Abstract:
Rodents are common pests that transmit various deadly pathogens. Here we study
the helminth parasites of rodents from different ecological niches. The
Gastrointestinal helminths were investigated from a total of 70 rodents, namely
Bandicota bengalensis (sand rice rat, n=20), Rattus rattus (black rat, n= 15),
Rattus norvegicus (brown rat, n=25) and Mus musculus (house mouse, n=10). The
rats were live-captured from houses in the slum areas (n=20) and stationary shops
(n=20), residential buildings (n=15) and rice fields (n=15). The overall prevalence
of helminth infection was 71.42%. 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 rate
was recorded in slum areas (85%). The parasites detected from the rodents were
Taenia taeniformis (35%), Hymenolepis diminuta (47.14%), Moniliformis
moniliformis (42.85%), Heterakis spumosa (60%) 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 rat borne zoonosis through the control of rodents.
