Gongylonema Neoplasticum Research Articles

Parasite Fauna and Coinfections in Urban Rats Naturally Infected by the Zoonotic Parasite Angiostrongylus cantonensis.

When the zoonotic parasite of rodents that can cause human neuroangiostrongyliasis, i.e., Angiostrongylus cantonensis, is found in its natural definitive hosts, it is usually reported in isolation, as if the rat lungworm were the only component of its parasite community. In this study, we report the coinfections found in rats naturally infected by A. cantonensis in urban populations of Rattus norvegicus and Rattus rattus in Valencia, Spain. In addition to the rat lungworms, which were found in 14 of the 125 rats studied (a prevalence of 11.20%), 18 other parasite species (intestinal and tissular protists, microsporidia and helminths) were found, some of them with high burdens. Fourteen of these nineteen species found are potential zoonotic parasites, namely Blastocystis, Giardia duodenalis, Cryptosporidium spp., Enterocytozoon bieneusi, Encephalitozoon hellem, Toxoplasma gondii, Brachylaima spp., Hydatigera taeniaeformis s.l. larvae, Hymenolepis nana, Hymenolepis diminuta, Angiostrongylus cantonensis, Calodium hepaticum, Gongylonema neoplasticum and Moniliformis moniliformis. The total predominance of coinfected rats as well as their high parasite loads seem to indicate a trend towards parasite tolerance.

Examining Gongylonema Neoplasticum From Rats in Tabriz City (Northwest of Iran): A Case Report

Aims Different species of gongylonema are common parasites of rats that can be accidentally transmitted to humans and cause disease. This study aims to identify and investigate the morphology of Gongylonema neoplasticum and its zoonotic significance in Tabriz rats. Methods & Materials In this study, 100 rats (29 Rattus rattus and 71 Rattus norvegicus) were caught from different parts of Tabriz City in northwestern Iran using live traps. In the study areas, edible beetles are abundant and in almost all trapping areas local people complained about the presence of beetles. These beetles host the mediator of gongylonema parasites and easily infect animals, such as mice, rabbits, cats, cattle, and accidentally humans. Findings In this study, the esophagus and stomach of rats were carefully examined for infection with gongylonema and only one of the following species was isolated from them, Gongylonema neoplasticum. Conclusion Due to the high abundance of beetles, high levels of Gongylonema neoplasticum were not reported, which can be considered in terms of human infections. More parasitological studies should be done in different geographical regions of Iran and other countries.

Helminth fauna of small mammals from public parks and urban areas in Bangkok Metropolitan with emphasis on community ecology of infection in synanthropic rodents.

In 2018, extensive field studies of diversity and prevalence of helminth infection in synanthropic rodents and non-rodent small mammals from public parks and citified areas in the Bangkok Metropolitan were conducted. Rattus rattus complex was the dominant small mammal in public parks. Of the 197 animals, 147 individuals were infected with one or more species of helminths, yielding an infection prevalence of 74.6%. Twenty-five species of helminths were recovered during necropsy. Pterygodermatites tani was the most prevalent (36.2%); other encountered species included Raillietina celebensis, Hydatigera taeniaformis (metacestode in liver tissue), Gongylonema neoplasticum and Hymenolepis diminuta. Different helminth assemblages infected three different host taxa, i.e. synanthropic Rattus spp., Tupaia belangeri (Northern treeshrew) and Suncus murinus (Asian house shrew). Nine species of possible zoonotic helminths were identified. The focus on synanthropic rats influenced the findings of helminth diversity by either host intrinsic or extrinsic factors. A significant positive correlation was found between host body mass and helminth species richness. Greater helminth species richness was found in rats from public parks compared with animals from citified areas (e.g. inside buildings or offices). Also, helminth species richness was negatively correlated with the proportion of post-flooding/rain-fed land. These results provide essential information for assessing the incidence of potential zoonotic health threats in Bangkok and updating research in parasite ecology.

