Norway rat (Rattus norvegicus) as a potential reservoir for Echinococcus granulosus: A public health implication

2016 ◽  
Vol 61 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Khaled A. Abdel-Moein ◽  
Dalia A. Hamza
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Rattus Norvegicus ◽  
Public Health Implication ◽  
Norway Rat ◽  
Suburban Areas ◽  
Worldwide Distribution ◽  
Potential Reservoir ◽  
Cystic Hydatidosis ◽  
Norway Rats

AbstractCystic hydatidosis is a re-emerging parasitic zoonosis with worldwide distribution. The current study was carried out to investigate the possible role of rats in the epidemiology of such disease in urban and suburban areas. For this purpose, a total of 50 feral Norway rats (

scholarly journals Toxigenic and pathogenic fungi in Norway rat (Rattus norvegicus Berk., 1769) from natural populations in semiagricultural habitats

2007 ◽  
pp. 267-270
Author(s):  
Milena Kataranovski ◽  
Jasmina Glamoclija ◽  
Marina Sokovic ◽  
Milica Ljaljevic-Grbic ◽  
Dragan Kataranovski
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Rattus Norvegicus ◽  
Natural Populations ◽  
Pathogenic Fungi ◽  
Fungal Species ◽  
Mucor Racemosus ◽  
Public Health Importance ◽  
Norway Rat ◽  
Norway Rats

In this study, the presence of toxigenic and pathogenic fungi was detected in individuals of natural populations of Norway rats from semiagricultural habitats. The presence of fungi was noted in 19 out of 30 (63%) individuals examined. Six fungal species were isolated and identified, of which majority belonged to Hyphomycetes (Deuteromycotina) and Mucor racemosus from Zygomycotina. All of detected species are of public health importance and some of them might influence animals health.

scholarly journals One Health Approach to Zoonotic Parasites: Molecular Detection of Intestinal Protozoans in an Urban Population of Norway Rats, Rattus norvegicus, in Barcelona, Spain

Pathogens ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 311
Author(s):  
María Teresa Galán-Puchades ◽  
María Trelis ◽  
Sandra Sáez-Durán ◽  
Susana Cifre ◽  
Carla Gosálvez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rattus Norvegicus ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Urban Population ◽  
One Health ◽  
Giardia Duodenalis ◽  
Norway Rat ◽  
The One ◽  
Zoonotic Parasites ◽  
Norway Rats

Rattus norvegicus, the brown or Norway rat, is the most abundant mammal after humans in urban areas, where they live in close proximity to people. Among rodent-borne diseases, the reservoir role of Norway rats of zoonotic parasites in cities has practically been ignored. Considering the parasitic diseases in the One Health approach, we intended to identify and quantify the zoonotic intestinal protozoans (ZIP) in an urban population of R. norvegicus in the city of Barcelona, Spain. We studied the presence of ZIP in 100 rats trapped in parks (n = 15) as well as in the city’s sewage system (n = 85) in the winter of 2016/17. The protozoans were molecularly identified by means of a multiplex PCR (AllplexTM Gastrointestinal Panel-Parasite Assay). We also investigated the presence of co-infections among the species found. Four ZIP were identified, presenting significant prevalences in sewers, specifically Blastocystis (83.5%), Giardia duodenalis (37.7%), Cryptosporidium spp. (34.1%), and Dientamoeba fragilis (14.1%). Several co-infections among the detected ZIP were also detected. The reservoir role of ZIP that Norway rats play in cities as well as the role rats may play as sentinels of zoonotic parasites affecting humans in urban areas are strongly backed up by our findings. The increasing worldwide urbanization, climate change, and the COVID-19 pandemic are factors that are producing an increase in human–rat interactions. Our results should be considered a warning to the authorities to intensify rat control and surveillance in public health interventions.

scholarly journals Field trials of flocoumafen against warfarin-resistant infestations of the Norway rat (Rattus norvegicus Berk)

1986 ◽  
Vol 96 (3) ◽  
pp. 467-473 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. P. Buckle
Keyword(s):  
Rattus Norvegicus ◽  
Field Trials ◽  
Anticoagulant Rodenticide ◽  
Complete Control ◽  
Norway Rat ◽  
Norway Rats ◽  
Farm Buildings

