Fagir Dina M, El-Rayah El-Amin
Department of Zoology, University of Khartoum, Khartoum, Sudan.
Integr Zool. 2009 Jun;4(2):179-187. doi: 10.1111/j.1749-4877.2009.00148.x.
In this investigation on endoparasites (helminths) and ectoparasites of the Nile rat (Arvicanthis niloticus Desmarest, 1822), a total of 220 Nile rats were trapped from different regions of Sudan during the period January 2003-January 2006. Examination of different tissues, identification of parasites, effect of these parasites on the organs, the prevalence and intensity of infestation of the parasites and their relation to the habitat of the host, and sex-related infestations were considered. Results showed that the variation among helminth species was wide, especially in those that are transferred by arthropods. No protozoan parasites or distortion in the infected tissues were observed. No examination for Toxoplasma gondii was carried out. Two species of cestodes (Hymenolepis nana, Hymenolepis diminuta), two genera (Raillietina sp. I, Raillietina sp. II) and one unidentified Hymenolepididae were reported. The most prevalent species of cestodes was Raillietina sp. And for nematodes only one species and one genus were recovered (Monanema nilotica and Streptopharagus sp.). Investigation of skin revealed that 83.8% of rats were infested with one or more of ectoparasites; namely, insects and arachnids. This survey also revealed that fleas and lice were the most common ectoparasites that infested the Nile rat. Synanthropic rodents, particularly those living in close association with man, play a significant role in human health, welfare and economy. It has to be stressed that their arthropod ectoparasites are important vectors of pathogenic microorganisms and they can also be important reservoirs for parasitic zoonoses, like trichinellosis and capillariosis. No doubt, the increase in rodent populations could be followed by an increase in zoonotic diseases (Stojcevic et al. 2004, Durden et al. 2000). Rats and mice (commensal and wild) play an important role in public health, being carriers or reservoirs for infectious diseases that can be transmitted to humans (zoonoses). Xenopsylla cheopis is the most important vector of plague and the rickettsial infection murine typhus (Gratz 1999). Man can also acquire the infection through direct contact with infected animals' tissues (WHO 1987). Arvicanthis niloticus, Mastomys natalensis and Rattus rattus are probably the most important and widespread reservoirs of plague in Kenya: 10 percent of all Rattus rattus tested were found to be positive as compared to 12% of the Arvicanthis niloticus (Gratz 1999).
在本次关于尼罗河大鼠（Arvicanthis niloticus Desmarest，1822）体内寄生虫（蠕虫）和体外寄生虫的调查中，2003年1月至2006年1月期间，从苏丹不同地区共捕获了220只尼罗河大鼠。研究考虑了对不同组织进行检查、鉴定寄生虫、这些寄生虫对器官的影响、寄生虫感染的流行率和强度及其与宿主栖息地的关系，以及与性别相关的感染情况。结果表明，蠕虫种类之间的差异很大，尤其是那些通过节肢动物传播的种类。未观察到原生动物寄生虫或受感染组织的病变。未对弓形虫进行检测。报告了两种绦虫（微小膜壳绦虫、缩小膜壳绦虫）、两个属（瑞氏绦虫属I、瑞氏绦虫属II）和一种未鉴定的膜壳科绦虫。最常见的绦虫种类是瑞氏绦虫属。对于线虫，仅发现了一个种类和一个属（尼罗莫南线虫和链咽线虫属）。对皮肤的调查显示，83.8%的大鼠感染了一种或多种体外寄生虫，即昆虫和蛛形纲动物。这项调查还表明，跳蚤和虱子是感染尼罗河大鼠的最常见体外寄生虫。与人类共生的啮齿动物，尤其是那些与人类密切生活在一起的啮齿动物，在人类健康、福祉和经济方面发挥着重要作用。必须强调的是，它们的节肢动物体外寄生虫是致病微生物的重要传播媒介，它们也可能是寄生虫性人畜共患病（如旋毛虫病和毛细线虫病）的重要宿主。毫无疑问，啮齿动物数量的增加可能会导致人畜共患病的增加（Stojcevic等人，2004年；Durden等人，2000年）。大鼠和小鼠（共生和野生）在公共卫生中起着重要作用，是可传播给人类的传染病（人畜共患病）的携带者或宿主。印鼠客蚤是鼠疫和立克次体感染鼠型斑疹伤寒的最重要传播媒介（Gratz，1999年）。人类也可通过直接接触受感染动物的组织而感染（世界卫生组织，1987年）。尼罗河大鼠、黑腹大仓鼠和褐家鼠可能是肯尼亚鼠疫最重要且分布最广的宿主：在所有检测的褐家鼠中，10%呈阳性，而尼罗河大鼠的阳性率为12%（Gratz，1999年）。