Nematoda Parasit Pada Rattus spp. dari Pulau Simeulue, Aceh

Rattus spp. are often found living together in the human environment. Till date, there are no data on nematodes in rats from Simeulue Island. Therefore, a research on the nematodes of Rattus spp. from Simeulue Island, Aceh was conducted to know the species and the pattern of nematodes infection. The observation was carried out by dissecting 14 carcasses of Rattus spp. and then observing the internal organs for nematodes. For the result, we identified four species i.e., Syphacia muris, Cyclodontostomum purvisi, Gongylonema neoplasticum, and Nippostrongylus brasiliensis with prevalence 28.5%, 7.1%, 7.1%, 85.7%, respectively, and parasite indexes 1-23, 1, 1, 2-118 individual parasites in each host, respectively.Key words: nematodes, parasites, Rattus spp., Simeuleu Island.

Prevalence and detail morphological identification of helminths of murine rodents in Dhaka city, Bangladesh.

Rodents are common pests that transmit various deadly pathogens to humans. Here we have studied the helminth parasites of rodents from different ecological niches in Dhaka city, Bangladesh. The gastrointestinal helminths were investigated from a total of 70 rodents, namely Bandicota bengalensis (20), Rattus rattus (15), Rattus norvegicus (25) and Mus musculus (10). The rodents were live-captured from houses in the slum areas (20), stationary shops (20), residential buildings (15) and rice fields (15). The overall prevalence of helminth infection was 71.43%. The highest prevalence was found in R. norvegicus (84%), followed by B. bengalensis (75%), R. rattus (66.66%) and M. musculus (40%). Among different areas of Dhaka city, the highest prevalence recorded in slum areas (85%). Out of 50 rodents, 36 (72%) had mixed endoparasitic infection whereas only 14 (28%) rodents had single infection. The prevalence of endoparasitic infection in male (66%) rodents was higher than that of female (34%). The parasites detected from the rodents were Heterakis spumosa (60%), Hymenolepis diminuta (47.14%), Moniliformis moniliformis (42.85%), Taenia taeniaeformis (35%) and Gongylonema neoplasticum (34.28%). To the best of our knowledge, G. neoplasticum is going to be reported for the first time from rodents in Bangladesh. Except H. spumosa, all the parasites recovered have public health significance. Therefore, proper attention needs to be paid for the prevention of rodent borne zoonosis through the control of rodents.

Scanning electron microscope observations of Gongylonema neoplasticum and Heterakis spumosa, nematode parasites of an endemic murine rodent from Sulawesi

Sulawesi has unique mammalian fauna with high level of endemism. One of the endemic fauna in Sulawesi is Bunomys chrysocomus (Rodentia: Muridae). This study aimed to observed the nematode species parasitizing B. chrysocomus by using scanning electron microscope. Based on the observation nematodes obtained from gastric mucosa was Gongylonema neoplasticum Fibiger and Ditlevsen, 1914, while from the caecum was Heterakis spumosa Schneider, 1866. Both nematodes are cosmopolite nematodes which have wide host range and worldwide distribution. The detail morphology and taxonomic status of both nematodes from B. chrysocomus of Sulawesi will be presented here.

Patterns of helminth infections in Rattus rattus and Mus musculus from two Mayan communities in Mexico.

The black rat Rattus rattus and the house mouse Mus musculus are two commensal rodent species that harbour and shed zoonotic pathogens, including helminths. The aim of this survey was to study the helminth community and the patterns of infections in R. rattus and M. musculus from two Mayan communities in Mexico. Gastrointestinal helminths were isolated from 322 M. musculus and 124 R. rattus, including Gongylonema neoplasticum, Hassalstrongylus aduncus, Hassalstrongylus musculi, Hydatigera taeniaeformis metacestode, Hymenolepis diminuta, Nippostrongylus brasiliensis, Oligacanthorhynchidae gen. sp., Syphacia muris, Syphacia obvelata, Rodentolepis microstoma and Trichuris muris. The overall richness of helminths was seven in R. rattus and six in M. musculus. The results of generalized linear models showed that juvenile rodents had lower probabilities of being infected with G. neoplasticum, H. taeniaeformis and H. musculi than adult rodents. A positive association between the prevalence of S. muris and rat abundance was found. The intensity of infection with S. muris was higher in the rainy season than in the dry season; the opposite result was found for H. musculi infection. Male R. rattus harboured more S. muris specimens. The intensity of infection with T. muris was inversely associated with mouse abundance. The presence of the zoonotic H. diminuta, as well as H. taeniaeformis and R. microstoma in rodent populations indicates that there is risk of transmission, and that their entire life cycle occurs in the study area.

