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. 2013 Spring;4(2):105–109.

A survey on helminthic infection in mice (Mus musculus) and rats (Rattus norvegicus and Rattus rattus) in Kermanshah, Iran

Norollah Pakdel 1, Soraya Naem 2,*, Farid Rezaei 1, Abdol-Ali Chalehchaleh 1
PMCID: PMC4313010  PMID: 25653780

Abstract

Parasitic infections of rodents can compromise scientific research as well as the health of the animals and humans. Based on previous studies, infection rate of parasitic helminths is different in various regions of Iran. The current survey was aimed to determine endoparasitic helminths infection in 138 trapped rodents of Kermanshah county, Iran. Mice and rats were trapped using metal snares from January to October 2011 and euthanized. Rodents included 110 Mus musculus (79.00%), 23 Rattus norvegicus (17.00%), and five Rattus rattus (4.00%). The gastrointestinal and respiratory tracts were removed and examined to identify parasitic helminths. The results indicated that 42.02% of examined rodents were infected with eight helminths species, i.e. Trichuris muris (14.49%), Syphacia obvelata (13.76%), Syphacia muris (2.89%), Aspicularis tetrapetra (5.07%), Heterakis spumosa (5.07%), Capillaria hepatica eggs (3.62%), Hyminolepis diminuta (12.30%), and Cystisercus fasciolaris, the larva of Taenia teanieformis (4.34%). Given the results of this study, we concluded that examined rodents were more infected with nematodes than other helminths. As rodents are usually infected with a number of zoonotic parasites, hence control of these animals has an important role in safeguarding public health.

Key Words: Helminth, Iran, Kermanshah, Mice, Rats

Introduction

Rodents are one of the most successful, abundant, and destructive group of animals causing direct and indirect damage to agricultural products both at pre and post-harvest stages. In addition, they are responsible for transmitting various agents, including a number of helminths parasites, to human and domestic animals.1-3 Infection in human generally occurs directly through contact with rodent excrement, ingesting food contaminated with their fur, feet, urine or fecal dropping, rodent’s bites and indirectly through bites from ectoparasitic vectors such as flea and ticks.2 Wild rodents serve as reservoir host and have greater ability to harbor a number of endoparasitic agents that play important role in human and livestock health.2,4-6 Helminths such as Trichinella, Angiostrongylus, Capillaria, Hymenolepis, Railleitina, Echinococcus, Schisto-soma, Paragonimus, and Echinostoma that reported from rodents are importance in public health.6-8 In addition, some of rodents' endoparasites such as Capillaria hepatica and Angiostrongylus cantonensis cause severe syndromes in humans and other animals.9,10 Thus, investigation on rodents’ parasites in different geographical areas has medical and veterinary importance to prevent transmission of diseases to humans and animals.11 Several studies have been conducted on parasites of wild rodents from different part of the world that reveal the occurrence of a rich parasite diversity including the endoparasitic helminths fauna5,12-14 and ectoparasitic arthropods fauna, as well.15 In Iran, there are some reports on the occurrence of parasitic infection in different species of rodents in some areas.16-20 In addition, it is demonstrated that some rodents’ species are reservoir of cutaneous leishmaniasis21-23 and visceral leishmaniasis24 However, little is known about helminths’ infection in some areas of Iran such as Kermanshah. The present study reports, for the first, the prevalence of mice and rats parasitic helminths in this region.

Materials and Methods

Study area. Rodents for this survey obtained from both urban and rural area of Kermanshah county, southwest Iran (34°18′N, 47°3′E and 1420 m above sea level), and then examined for parasitic helminthic infection. Kermanshah is situated between two cold and warm regions and enjoys a moderate and mountainous climate. It rains most in winter and is moderately warm in summer. The annual rainfall is 500 mm. The average temperature in the hottest months is above 22 ˚C.25

