Abstract
A parasitologic study is presented of 103 adult house rats from various sites in San Jose, Costa Rica. Seven specimens were Rattus rattus rattus, and the rest were Rattus norvegicus. The following protozoa were found in trophic form when feces were examined for eggs and larvae of helminths: Trichomonas, Giardia, Hexamita, Chilomastix, and Entamoeba. Trypanosoma lewisi was found in the blood of 7 out of 17 rats examined (8,8%) The following nematodes and cestodes were found with the incidence indicated: Strongyloides ratti (41,7 %); Aspiculuris tetraptera (1,9 %); Nipostrongylus brasiliensis (47,6%); Gongylonema neoplasticum (0,9 %); Protospirura muris (8,7%); Trichosomoides crassicauda (23,3%); Taenia taeniformis larvae (33%); Hymenolepis diminuta (43,6%); and H. nana (0,9 %). No larvae of Trichinella spiralis were found in diaphragms examined. The acanthocephalian Moniliformis moniliformis was found in 18,4 per cent of the rats. Arthropods found as ectoparasites were, in arder of incidence, Echinolaelaps echidninus (14,5%), Xenopsilla cheopis (7,7 %) and Ctenopsyllus segnis (1,9%). These percent data should be regarded as minimum figures, as only 61 rats were brought alive to the laboratory.
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