SUMMARYThe anticoagulant rodenticide flocoumafen was tested against warfarin-resistant Norway rats (Rattus norvegicus Berk.) infesting farm buildings. Complete control was obtained in 10–21 days (mean 14·2 days) in six treatments in which baits poisoned with 0·005% flocoumafen were maintained, in surplus, until rats ceased to feed from them. A further six treatments, in which the application of poisoned bait was restricted to periodic placements of 50 g, were also completely successful in 15–30 days (mean 21·0 days). Less poisoned bait was used in the restricted flocoumafen treatments than in the unrestricted treatments but the time taken to control the rat infestations was significantly longer.

scholarly journals Leptospira in breast tissue and milk of urban Norway rats (Rattus norvegicus)

2016 ◽  
Vol 144 (11) ◽  
pp. 2420-2429 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. DE OLIVEIRA ◽  
C. P. FIGUEIRA ◽  
L. ZHAN ◽  
A. C. PERTILE ◽  
G. G. PEDRA ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rattus Norvegicus ◽  
Breast Tissue ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Immunofluorescence Assay ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Tissue Samples ◽  
Norway Rat ◽  
First Time ◽  
Globally Distributed ◽  
Norway Rats

SUMMARYLeptospirosis is a zoonosis caused by bacteria of the genus Leptospira. The disease is globally distributed and a major public health concern. The Norway rat (Rattus norvegicus) is the main reservoir of the pathogen in urban slums of developing and developed countries. The potential routes of intra-specific leptospire transmission in rats are largely unknown. Herein, we identified pathogenic Leptospira spp. in breast tissue and milk of naturally infected rats. We examined kidney, breast tissue and milk from 24 lactating rats for the presence of leptospires using immunofluorescence, immunohistochemistry, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and scanning electronic microscopy. All 24 rats had evidence for Leptospira in the kidneys, indicating chronic carriage. The majority of kidney-positive rats had detectable leptospires in milk (18, 75%) and breast tissue (16, 67%), as evidenced by immunofluorescence assay and immunohistochemistry. Four (17%) milk samples and two (8%) breast tissue samples were positive by quantitative real-time PCR. Scanning electron microscopy confirmed the presence of leptospires in breast tissue. No major pathological changes in breast tissue were found. This study, for the first time, identified leptospires in the milk and breast tissue of wild Norway rats, suggesting the possibility of milk-borne transmission of leptospirosis to neonates.

scholarly journals Evidence of multiple intraspecific transmission routes for Leptospira acquisition in Norway rats (Rattus norvegicus)

2017 ◽  
Vol 145 (16) ◽  
pp. 3438-3448 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. MINTER ◽  
P. J. DIGGLE ◽  
F. COSTA ◽  
J. CHILDS ◽  
A. I. KO ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rattus Norvegicus ◽  
Significant Proportion ◽  
Cumulative Risk ◽  
Urban Slum ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Risk Of Infection ◽  
Prevalence Data ◽  
Norway Rat ◽  
In The Wild ◽  
Norway Rats

SUMMARYInfectious diseases frequently have multiple potential routes of intraspecific transmission of pathogens within wildlife and other populations. For pathogens causing zoonotic diseases, knowing whether these transmission routes occur in the wild and their relative importance, is critical for understanding maintenance, improving control measures and ultimately preventing human disease. The Norway rat (Rattus norvegicus) is the primary reservoir of leptospirosis in the urban slums of Salvador, Brazil. There is biological evidence for potentially three different transmission routes of leptospire infection occurring in the rodent population. Using newly obtained prevalence data from rodents trapped at an urban slum field site, we present changes in cumulative risk of infection in relation to age-dependent transmission routes to infer which intra-specific transmission routes occur in the wild. We found that a significant proportion of animals leave the nest with infection and that the risk of infection increases throughout the lifetime of Norway rats. We did not observe a significant effect of sexual maturity on the risk of infection. In conclusion, our results suggest that vertical and environmental transmission of leptospirosis both occur in wild populations of Norway rats.

scholarly journals Endoparasite community of Rattus norvegicus captured in a shantytown of Buenos Aires City, Argentina

2011 ◽  
Vol 48 (3) ◽  
pp. 167-173 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Hancke ◽  
G. Navone ◽  
O. Suarez
Keyword(s):  
Urban Area ◽  
Rattus Norvegicus ◽  
Parasite Species ◽  
Buenos Aires ◽  
The Public ◽  
Potential Reservoir ◽  
Brown Rat ◽  
Zoonotic Parasites ◽  
Buenos Aires City

