Helminths of the brown rat (Rattus norvegicus) (Berkenhout, 1769) in the city of Palermo, Italy

Abstract

A helminthological survey was performed on 143 brown rats (Rattus norvegicus) from the city of Palermo (Italy). The overall prevalence of helminth infection was 98.60 %. The following parasites were found: Brachylaima sp. (prevalence 8.39 %) (Trematoda); Taenia taeniaeformis larvae (11.89 %), Rodentolepis nana (13.29 %), Hymenolepis diminuta (24.48 %) (Cestoda); Gongylonema sp., (4.90 %), Syphacia muris (8.39 %), Nippostrongylus brasiliensis (18.88 %), Eucoleus gastricus (30.07 %), Mastophorus muris (30.77 %), Capillaria hepatica (54.55 %), Heterakis spumosa (82.52 %) (Nematoda) and one acanthocephalan (0.70 %). The species found in males were also present in females, with the exception of the acanthocephalan. No significant differences were found between males and females in prevalence (P%) or mean infection intensity (MI). However, a significant correlation between both P% and MI, as well as host age, was observed in some helminth species. Hosts were infected by one to six helminth species (median = 3). This is the first report from Sicily of helminths in R. norvegicus.

Bank voles (Myodes glareolus) and house mice (Mus musculus musculus; M. m. domesticus) in Europe are each parasitized by their own distinct species ofAspiculuris(Nematoda, Oxyurida)

“…lahorica Akhtar, 1955), these appear closely related to A. tetraptera, if in fact they do indeed represent distinct species (Akhtar, 1955;Falcon-Ordaz et al 2010). Reports of A. tetraptera from rats usually indicate only low prevalence and intensity, and mostly from study sites frequented also by sympatric populations of house mice (Milazzo et al 2010). Reports of A. tetraptera from rats usually indicate only low prevalence and intensity, and mostly from study sites frequented also by sympatric populations of house mice (Milazzo et al 2010).…”

Morphometrical analysis of Taenia taeniaeformis and Taenia crassiceps in the common vole (Microtus arvalis) and the water vole (Arvicola terrestris) in Vorarlberg, Austria

“…The most important intermediate hosts are Murinae and Arvicolinae, but metacestodes were also found in Soricidae and pheasants (Phasanius colchicus) (e.g. Schmidt, 2001;Milazzo et al, 2010). Metacestodes are described as being a few millimetres in size with yellowish-white cysts (Cysticercus fasciolaris) which are located in the intermediate host's liver tissue (Schaerer, 1987).…”

Calodium hepaticum (Nematoda: Capillaridae) in a red fox (Vulpes vulpes) in Italy with scanning electron microscopy of the eggs

“…in italy, this nematode was found in rodents in sicily (Milazzo et al 2010) and in lombardy (ceruti et al 2001); its presence in other wild and domestic animals cannot be excluded. the carcass of an infected fox may be a source of infection for animals with scavenging behaviour and may thus contribute to environmental contamination with C. hepaticum eggs.…”