title: Population distribution and zoonotic potential of gastrointestinal helminths of wild rats Rattus rattus and R. norvegicus from Jamaica.
abstract: The population distribution and zoonotic potential of gastrointestinal helminths in a naturally infected population of wild rats (Rattus rattus and Rattus norvegicus) in Jamaica are described. One hundred and thirty (29.7%) of 437 rats captured in the study were infected: 104 (35%) of 297 R. rattus compared with 26 (18.6%) of 140 R. norvegicus. Nine species of gastrointestinal helminths were recovered: Raillietina sp. (0.2%), Trichuris sp. (0.2%), Rictularia sp. (0.7%), Syphacia obvelata (1.1%), Strongyloides ratti (1.4%), Hymenolepis diminuta (3.8%), Protospirura muricola (4.3%), Moniliformis moniliformis (11.2%), and Nippostrongylus brasiliensis (14.2%). In a logistic model, the single risk factor identified for both M. moniliformis and P. muricola was R. rattus, compared with R. norvegicus (OR = 8.369 and 9.714, respectively). In comparison, the risk factor predicted for infection with N. brasiliensis was the northeastern section of Jamaica (OR = 11.000) compared with western Jamaica. Rictularia sp. represents a new geographic distribution record for the Caribbean region. Hymenolepis diminuta, M. moniliformis, Raillietina sp., and Rictularia sp. are potentially zoonotic, but only human infection with H. diminuta has been previously reported in the Caribbean.
authors.affiliation: Department of Life Sciences, The University of the West Indies, Mona, Kingston 7, Jamaica.
authors.forename: Cecelia A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Waugh
authors.forename: John F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Lindo
authors.forename: Pilar
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Foronda
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Angeles-Santana
authors.forename: Jacob
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lorenzo-Morales
authors.forename: Ralph D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Robinson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000835:Animals, Wild; D005260:Female; D006374:Helminthiasis, Animal / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology / Q000635:transmission; D006376:Helminths / Q000145:classification / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D007411:Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology / Q000635:transmission; D007563:Jamaica / Q000453:epidemiology; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D051381:Rats; D012376:Rodent Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology / Q000635:transmission; D015047:Zoonoses / Q000469:parasitology / Q000635:transmission