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 <i>Hymenolepis diminuta</i> (36.9%) and among ectoparasites <i>Polyplax spinulosa</i> (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 mites tended to be infected with fleas and rats with nematodes tended to be infected with cestodes.
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