Pinworm infection in laboratory mice in southern China.
The present investigation examined the prevalence and intensity of pinworm infection in laboratory mice from three laboratory animal centres in China's southern Guangdong Province between August 2008 and April 2009. A total of 301 laboratory mice representing BALB/c, Kunming (KM) and C57BL/6J breeds were examined and the worms were counted and identified according to existing keys and descriptions, and their specific identity was ascertained by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of the second internal transcribed spacer (ITS-2) of ribosomal DNA. While the BALB/c and C57BL/6J mice were not found to be infected with pinworms, postmortem examination of the KM mice revealed a prevalence of 46.7%. PCR amplification of ITS-2 rDNA and subsequent sequencing confirmed that the mice were infected with Syphacia obvelata. The results of the present investigation demonstrated that the prevalence of pinworm infection in laboratory mice was high in the Guangdong province, and integrated control strategies and measures should be implemented to prevent and control pinworm infection in laboratory mice.
Department of Parasitology, College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province 510642, PR China.
Xiao-Mei
XM
Chen
Xin
X
Li
Rui-Qing
RQ
Lin
Jun-You
JY
Deng
Wen-Ying
WY
Fan
Zi-Guo
ZG
Yuan
Miao
M
Liao
Xing-Quan
XQ
Zhu
D000818:Animals; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006374:Helminthiasis, Animal / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice / Q000469:parasitology*; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D010123:Oxyuriasis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D010124:Oxyuroidea / Q000502:physiology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015995:Prevalence; D012376:Rodent Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D013045:Species Specificity