Assessment of the risks of rats (Rattus norvegicus) and opossums (Didelphis albiventris) in different poultry-rearing areas in Argentina

Abstract

We have studied the prevalence of Trichinella spiralis, Leptospira spp. and Salmonella spp. in rats and opossums that inhabit poultry farms of Exaltación de la Cruz, Buenos Aires, Argentina, to determine the potential sanitary risk for humans that are in contact with these animals. The study was carried out on 48 poultry farms between spring 1999 and winter 2001. The study of opossums began in winter 2000. During the study period we captured 152 Rattus norvegicus, 3 Rattus rattus, 16 Didelphis albiventris and 1 Lutreolina crassicaudata. We have registered the presence of rats and opossums in 70% and 27% of the studied farms, respectively. The percentage of farms with rats was independent of the presence or absence of pigs. We did not detect the presence of Leptospira spp. and Trichinella spiralis in any individual. We detected the presence of Salmonella Enteritidis in one Rattus norvegicus and one Didelphis albiventris. According to our results, the rats and opossums of poultry farms may not report a risk factor in the transmission of Trichinella and Leptospira under the present conditions; but the detection of Salmonella Enteritidis in rats as well as in opossums suggests the idea of applying prophylactics measurements on poultry farms.

First report of Trichinella spiralis from the white-eared (Didelphis albiventris) and the thick-tailed opossum (Lutreolina crassicaudata) in central Argentina

“…In Argentina, some studies looked for this infection in D. albiventris with negative results (Gómez Villafañe et al, 2004;Pérez Carusi et al, 2009;Ribicich et al, 2010). In contrast, in the USA, two opossums, D. marsupialis and D. virginiana, have been previously reported to be infected with Trichinella spp.…”

“…(Pozio, 2005). As mentioned, in Argentina, some opossums are considered a potential link between wild and domestic habitats for the transmission of zoonotic diseases (Gómez Villafañe et al, 2004;Pérez Carusi et al, 2009 (Navone et al, 1991). In Florianópolis, Brazil, L. crassicaudata has been found parasitized by the protozoan Tetratrichomonas didelphidis (Tasca et al, 2001).…”

“…The recent description of the new species T. patagoniensis isolated from the puma in the Argentine Patagonia (Krivokapich et al, 2012) makes it necessary to find out which wild animals are infected by each of these two Trichinella species as well as which are the areas of influence of the two parasites. Marsupials are found in many different environments, from forests to domestic and peridomestic habitats like orchards, henhouses and poultry farms (Cabrera & Yepes, 1960;Hunsaker II, 1977;Contreras, 1983;Gómez Villa-HELMINTHOLOGIA, 51, 3: 198 -202, 2014 First report of Trichinella spiralis from the white-eared (Didelphis albiventris) and the thick-tailed opossum (Lutreolina crassicaudata) in central Argentina (Potkay, 1977;Schweigmann et al, 1999;Gomes et al, 2003;Bodini Santiago et al, 2007;Pérez Carusi et al, 2009), some marsupials are considered a link between wild and domestic habitats for the transmission of zoonotic diseases (Gómez Villafañe et al, 2004;Pérez Carusi et al, 2009). In environments related to the human population, opossums of the genus Didelphis are associated with garbage produced by humans, indicating the close relation between these animals and humans (Pérez Carusi et al, 2009).…”

Histo-Blood Group Carbohydrates and Helicobacter pylori Infection

“…In another study, carried out in chicken farms in Exaltación de la Cruz, province of Buenos Aires, the absence of T spiralis in 152 individuals of R. norvegicus suggests the hypothesis of rodents as accidental hosts, which can acquire the infection through the consumption of infected pig carcasses. In this case, the high availability of rat food (chicken food) decreased the probability of eating infected pigs carcasses [11]. In the current research food availability could be an explanation why there was no positive rat captured in any of the pig farms studied (Figure 2).…”

Isolamento de Salmonella enterica em gambás (Didelphis aurita e Didelphis albiventris) do Estado de São Paulo, Brasil

“…para outros animais e seres humanos pelas fezes, através do contato direto ou indireto. Essas podem contaminar a água consumida por humanos ou ração e água utilizados para a alimentação dos animais de produção e secundariamente ser transmitida através da carne (VILLAFAÑE et al, 2004), ou, ainda, quando utilizada para irrigar as hortaliças (OROZCO et al, 2008).…”