Cysticercus fasciolaris in Brown Rats (Rattus norvegicus) in Grenada, West Indies

Abstract

Cat is the definitive host of Taenia taeniaeformis (T. taeniaeformis). Cysticercus fasciolaris (C. fasciolaris), the larval stage of T. taeniaeformis, develops in small rodents which act as intermediate host. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of C. fasciolaris in brown rats (Rattus norvegicus) in the densely human populated parishes, St. George's and St. David's of Grenada, West Indies. One hundred and seventy rats were trapped near the residential areas from May to July, 2017 and examined for C. fasciolaris in their liver. Of the 170 rats 115 (67.6%, CI 95% from 60.1 to 74.6) were positive for the larval stage of T. taeniaeformis. One to three cysts were observed in each liver, containing a single larva in each cyst. The prevalence was 77.9% in St. George and 59.1% in St. David which is a significant difference (p < 0.05) between the two parishes under study. Based on gender, prevalence in males was 60.9% and females 74.7%. Significant difference was observed between young and adult rats (p = 0.03). Prevalence in young rats was 45.0% compared to adults (70.7%). Further study of risk assessment in the cat population in areas of the present research is strongly suggested.

A parasitological survey of zoonotic cestodes carried by house rats in Aswan, Egypt, reveals cryptic diversity at the molecular level

“…in Iran [32]. On the other hand, the present study detected a lower prevalence of H. taeniaeformis in rats than did similar studies in Argentina (39.5%) [33], Korea (33.8%) [34], and Grenada, West Indies (67.6%) [35]. Although the prevalence of helminth infection in rats varied between studies, these variations may be attributed to the differences in climatic conditions, environmental hygiene, previous control interference, socioeconomic status of the occupants, intermediate host abundance, and host vulnerability to parasite infection [2,36].…”

Natural Cysticercus fasciolaris infection in rodents from a rural area in Yucatan, Mexico

“…[12][13][14] Synanthropic species such as Rattus norvegicus, Rattus rattus, and Mus musculus are the main intermediate hosts of this parasite, with prevalence ranging from 4.3% 15 to 67.7%. 16 Cysticercus fasciolaris infection has been reported in urban and wild rodents from Brazil, 17 Korea, 18 Egypt, 19 India, 20 Malaysia, 21 Thailand, 22 and Mexico. [23][24][25] Rodents from the R. rattus and M. musculus species have been found infected with C. fasciolaris, in Yucatan.…”

Historical Spatial Distribution of Zoonotic Diseases in Domestic, Synanthropic, and Wild Animals in the Mexican Territory of the Yucatan Peninsula

“…Liver cysts of C. fasciolaris were identified in M. musculus and R. rattus , and adults male mice were 4.33 and 3.46 (OR values) times more likely to be infected [ 28 ]. Mice are only intermediate hosts for C. fasciolaris ; cats are the main definitive host, so the full extent of C. fasciolaris epidemiology is still unknown [ 29 ].…”