Parasitological survey of rats in rural regions of Croatia

Abstract

70Synanthropic rodents, particularly those living in close association with man, play a significant role in human health, welfare and economy. It has to be stressed that their arthropod ectoparasites are important vectors of pathogenic microorganisms and they can also be important reservoirs for parasitic zoonoses like trichinellosis and capillariosis. No doubt, the increase in rodent populations can be followed by the increase in zoonotic diseases. Hepatic capillariosis is a zoonosis seldom described in people. Human infection occurs by the consumption of the food or water contaminated with embryonated eggs, previously released from rat liver through cannibalism, predation or decomposition of carcasses. Different authors have reported a wide range of parasites but most investigations were carried out in tropical areas. Nama and Parihar (1976) reported 8 helminth species, found in 149 trapped rats in India. Yen et al. (1996) found in China the overall infection rate of 29.6% in 199 rats. Namue and Wongsawad (1997) found 33 out of 38 trapped rats to be infected (86.8%) in Thailand. In Egypt, Abd el- Wahed et al. (1999) reported overall infection rate of 54% in 172 rats. Studies of parasites in brown rats in Europe have been limited to just few reports. The most detailed investigations were carried out in order to determine the prevalence of Capillaria hepatica. Ceruti et al. (2001) screened 47 brown rat livers for the presence of C. hepatica infection and found 36% to be infected. In France Davoust et al. (1997) trapped 82 rats and found 44% to be infected with C. hepatica and 21% with fleas. The most striking were the results of Farhang-Azad (1977) who examined 845 brown rats and found 75% to be infected with C. hepatica. The aim of our study was to define the prevalence of parasite infections in brown rats in Croatia since similar investigations were not carried out in our country. Also, we wanted, to compare the prevalence data of parasites in two different rural regions and investigate the influence of habitat on parasitic infections. In addition, we wanted to establish relation of parasite infections with sex and age of rats. ABSTRACT: A parasitological survey of 255 rats, trapped in rural regions of Croatia, was carried out. The survey revealed infection with 7 helminth species (2 cestodes, 5 nematodes and eggs of 2 accidental parasites). Also, 8 ectoparasite species (2 fleas, 3 lice, and 3 mites) were found. Overall infection rate was 72.6% (185 infected out of 255 rats). Eighty two of 255 rats (32.2%) were infected with ectoparasites and 166 out of 255 (65.1%) with endoparasites. Among endoparasites the most frequent parasite was Hymenolepis diminuta (36.9%) and among ectoparasites Polyplax spinulosa (14.5%). Analysing association of parasite infection with sex, age and location (household and village) we found out that none of the found parasites was sex related. On the other hand, several parasite infections increased with age and depended on habitat. As accidental finding, study showed that rats with m...

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Patho-physiological observations in natural concurrent infections of helminth parasites of zoonotic importance in the wild rodents, Bandicota bengalensis

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Helminth parasites of Lemniscomys striatus (striped grass mouse) and Cricetomys gambianus (giant African rat) in Nsukka, Nigeria

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