First survey on zoonotic helminthosis in urban brown rats (Rattus norvegicus) in Spain and associated public health considerations

The brown rat, Rattus norvegicus, with a worldwide distribution, is the most commensal species among synanthropic rodents, since its main habitat, in urban as well as in rural areas, is always linked to humans. Therefore, people living in close proximity to rodent populations can be exposed to infection. Whereas bacteria and viruses are the best known rat-associated zoonoses in urban environments, the role of brown rats as reservoirs for helminth parasites and the associated risk for humans are less well known. Specifically, this role has not been analyzed in Spain to date. A total of 100 R. norvegicus trapped in the sewage system (n = 85), and parks (n = 15) of Barcelona was examined. The overall prevalence of helminth infection was 85%. The helminths found were Hymenolepis nana (17%), H. diminuta (33%) (Cestoda), Calodium hepaticum (17%), Eucoleus gastricus (28%), Aonchotheca annulosa (12%), Trichosomoides crassicauda (7%), Nippostrongylus brasiliensis (46%), Heterakis spumosa (62%), Gongylonema neoplasticum (20%) (Nematoda) and Moniliformis moniliformis (6%) (Acanthocephala). Five of the ten helminth species are considered zoonotic parasites, with rats acting as reservoirs for human infection, i.e. H. nana, H. diminuta, C. hepaticum, G. neoplasticum and M. moniliformis. G. neoplasticum and M. moniliformis are reported for the first time in urban rats in Europe. H. nana, H. diminuta and C. hepaticum are the most widespread species in European cities. For H. nana and C. hepaticum, rats act as effective spreaders of the human infective stage (eggs). For H. diminuta, G. neoplasticum and M. moniliformis, rats act as indirect reservoirs of the zoonoses since the eggs shed by the rats are infective for their insect intermediate hosts only. Medical practitioners need to be made aware of the range of parasites carried by rats, as there is a realistic likelihood that ill health currently caused by rat infestations may be misdiagnosed.

Molecular genetic diversity of Gongylonema neoplasticum (Fibiger & Ditlevsen, 1914) (Spirurida: Gongylonematidae) from rodents in Southeast Asia.

More than a dozen Gongylonema spp.(Spirurida: Spiruroidea: Gongylonematidae) have been described from a variety of rodent hosts worldwide. Gongylonema neoplasticum (Fibiger & Ditlevsen, 1914), which dwells in the gastric mucosa of rats such as Rattus norvegicus (Berkenhout) and Rattus rattus (Linnaeus), is currently regarded as a cosmopolitan nematode in accordance with global dispersion of its definitive hosts beyond Asia. To facilitate the reliable specific differentiation of local rodent Gongylonema spp. from the cosmopolitan congener, the genetic characterisation of G. neoplasticum from Asian Rattus spp. in the original endemic area should be considered since the morphological identification of Gongylonema spp. is oftendifficult due to variations of critical phenotypical characters, e.g. spicule lengths and numbers of caudal papillae. In the present study, morphologically identified G. neoplasticum from 114 rats of seven species from Southeast Asia were selected from archived survey materials from almost 4,500 rodents: Thailand (58 rats), Cambodia (52 rats), Laos (three rats) and Philippines (one rat). In addition, several specimens from four rats in Indonesia were used in the study. Nucleotide sequences of the ribosomal RNA gene (rDNA) (5,649 bp) and the cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 gene (cox1) (818 bp) were characterised. The rDNA showed little nucleotide variation, including the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions. The cox1 showed 24 haplotypes, with up to 15 (1.83%) nucleotide substitutions regardless of parasite origin. Considering that Rattus spp. have been shown to originate from the southern region of Asia and G. neoplasticum is their endogenous parasite, it is reasonable to propose that the present study covers a wide spectrum of the genetic diversity of G. neoplasticum, useful for both the molecular genetic speculation of the species and the molecular genetic differentiation of other local rodent Gongylonema spp. from the cosmopolitan congener.

Gongylonema Parasites of Rodents: A Key to Species and New Data on Gongylonema neoplasticum.