Animals. A total number of 138 rodents belonging to three species were collected from 56 locations of Kermanshah county from January to October 2011. These animals were trapped using metal snares, and different baits such as fresh cucumber, cheese and walnut. Traps were set at outdoors in agricultural, horticultural and animal farms, dry riverbeds, parks and other suitable places in both urban and rural areas. Trapped rodents were transferred to Parasitology Laboratory, School of Veterinary Medicine, Razi University, Kermanshah, and then euthanized. Each rodent sex was recorded, and identification of the species was confirmed on the basis of morphological characteristics with reference to keys26 in Zoology Department of Razi University. After dissection, internal organs (esophagus, stomach, small and large intestines, liver, lungs, peritoneum, urinary bladder, pectoral and abdominal cavity) of each rodent’s carcass were removed and examined for adult or larval stages of helminths under stereomicroscope. Parasites were removed carefully from infected organs, cleared, stained, and identified by using appropriate systematic keys.27 In addition, some tissue smears prepared for screening of Capillaria hepatica eggs from infected livers.

Results

During the course of the study, out of 138 captured animals, 110 were Mus musculus (43 female; 67 male), 23 were Rattus norvegicus (10 female; 13 male), and 5 were Rattus rattus (1 female; 4 male) (Table 1). Forty two percent (58/138) of examined animals were infected with different helminths whose 21.10% (30/73) trapped in urban areas and others, 20.90%, (28/65) captured in rural areas.

Table 1.

Distribution of trapped rodents based on sex and location (F: Female, M: Male).

Location of sampling Mus musculus
Rattus norvegicus
Rattus rattus
Total
M F M F M F
Total 43 67 10 13 1 4 138
Urban area 22 31 7 10 1 2 73
Rural area 21 36 3 3 0 2 65
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Figure 1 shows infection rate based on mice species and sex and Fig. 2 demonstrates the distribution of infected (I) and none infected (N) rodents based on geographical distribution. Five species of nematodes (Syphacia obvelata, Syphacia muris, Aspicularis tetrapetra, Heterakis spumosa and Trichuris muris), one species of adult cestodes (Hymenolepis diminuta) and one species of larvae form of cestodes (cysticercus fasciolaris) were identified. In addition, the eggs of Capillaria hepatica were identified from 3.62% of examined rodents. Of 73 trapped rodents in urban areas, 23 (32.00%) were infected with nematodes, 14 (19.00%) with cestodes, and 7 (9.50%) showed mixed infection. These results in rural areas were; 23 rodents (35.00%), 9 rodents (14.00%), and 4 rodents (6.00%), respectively. Also, a total number of 58 infected rodents, 36 (62.06%) were female, and 22 (37.94%) were male. The results indicated that examined rodents were more infected with nematodes than cestodes (p ≤ 0.05, χ2 = 23.725, df = 2). Trichuris muris had the highest prevalence and Syphacia muris the least abundant. Infection rates in those mice involved with Aspicularis tetrapetra (5.07%), Heterakis spumosa, (5.07%) and Cysticercus fasciolaris (4.34%), were nearly similar.

Fig. 1.

Fig. 1

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Infection rate (%) based on species and sex (χ2 = 137.087, df = 2), (F: Female, M: Male).

Fig. 2.

Fig. 2

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Distribution rate (%) of infected (I) and non-infected (N) mice based on locations of sampling (χ2 = 0.069, df = 1).

In Table 2, infection rates of examined rodents with different helminths based on animals’ species are shown. From 84 identified S. obvelata, 12 helminths (14.00%) were male and 72 helminths (86.00%) were female. Also, 70.00% (7 helminths) of S. Muris was female, and 30.00% (3 helminths) was male. The ratios for A. tetrapetra, H. spimusa and T. muris were 27.00% (12 worms) male and 73.00% (33 helminths) female, 54.00% (30 worms) male and 46.00% (26 helminths) female, and 33.00% (34 helminths) male and 67.00% (70 helminths) female, respectively. Figure 3 shows some of parasitic helminths removed from examined mice. No infection was observed in the esophagus, stomach, and lung of examined animals.

Table 2.

Infection rates (%) of identified helminths in examined mice.

