Helminths of the brown rat (Rattus norvegicus) (Berkenhout, 1769) in the city of Palermo, Italy

0355544 - ÚBO 2011 RIV SK eng J - Journal Article
Milazzo, C. - Ribas, Alexis - Casanova, J. C. - Cagnin, M. - Geraci, F. - Di Bella, C.
Helminths of the brown rat (Rattus norvegicus) (Berkenhout, 1769) in the city of Palermo, Italy.
Helminthologia. Roč. 47, č. 4 (2010), s. 238-240. ISSN 0440-6605. E-ISSN 1336-9083
Institutional research plan: CEZ:AV0Z60930519
Keywords : wild brown rats * helminths * Sicily * Italy
Subject RIV: EG - Zoology
Impact factor: 0.847, year: 2010

A helminthological survey was performed on 143 brown rats (Rattus norvegicus) from the city of Palermo (Italy). The overall prevalence of helminth infection was 98.60%. The following parasites were found: Brachylaima sp. prevalence 8.39%; Taenia taeniaeformis larvae 11.89%, Rodentolepis nana 13.29%, Hymenolepis diminuta 24.48%; Gongylonema sp. 4.90%, Syphacia muris 8.39%, Nippostrongylus brasiliensis 18.88%, Eucoleus gastricus 30.07%, Mastophorus muris 30.77%, Capillaria hepatica 54.55%, Heterakis spumosa 82.52% and one acanthocephalan 0.70%. The species found in males were also present in females, with the exception of the acanthocephalan. No significant differences were found between males and females in prevalence or mean infection intensity. However, a significant correlation between both P% and MI, as well as host age, was observed in some helminth species. Hosts were infected by one to six helminth species (median = 3). This is the first report from Sicily of helminths in R. norvegicus.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0194291