Abstract
ObjectivesRodents play an important role to spread zoonotic diseases through society. The current study was carried out to collect informative data on the intestinal helminthic infections of wild rodents in Taleqan County, Alborz Province, the center of Iran, emphasizing their zoonotic aspects.ResultsSixty-two killed rodents by local farmers belonging to five species were collected, among which 24 were identified as Mus musculus, 15 as Meriones persicus, 12 as Meriones libycus, 10 as Apodemus witherbyi, and 1 as Dryomys nitedula. Of them, 30 (48.4%) were infected with at least one helminth species. Rodents were infected with Hymenolepis diminuta (42%), Syphacia obvelata (21%), Hymenolepis nana (17.7%), Heligmosomoides polygyrus (9.6%), Trichuris muris (8%), and as well as a capillariid nematode that was isolated for the first time from D. nitedula in Iran. The findings of the present study revealed a significant intestinal helminthic infection of rodents in Taleqan County. Improving hygiene practices, and making a preventive attitude can be helpful to reduce the hazards of rodent-borne diseases in the area where humans, livestock, and synanthropic rodents are living close to each other.
Highlights
Rodents, as the most diversified order of mammals, are considered as reservoirs of several zoonoses
The lining membrane of intestines was gently scraped with a scalpel blade and the contents were examined carefully for the presence of Results During the study period, sixty-two rodents belonging to five species were collected, among which 24 (38.7%) were identified as Mus musculus, 15 (24.2%) as Meriones persicus, 12 (19.4%) as Meriones libycus, 10 (16.1%) as Apodemus witherbyi and 1 (1.6%) as Dryomys nitedula
At least one species of the intestinal helminths was found in 30 of the examined rodents resulting in a prevalence of 48.4%
Summary
As the most diversified order of mammals, are considered as reservoirs of several zoonoses. These small mammals play an important role in the transmission and spreading of zoonotic diseases, through harboring many pathogen agents, including helminthic species [1]. There are various reports of rodent parasite infectivity in various parts of Iran, while most of them have been reported zoonotic species, such as Hymenolepis nana, Hymenolepis diminuta, and Syphacia. Due to the impact of rodent-borne diseases on human and livestock health status, the study of rodent’s parasites in every geographical area could be a fundamental step to set up an effective control program and pave the way to improve the general health status.
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