Mixed
infections 		Cystisercus fasciolaris Hyminolepis diminuta Capillaria hepatica eggs Trichuris muris Heterakis spumosa Aspicularis tetrapetra Syphacia muris Syphacia obvelata Specie of rodent
10.90 4.54 9.09 0.90 16.36 3.64 6.36 4.54 14.54 Mus musculus
8.70 3.34 30.43 13.04 8.69 13.04 0 0 4.34 Rattus norvegicus
0 0 0 20.0 0 0 0 0 20.00 Rattus rattus
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Fig 3.

Fig 3

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A) Anterior end and esophagus bulb of Syphacia obvelata, 400 ×; B) Anterior end and cervical alae of Syphacia muris, 100×; C) Anterior end of Aspicularis tetrapetra, 400 ×; D) Posterior end of Trichuris muris (male), 400 ×; E) Capillaria hepatica eggs in the liver of infected rodents, 400 ×.

Discussion

The present study gives the first overview on the endoparastic helminths infection of trapped rodents in Kermanshah, Iran of which reporting eight species of helminths from three species of rodents. Data from previous studies on helminths parasites in rodents of other regions of Iran were partially comparable with the helminths fauna in the present study. In this study, the number of trapped Mus musculus was significantly higher than other species of rodents (χ2 = 137.087, df = 2, p ≤ 0.05), but no significant differences between infection rate in urban and rural areas was observed (χ2 = 0.069, df = 1). Also, infection with nematodes was significantly higher than cestodes (χ2 = 23.725, df = 2, p ≤ 0.05), while the trematodes were absent in examined mice, resembling the results of another report by Malsawmtluangi and Tandon in India.6

Infection rate in male animals (62.06%) was higher than female (37.94%), this in irreconcilable with finding of Milazzo et al. who found no significant differences between male and female rodents.8 However Rogriguez et al. found higher prevalence of helminths in male rodents.28 Of identified nematodes from infected rodents, the number of female helminths (208 helminths) was higher than male helminths (91 helminths) (χ2 = 45.873, df = 1, p ≤ 0.05). Trichuris muris was the most common nematode removed from infected animals, but no significant differences were found among this parasite and S. obvelata and H. diminuta, which were nearly similar to those findings of other reports in Iran11,29-32 and other locations of the world.8,33-35 Hymenolepis nana,36 Syphacia hodarae n. sp.,37 Trichuris navonae n. sp.,38 Gongylonema monigi,19 Physaloptera spp.,32,39 Nipostrongylus brasiliense,40 Angiostrongylus cantonensis,41,42 Strongylus ratti,27 and larvae of Taenia endorasicus43 were reported in some previous investigations, but were absent in current study. In addition, Asmar et al. and Kia et al. reported Strongyloides ratti and Physaloptera sexulatus whom were not observed in this study.19,44 Singla et al. indicated that C. fasciolaris were the common helminths in rodents of Panjab, India, and its prevalence was much higher (35.20%) than our finding (4.34%).2 In other investigations, infestation of rodents with ectoparasites35,45 and protozoa (e.g. Cryptosporidium spp. and Sarcocystis spp.)30,39 have also been reported.

Some of the recovered parasites from rodents in this study were of zoonotic importance helminths, including C. hepatica, H. diminuta, S. obvelata, and Taenia taeniaformis larva. Hymenolepis nana is the zoonotic helminth commonly reported in Iran,46 but it was not found in this study. Also H. diminuta has already been reported in human.47,48 This parasites are common in children and sometimes produce disorders in the hosts.49 Capillaria hepatica, which was found in this survey, is very important in human causing a lethal syndrome which has already been reported from different countries.10 These zoonotic parasites have been reported from rodents in variable prevalence of different areas worldwide such as Siberia,9 Switzerland50 and Iran.18 Because of important role of rodents in spreading different parasitic agents and destroying the food crops, control programs are needed for reducing their adverse impact.

Acknowledgments

This project was funded by Urmia University and done in Parasitology Laboratory, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Razi University, Kermanshah, Iran. We also thank veterinary students of Razi University for their technical support.

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