Specimens of the genus Gongylonema were collected from the gastric mucosa of rodents of Rattus rattus Linnaeus, 1758, and Rattus norvegicus Berkenhout, 1769, collected in urban areas in Belém, Pará, in the eastern Brazilian Amazon. The helminths were processed for analysis using light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) techniques and presented taxonomic characteristics of the species Gongylonema neoplasticum. The SEM analyses revealed the presence of 2 developed buccal plates (1 dorsal, 1 ventral), also called interlabia, with a prominent and bifurcated ventral plaque. The occurrence of the bifurcated ventral interlabium had not yet been identified by any other author from G. neoplasticum. As a result of our extensive research on published data on Gongylonema spp., we propose a taxonomic key for species of this genus that parasitize rodents. This is the first record of G. neoplasticum in urban areas of the Brazilian Amazon.

The making of oncology: Helminthology as the cornerstone

Cancer is multifaceted and multifarious disease. The diversity of cancer is complicated by so many types of carcinogens. Remarkably, helminth parasites are among the first well-established cancer agents. It started with the celebrated discovery of a roundworm Gongylonema neoplasticum (more famously, but wrongly, as Spiroptera carcinoma) by Johannes Fibiger, only to show that Nobel Prize selection can be a fallible operation. After almost a century of scepticism, it is now conceded that helminths, other than G. neoplasticum, are truly carcinogenic. For the first time in history, the International Agency for Research on Cancer finally proclaimed in 2009 that three flukes, Schistosoma haematobium (urinary blood fluke), Clonorchis sinensis (Chinese liver fluke), and Opisthorchis viverrini (Southeast Asian liver fluke) are Group 1, i.e. fully proven, carcinogens. The first is the leading cause of bladder cancer, while the latter two are of that of the bile duct (cholangiocarcinoma). This is the story of how they came to be.

Observaciones parasitológicas en ratas de San José, Costa Rica

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.

The making of oncology: The tales of false carcinogenic worms

Cancer is a disease of antiquity. The Ancient Greeks were familiar with onkos (from which we have the term oncology)—tumour of all sorts. Hippocrates coined karkinos and karkinoma, our source of the words cancer and carcinoma. Of a plethora of carcinogens, parasitic worms (helminths) constitute a considerable health concern. Three trematodes, Clonorchis sinensis, Opisthorchis viverrini, and Schistosoma haematobium are now officially classified carcinogens. But the discovery of helminths as cancer-causing agents took wrong turns and marks an inglorious chapter in the history of science. The carcinogenicity of worms, vindicating Rudolf Virchow’s reiztheorie (irritation theory) of cancer origin, was glorified in the scientific forefront by Johannes Fibiger in the 1910s. Discovery of a new nematode, which he proudly named Spiroptera carcinoma, and his subsequent demonstration that the parasite could induce stomach cancer in rats, earned Fibiger a retrospective Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1926, and a lasting fame. But not in an appealing way. His achievement did not withstand the test of time. S. carcinoma was annulled as an invalid taxon in zoology—supplanted by Gongylonema neoplasticum—and eventually was branded as a non-carcinogenic agent.

A survey study on the helminth parasites of two wild jirds, Meriones shawi and M. libycus (Rodentia: Gerbillinae), in Tunisian desert areas

A parasitological survey of 107 jirds, belonging to two species, Meriones shawi and M. libycus, was carried out. Rodents were trapped in three separate desert regions of Tunisia: Bouhedma (in the centre), Dghoumes (in the southwest) and Sidi Toui (in the southeast). The survey revealed infection with nine helminth species – six cestodes: Raillietina sp., Meggittina numida, Meggittina gerbilli and Inermicapsifer madagascariensis, and two Taeniidae species: Taenia endothoracicus and Taenia sp.; and three nematodes: Gongylonema neoplasticum, Physaloptera sp. and Trichuris gerbilli. The overall prevalence of helminth infection was 68.22% (73/107); the highest rate was in M. shawi (80.82%, 59 cases), whereas it was 41.17% (14 cases) in M. libycus. The most frequent helminth was Raillietina sp. (53.27%) followed by Meggittina numida (21.5%). Meriones shawi showed the highest helminth diversity with eight parasite species, with synchronous infections of two, three and four species of helminths in one rodent, compared to M. libycus in which only two cestode species were found, without synchronous infection. Moreover, significant differences in the overall infection prevalence between sexes (60.27 and 39.73% for males and females, respectively) and age were detected; only one juvenile specimen of M. shawi was found infected. Prevalence depended also on habitat: the highest infection rate was in Bouhedma (80%), followed by Dghoumes (58.33%), and the lowest was in Sidi Toui (47.82%).

