title: Strongyloides ratti and S. venezuelensis - rodent models of Strongyloides infection.
abstract: Strongyloides spp. are common parasites of vertebrates and two species, S. ratti and S. venezuelensis, parasitize rats; there are no known species that naturally infect mice. Strongyloides ratti and S. venezuelensis overlap in their geographical range and in these regions co-infections appear to be common. These species have been widely used as tractable laboratory systems in rats as well as mice. The core biology of these two species is similar, but there are clear differences in aspects of their within-host biology as well as in their free-living generation. Phylogenetic evidence suggests that S. ratti and S. venezuelensis are the result of two independent evolutionary transitions to parasitism of rats, which therefore presents an ideal opportunity to begin to investigate the basis of host specificity in Strongyloides spp.
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences,University of Bristol,Bristol BS8 1TQ,UK.
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Viney
authors.affiliation: Division of Parasitology,Faculty of Medicine,University of Miyazaki,Miyazaki,Japan.
authors.forename: Taisei
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kikuchi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D058507:Host Specificity; D051379:Mice; D051381:Rats; D012376:Rodent Diseases / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000473:pathology*; D013321:Strongyloides / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000472:pathogenicity* / Q000502:physiology; D013322:Strongyloidiasis / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000473:pathology*; D037521:Virulence Factors
chemical_list: D037521:Virulence Factors
keywords: 
                 Strongyloides
              ; rats; rodent