology and Control, 27, e00389. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.parepi.2024.e00389

 

Mhamphi, G. G., Msoffe, V. T., Lyimo, C. M., Katakweba, A. S., Massawe, A. W., Komba, E. V. G., & Mnyone, L. L. (2024). Detection and characterization of zoonotic Bartonella spp. In rodents and shrews ectoparasites from Kigoma and Morogoro regions, Tanzania. Mammalia, 88(1), 41–51. https://doi.org/10.1515/mammalia-2023-0072

 

Thomas, C., Msoffe, V., Houtte, N. V., Mhamphi, G., Mariën, J., Sabuni, C., Makundi, I., Nzalawahe, J., Machang’u, R., & Leirs, H. (2023). Molecular detection of Leptospira and Bartonella in Mastomys natalensis and its ectoparasites in Morogoro, Tanzania. Mammalia, 87(5), 539–544. https://doi.org/10.1515/mammalia-2023-0031

 

Thomas, C., Msoffe, V., Van Houtte, N., Mhamphi, G., Mariën, J., Sabuni, C., Makundi, I., Nzalawahe, J., Machang’u, R., & Leirs, H. (2023). Prevalence and Seasonal Variation of Trichuris Worms Infection in Mastomys natalensis in Morogoro and Iringa Regions, Tanzania. Parasitologia, 3(3), Article 3. https://doi.org/10.3390/parasitologia3030030

 

Msoffe, V. T. and Nehemia, A. (2019). Salt farming as an economic activity and its effect on mangrove ecosystems along the coastal area of Tanzania, Proceedings of Scientific Conference on Transforming Agriculture and Natural Resources for Sustainable Development to Attain Industrial Economy in Tanzania, Sokoine University of Agriculture. Pg. 271-284