Gastrointestinal helminth fauna of rodents from Cambodia: emphasizing the community ecology of host-parasite associations.

Extensive field surveys of rodents were conducted in Cambodia from 2008 to 2014 to study the diversity and ecology of helminth infection in wild rodent populations. Gastrointestinal helminths were isolated from 14 species of rodents (569 individuals) trapped from different habitats (forest, dry land, rain-fed land and human settlements) in four provinces of Cambodia (Krong Preah Sihanouk, Mondolkiri, Pursat and Steung Treng). The average prevalence of parasitic infection was 58.5% (range, 16.0-64.7%), and 19 helminth taxa were identified in total. Trichostrongylid nematodes were the most prevalent (25.8%), followed by Raillietina sp. (14.1%), Gongylonema neoplasticum (10.7%), Syphacia muris (9.8%) and Hymenolepis diminuta (9.6%). Potential rodent-borne zoonotic helminths were also identified, and the risks of helminthiasis were discussed. The status of helminth infection and species diversity in rodents from settlements were significantly lower than in rodents from forest and peri-domesticated habitats, which indicates that habitat alteration might affect helminth infection and diversity in rodent hosts. Generalized linear models revealed that host attributes (host species and maturity) and environmental factors (habitat and geographical location) were explanatory variables for helminth infection in these rodents. Using network analyses, we showed that the oriental house rat, Rattus tanezumi, was the most central host in the rodent-helminth assemblage, based on the number of helminth taxa it shared with other rodent species. Therefore, R. tanezumi could play an important role in rodent-helminth interactions and helminth transmission to other rodent hosts.

Intraspecific and interspecific genetic variation of Gongylonema pulchrum and two rodent Gongylonema spp. (G. aegypti and G. neoplasticum), with the proposal of G. nepalensis n. sp. for the isolate in water buffaloes from Nepal.

The gullet worm (Gongylonema pulchrum) has been recorded from a variety of mammals worldwide. In an earlier study, we demonstrated two separate transmission cycles in cattle (Bos taurus) and wild mammals in Japan based on nucleotide sequences of the ribosomal RNA gene (rDNA) and cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (cox-1) region of mitochondrial DNA of multiple isolates of different origins. Our earlier study additionally demonstrated two major cox-1 haplotypes of G. pulchrum prevalent in cattle in Japan. In the present study, we collected G. pulchrum from cattle and goats (Capra hircus) in Alashan League, Inner Mongolia, China; Gongylonema aegypti from spiny mice (Acomys dimidiatus) in the Sinai Peninsula, Egypt; and Gongylonema neoplasticum from a black rat (Rattus rattus) in Okinawa Island, Japan, to analyze their genetic relationships with G. pulchrum in Japan. The gullet worms from Alashan League had almost identical rDNA nucleotide sequences and two cox-1 haplotypes as seen in G. pulchrum from the cattle in Japan. The two rodent Gongylonema spp. had distinct rDNA nucleotide sequences compared with those of G. pulchrum; only the 18S and 5.8S rDNA sequences showed high identities at 97.2-98.7%, while the remaining sequences were less than 75% identical. The 18S, 5.8S, and 28S rDNA sequences of the two rodent Gongylonema spp. showed nucleotide identities of 99.8% (1811/1814), 100% (158/158), and 98.9% (3550/3590), respectively. The cox-1 regions showed 91.6% (338/369)-92.1% (340/369) identities, with completely identical amino acid sequences. The genetic diversities of three distinct Gongylonema spp. and their possible intraspecific genetic variation may allow us to resolve the taxonomic position of Gongylonema spp. which display few obvious morphological differences from their congeners. Consequently, the Gongylonema isolate from water buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) in Nepal reported in our previous study is concluded to be a new species, and Gongylonema nepalensis n. sp. is erected for it.

