Reperant L A, Hegglin D, Tanner I, Fischer C, Deplazes P
Institute of Parasitology, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 266a, CH-8057 Zurich, Switzerland.
Parasitology. 2009 Mar;136(3):329-37. doi: 10.1017/S0031182008005428. Epub 2009 Jan 21.
Rodents are shared intermediate or paratenic hosts for Echinococcus multilocularis, Toxocara spp. and Toxoplasma gondii, and may serve as valuable indicators for assessing the occurrence and the level of environmental contamination and infection pressure with free-living stages of these zoonotic parasites. We investigated 658 non-commensal rodents for parasite infections in the canton of Geneva, Switzerland. The prevalence of infection with E. multilocularis was highest in Arvicola terrestris captured in the north-western area (16.5%, CI: 10.1%-24.8%), possibly reflecting a higher red fox density due to the low incidence of sarcoptic mange in this part of the canton. The exposure rate to Toxocara spp. was highest in the urban area (13.2%, CI: 7.9%-20.3%), and may account for higher densities of domestic carnivore and red fox definitive hosts within the city. Exposure to T. gondii was widespread (5.0%, CI: 3.2-7.4%), indicating a ubiquitous distribution of infected cat definitive hosts. Interestingly, a widespread distribution of Taenia taeniaeformis, a parasite mainly transmitted by cats, was similarly evidenced in A. terrestris. Distinct spatial patterns for the different zoonotic parasites likely reflected differences in distribution, abundance, and habitat use of the respective definitive hosts. These results highlight the potential value of rodents as shared indicators for these pathogens.
啮齿动物是多房棘球绦虫、弓蛔虫属和刚地弓形虫的中间宿主或转续宿主，可作为评估这些人畜共患寄生虫自由生活阶段的环境污染程度和感染压力的宝贵指标。我们在瑞士日内瓦州调查了658只非共栖啮齿动物的寄生虫感染情况。在西北地区捕获的欧田鼠中，多房棘球绦虫的感染率最高（16.5%，置信区间：10.1%-24.8%），这可能反映出该州这一地区由于疥螨发病率低，赤狐密度较高。在城市地区，弓蛔虫属的暴露率最高（13.2%，置信区间：7.9%-20.3%），这可能是因为城市内家猫和赤狐终末宿主的密度较高。刚地弓形虫的暴露情况较为普遍（5.0%，置信区间：3.2%-7.4%），表明感染的猫终末宿主分布广泛。有趣的是，在欧田鼠中也同样证实了主要由猫传播的泡状带绦虫分布广泛。不同人畜共患寄生虫的明显空间格局可能反映了各自终末宿主在分布、数量和栖息地利用方面的差异。这些结果凸显了啮齿动物作为这些病原体共享指标的潜在价值。
