Zoonotic and non-zoonotic helminths in black rats of rain-fed and irrigated areas of Swat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

Saudi Journal of Biological Sciences

Noor-un-Nisa¹  Rukhsana Ghaffar²  Muhammad Ishaq Ali Shah³  Attiqa Naz⁴  Zubia Masood⁵  Muhammad Kabir⁶  Munawar Salim Ahmed⁷  Wali Khan⁸  Hafeez Ur Rahman⁹  Naseem Rafiq^1,10 

[1] Corresponding author.;Department of Biological Sciences, University of Sargodha, Sub-Campus Bhakkar, Bhakkar-30000, Punjab, Pakistan;Department of Pharmacy, Abasyn University, Peshawar, Pakistan;Department of Pharmacy, University of Malakand, Pakistan;Department of Zoology, Abdul Wali Khan University, Mardan, Pakistan;Department of Zoology, Hazara University Mansehra, Pakistan;Department of Zoology, Sardar Bahadur Khan Women University, Quetta, Pakistan;Department of Zoology, University of Malakand, Lower Dir, Pakistan;Department of Zoology, University of Swabi, Pakistan;Vertebrate Pest Control Institute, Southern Zone of Agricultural Research Centre, Pakistan Agricultural Research Council, University Campus, Karachi, Pakistan;

关键词: Helminth parasites;    Rattus rattus;    Agricultural fields;    Rodents;    District Swat;   

DOI  :  

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Present study was conducted to get information on helminth parasites of zoonotic importance among the black rats of district Swat, Pakistan. Two hundred and sixty nine rats were captured from agricultural ecosystem of the district using live captured traps from 2011 to 2013. Captured rats were anesthetized and surveyed for the presence of ectoparasites, then were carefully dissected for investigation of endoparsites. Helminth parasites of 8 species were identified. Presence of parasite was noticed in 23.7% of sampled rats. The infection rates of sampled rats was given in order of their infectivity as Syphacia obvelata 13(4.83%), Aspiculuris tetraptera 13(4.83%), Heterakis spumosa 12 (4.46%), Hymenolepis spp. 9(3.34%), H.diminuta 8(2.97%), Hymenolepis fusa 4(1.48%), Lutziella microacetabularae 4(1.48%) and Lutziella spp. 1 (0.37%). No significant difference (P < 0.4289) was found in prevalence of parasites among areas, crops, crop stages and sex of the host while adult rats were found more infected than sub-adults. S. obvelata and A. tetraptera were the most common species of helminths while Lutziella sp., 1 (0.37%) was found only in one host. Rattus rattus (the black rat) was regarded as the host of helminth parasites of zoonotic importance, therefore the hidden health hazards of this rodent species needed to be considered to prevent infectivity of humans. Current study was concluded that Rattus rattus harbored a wide variety of helminth parasites which shows a hidden risk to inhabitants of the region. Monitoring rats’ population in settle areas and educating the local community about the risk of rat borne parasitic diseases transmission through rats appears to be absolutely essential.

【 授权许可】

Unknown