In order to analyse the effect of hosts' relationships and the helminthic load on the switching of parasites between native and introduced hosts, we sampled rodents belonging to two suborders from Central Chile. We compared the number of helminthic species shared between murids (introduced) and cricetid (native, same suborder) rodents to those shared between murids and hystricomorphs (native, different suborder), and we assessed the association between parasitic presence, abundance and geographical dispersion in source hosts to the presence and abundance in recipient hosts. Introduced rodent species shared more helminth species with cricetid rodents than with non-cricetids. Presence and abundance in recipient hosts was not associated with the prevalence and mean abundance in source hosts' population. The mean abundance of parasites in source hosts throughout the territory and wider dispersion was positively associated with the likelihood of being shared with a recipient host. Closer relationships between native and introduced hosts and high parasitic abundance and dispersion could facilitate host switching of helminths between native and introduced rodents. This work provides the first documentation of the importance of parasitic abundance and dispersion on the switching of parasites between native and introduced hosts.
Invasive populations are a threat to biodiversity, resulting in the loss of species, and also a threat to human health, participating in the reservoir of diseases. Rodents are among the most important invasive species worldwide. Chile is a country that features island conditions in terms of geography and has been widely invaded by allochthonous rodents. In this mini-review, we updated the literature on macro-parasites infecting both native and invasive rodents and of vector-borne pathogens in continental Chile in order to assess the relative importance of invasive rodents from both ecological and public health points of view. A total of 174 parasite species were found, with Siphonaptera representing the most diverse group. When examining how parasites are shared between native and introduced rodents, the analysis suggests that parasites circulate freely within recipient populations, and are not significantly transmitted from source populations. Further, generalist parasites are typically more prone to being shared between native and introduced rodents. Most zoonotic parasites were reported in invasive rodents, suggesting that these rodents must represent a public health concern. Although several vector-borne pathogens have been reported in rodents or ectoparasites, most of the recently emerging research has illustrated that there is a lack of evidence on rodent–vector-borne zoonoses in most pathogens.
Trichinellosis is a zoonosis of worldwide distribution (Korhonen et al., 2016) with several outbreaks reported yearly (Caron et al., 2020;Ducrocq et al., 2020;Ribicich et al., 2020). This disease is mainly associated with cultural factors, especially the household slaughter of pigs without veterinary inspection (Pozio, 2014), a situation that is entrenched and difficult to eradicate. Thus, the knowledge of the cycle can give epidemiological information of this zoonosis and may allow us to suggest measures for reducing the incidence.Trichinella spiralis Owen, 1835 is the most widespread species of the genus and presents both domestic and sylvatic cycles. The domestic cycle includes pigs (Sus scrofa domestica Linnaeus, 1758), rats (Rattus spp.), dogs (Canis lupus familiaris Linnaeus, 1758) and cats (Felis silvestris catus Schreber, 1775), and the sylvatic cycle includes wild and feral carnivore and omnivore mammals (
We report the first record of Litomosoides pardinasi in native and exotic rodents from Chile. Litomosoides pardinasi, described in the Argentine Patagonia parasitizing Phyllotis xanthopygus and Oligoryzomys longicaudatus, was found in Chile parasitizing the peritoneal and thoracic cavities of O. longicaudatus (prevalence (P)= 18.9%, mean intensity (MI)= 57.3) and Phyllotis darwini (P= 4.2%, MI= 10), and in the peritoneal cavity of Rattus rattus (P= 1.24%; MI= 22.5). Total P in native rodents from Chile was significantly lower than in Argentina, while the total MI was higher. Prevalence and MI of L. pardinasi in O. longicaudatus from Chile and Argentina showed non-significant differences; prevalence in P. darwini from Chile was significantly lower than in P. xanthopygus from Argentina and than in Chilean O. longicaudatus. Our results, together with those from Argentina, support the hypothesis that L. pardinasi is well established in O. longicaudatus, but seems to be recently acquired by P. darwini and the exotic R. rattus. Considering the known host distribution of Litomosoides species among the sigmodontines, our results also support the hypothesis that L. pardinasi first colonized the Oryzomyini tribe and later, by different phenomena of host-switching, colonized the Phyllotini tribe and the exotic R. rattus.
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