title: Zoonotic and Non-zoonotic Parasites of Wild Rodents in Turkman Sahra, Northeastern Iran.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study was conducted to collect informative data on the parasitic infection of wild rodents, emphasizing on finding parasites, which have medical importance to human.
  
  
  METHODS
  During 2012-2014, a total number of 91 wild rodents were captured from rural areas of Turkmen Sahra, Golestan Province, using handmade traps. Animals were anesthetized, surveyed for any ectoparasite and then their carcasses were carefully dissected for examination of endoparsites.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Four species of rodents includingMus musculus(52.75%),Rattus norvegicus(38.46%),Rhombomys opimus(4.40%) andMeriones libycus(4.40%) were captured. Parasitic infestation was detected in 38.5% of sampled rodents. Parasite infestation rates of sampled rodents wasHymenolepis diminuta= 7.7%,Cryptosporidiumspp = 6.6%,Trichurisspp.= 5.5%,Cysticercus fasciolaris= 2.20%,Angiostrongylusspp.= 2.20%,Capillariasp.= 1.09%,Rhipicephalusspp. = 8.70%,Nosopsyllus fasciatus= 1.09%, andLaelaps nuttalli= 3.29%. Among 10 genera/species of identified parasites, at least 8 of them were zoonotic with public health importance.L. nuttalliandN. fasciatuswere the only two non-zoonotic detected parasites in this survey.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Harboring a wide variety of zoonotic parasites in sampled wild rodents particularly when they live nearby villages, represents a potential risk to native inhabitants. Hence, controlling rodents' population in residential regions and improving awareness of local people about the risk of disease transmission through rodents seems to be entirely necessary.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Fisheries and Environment, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Gorgan, Iran.
authors.forename: Monireh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gholipoury
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Fisheries and Environment, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Gorgan, Iran.
authors.forename: Hamid Reza
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Rezai
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Fisheries and Environment, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Gorgan, Iran.
authors.forename: Somayeh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Namroodi
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology Faculty of Veterinary Medicine University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Fatemeh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Arab Khazaeli
keywords: Iran; Non-zoonotic parasite; Rodents; Zoonotic parasite