Serosurvey and molecular detection of the main zoonotic parasites carried by commensal Rattus norvegicus population in Tehran, Iran

Abstract

Background Rattus norvegicus are reservoirs for transmission of various zoonotic parasites, and they have become a threat to public health worldwide. Given the large number and the significant presence of R. norvegicus throughout the city of Tehran, this study aims to assess the frequency of zoonotic parasites carried by commensal rodents wandering in Tehran, Iran. The study considered the north, south, west, east, and center regions of Tehran for the purposes of this study. The serological tests were applied in order to detect effective antibodies against Trichomonas vaginalis ( T. vaginalis ), Babesia spp., and Cryptosporidium spp. using a commercial qualitative rat ELISA kit. The frequency of Toxoplasma gondii ( T. gondii ) was surveyed by using the conventional PCR method. Furthermore, nested PCR was employed to detect the presence of Giardia spp. and Leishmania spp. in commensal R. norvegicus dispersed in Tehran. Results Approximately, 76% of the 100 R. norvegicus tested were infected with at least one zoonotic parasite, indicating the significant frequency of parasites within the study areas. Seroreactivity against T. vaginalis , Babesia spp., and Cryptosporidium spp. was detected in 5%, 0%, and 1% of the R. norvegicus tested, respectively. T. gondii DNA was detected in 32 out of 100 (32%) R. norvegicus . In addition, Leishmania spp. and Giardia spp. DNA were found in 18 out of 100 (18%) and 76 out of 100 (76%) R. norvegicus investigated, respectively. T. vaginalis with 15% and T. gondii with 70% had the highest frequency of parasites among the R. norvegicus collected from the western and northeastern regions of Tehran, respectively. Moreover, Giardia spp. with 95% and Leishmania spp. with 30% had the highest frequency in the east and center districts, respectively. Conclusion The findings showed a wide geographical dissemination of Giardia spp., Toxoplasma gondii , and Leishmania spp. in R. norvegicus within five districts of Tehran. In contrast, other parasites such as Cryptosporidium spp. infection were rarely detected in Rattus populations. No evidence for the circulation of Bab...

One Health Approach to Zoonotic Parasites: Molecular Detection of Intestinal Protozoans in an Urban Population of Norway Rats, Rattus norvegicus, in Barcelona, Spain

“…Concerning data on ZIP in urban populations of R. norvegicus around the world, as far as we know, only Cryptosporidium spp. has been molecularly identified in urban areas of Nishinomiya City (Japan), Tehran (Iran), and New York (USA) [ 14 , 15 , 16 ] and Giardia spp. also in Iran [ 15 ].…”

“…has been molecularly identified in urban areas of Nishinomiya City (Japan), Tehran (Iran), and New York (USA) [ 14 , 15 , 16 ] and Giardia spp. also in Iran [ 15 ]. Likewise, Cryptosporidium oocysts and Giardia cysts have morphologically been determined in the city of Buenos Aires (Argentina) [ 17 ].…”

“…in urban brown rats recently carried out in Teheran (Iran) revealed a higher prevalence of 76%, although considering that it was a generic identification other Giardia spp. from rodents could have also been involved [ 15 ].…”

“…Molecular studies carried out in urban R. norvegicus in Nishinomiya, Tehran and New York revealed Cryptosporidium prevalences of 38%, 1% and 1.5%, respectively [ 13 , 14 , 15 ]. So far, only the zoonotic species C. muris and C. occultus have been genetically identified in wild brown rats in China, and the latter also in the Czech Republic [ 32 , 33 ].…”

Leishmaniosis in Rodents Caused by Leishmania infantum: A Review of Studies in the Mediterranean Area

“…When considering the overall prevalence of infection in rodents, a significant difference (P-value of Chi-Square < 0.001) is again apparent between the Middle East (4.5%), North Africa (15.4%), and Southern Europe (14.9%) (Figure 2). The differences observed between these geographical areas may be due to a variable diversity of Leishmania species (25,32), and that rodents have been reported to host more than one species (26). When drawing conclusions from the data reviewed here, it should therefore be taken into account that an animal may be parasitized by more than one species of Leishmania or that identification at species level could be absent.…”