A Survey of Nematode Parasites of Small Mammals in Tunisia, North Africa: Diversity of Species and Zoonotic Implications

ABSTRACT: The presence of nematodes was investigated in 84 small mammals belonging to 10 species living in arid wild habitats from Central Tunisia. Hosts were infected with a total of 7 species of nematodes. The dominant parasite species was Gongylonema neoplasticum, which was found in the stomach of 7 host species with prevalences varying from 15.4% in Gerbillus campestris to 50% in Meriones shawi. Several nematodes, such as Syphacia obvelata, Acanthocheilonema viteae, Trichuris gerbilli, and G. neoplasticum, are potential zoonotic parasites. These latter species were collected from M. shawi, Meriones libycus, Mus musculus, Mus spretus, Rattus rattus, G. campestris, Psammomys obesus, and Ctenodactylus goundi, raising concern that these rodents and their associated rodent-borne helminths could be of potential concern for public health in this region.

Helminth communities from two urban rat populations in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

BackgroundThe prevalence of parasitic infections among commensal animals such as black and brown rats in many tropical countries is high and in comparison with studies on rodents in temperate climates, little is known about the community structure of their parasites. Rodent borne parasites pose threats to human health since people living in close proximity to rodent populations can be exposed to infection.MethodsThe helminth community structures of two urban rat populations in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia were investigated. The rats were from two contrasting sites in the city caught over a period of 21 months in 2000-2002.ResultsEleven species of helminth parasites comprising seven nematodes (Heterakis spumosum, Mastophorus muris, Nippostrongylus brasiliensis, Syphacia muris, Pterygodermatites tani/whartoni, Gongylonema neoplasticum, Angiostrongylus malaysiensis), three cestodes (Hymenolepis (Rodentolepis) nana, H. diminuta and Taenia taeniaeformis) and one acanthocephalan (Moniliformis moniliformis) were recovered from 346 Rattus rattus and 104 R. norvegicus from two urban sites, Bangsar and Chow Kit, during 2000-2002. Rattus rattus harboured over 60% of all helminths compared with R. norvegicus, although both host species played a dominant role in the different sites with, for example R. norvegicus at Bangsar and R. rattus at Chow Kit accounting for most of the nematodes. Overall 80% of rats carried at least one species of helminth, with the highest prevalences being shown by H. diminuta (35%), H. spumosum (29.8%) and H. nana (28.4%). Nevertheless, there were marked differences in prevalence rates between sites and hosts. The influence of extrinsic (year, season and site) and intrinsic (species, sex and age) factors affecting infracommunity structure (abundance and prevalence of infection) and measures of component community structure were analyzed.ConclusionsSince at least two species of rat borne helminths in Kuala Lumpur have the potential to infect humans, and these showed high prevalences in the rats, the assessment and regular monitoring of infections carried by wild rodents have important roles to play in public health.

Surveillance of Endoparasitic Infections and the First Report of Physaloptera sp. and Sarcocystis spp. in Farm Rodents and Shrews in Central Taiwan

A total of 95 rodents and shrews including 82 Rattus norvegicus, 7 Rattus rattus, and 6 Suncus murinus were trapped from different localities of Taichung, Taiwan. The overall prevalence of parasites was 93.7%. The infection rates for R. norvegicus, R. rattus, and S. murinus were 93.9%, 85.7%, and 100%, respectively. The rats were infected with four cestodes, Taenia taeniaeformis (48.4%), Hymenolepis diminuta (38.9%), Hymenolepis nana (5.3%), and Raillietina celebensis (45.3%); ten nematodes, Angiostrongylus cantonensis (16.8%), Capillaria hepatica (49.5%), Gongylonema neoplasticum (1.1%), Heterakis spumosa (35.8%), Nippostrongylus brasiliensis (57.9%), Physaloptera sp. (1.1%), Strongyloides ratti (81.1%), Syphacia muris (2.1%), Trichosomoides crassicauda (29.5%), and Trichurus sp. (1.1%), and one protozoan, Sarcocystis spp. (33.7%). Physaloptera sp. from S. murinus and Sarcocystis spp. from both R. norvegicus and R. rattus were reported for the first time in Taiwan. The importances of zoonotic species were discussed.

Natural infection of Oryctolagus cuniculus (Lagomorpha, Leporidae) by Gongylonema neoplasticum (Nematoda, Gongylonematidae) in Portugal

AbstractGongylonema neoplasticum was identified in the oesophagus of 14 wild rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) from Portugal. This is the first record of Gongylonema neoplasticum in a naturally infected lagomorph species in Europe. This paper presents the most relevant measurements of adult worms and some of their surface features seen by scanning electron microscopy. Epidemiological aspects of G. neoplasticum such as geographical distribution, host spectrum and biological features are discussed.