AbstractThe aim of this study was to evaluate the role of the brown rat (Rattus norvegicus) as a potential reservoir of zoonotic parasites in an urban area of Argentina. A parasitological survey in 40 brown rats trapped in a shantytown of Buenos Aires City was carried out. 97.5 % of the analyzed rats were parasitized with at least one of the 12 species of helminth or protozoan species recorded. Among the species identified, Hymenolepis nana is recognized as one of the most common human helminthes parasites. The average number of parasite species was higher in males than females rats, and in the last case, a direct relationship between parasite species richness and host’s body size was recorded. Variations in endoparasite community throughout the year seasons were recorded, probably related to environmental factors, which limits the performance of the life cycle of different parasite species. The presence of zoonotic endoparasites confirms R. norvegicus as a reservoir for different types of pathologies, which, therefore, represents a risk to the public health in an overcrowded urban area.

scholarly journals The development and use of a test to identify resistance to the anticoagulant difenacoum in the Norway rat (Rattus norvegicus)

1978 ◽  
Vol 81 (3) ◽  
pp. 427-432 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Redfern ◽  
J. E. Gill
Keyword(s):  
Rattus Norvegicus ◽  
Test Procedure ◽  
Standard Test ◽  
Basic Data ◽  
Norway Rat ◽  
Norway Rats

SummaryFeeding tests were carried out in the laboratory to obtain basic data on the susceptibility of wild Norway rats to difenacoum. The results were used to derive a standard test procedure for the identification of difenacoum resistance in warfarin-susceptible and resistant rats. Details are given of tests on rats from suspected difenacoum-resistant infestations on farms.

The Role of the Female During Copulation in Wild and Domestic Norway Rats (Rattus Norvegicus)

Behaviour ◽  
1978 ◽  
Vol 67 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 67-95 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martha K. McClintock ◽  
Norman T. Adler
Keyword(s):  
Rattus Norvegicus ◽  
Population Level ◽  
Copulatory Behavior ◽  
Mating Strategies ◽  
Strain Condition ◽  
Wild Female ◽  
Norway Rat ◽  
Successful Reproduction ◽  
The Individual

AbstractThe copulatory behavior of both wild and domestic strains of Rattus norvegicus was observed via continuous video monitoring as it spontaneously occurred in the large seminatural environment and under standard laboratory conditions. A factorial design demonstrated that the female Norway rat has the major role determining the amount and timing of copulation once mating begins. Copulation between wild pairs was characterized by fewer ejaculatory series than domestic pairs. The first ejaculatory series of wild pairs contained more intromissions at longer intervals. Domestic pairs had the same total number of intromissions in a copulatory session, but spread over multiple ejaculatory series with few intromissions at short intervals in the first series. The characteristic differences between the copulatory patterns of wild and domestic pairs was determined by the female's strain condition and was either statistically independent or opposite to the male's strain condition. Specifically, the population pattern of a wild female was characterized by fewer ejaculatory series and more intromissions at longer intervals before the first ejaculation than the pattern of a domestic female. These differences between wild and domestic populations were produced by differences in the rate of active solicitations for an intromission by individual females : the solicitation occurred virtually in a one-to-one correspondence with an intromission. There were no gross anatomical differences between the vaginal size and placement of the two strains. The female solicitation is a distinct and quantifiable behavior not found in the standard testing cage: its occurrence depends on a larger and more complex environment. In addition, copulation in the larger seminatural environment is characterized by fewer intromissions in each ejaculatory series of a session at longer copulatory intervals. The role of the female is discussed both in terms of the individual interactions which underlie it and in terms of its physiological functions for successful reproduction in the rat. Copulation with a wild male is characterized by longer intervals between the intromissions of the first ejaculatory series than with a domestic male. The wild condition of both the pair and the female showed the opposite effect. This difference is evaluated in terms of the different mating strategies for the two sexes on a population level and in terms of the individual interactions that allow a compromise for successful reproduction of the pair.

Distribution, biology and prey selection of the introduced Norway Rat Rattus norvegicus at Kiska Island, Aleutian Islands, Alaska

2005 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 105 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heather L. Major ◽  
Ian L. Jones
Keyword(s):  
Rattus Norvegicus ◽  
Size Structure ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Prey Selection ◽  
Adult Rats ◽  
Norway Rat ◽  
Aethia Pusilla ◽  
Reproductive Females ◽  
Norway Rats ◽  
Selection Of

At Kiska Island, Alaska, USA we quantified age, sex, size, distribution and predation of Least Auklets Aethia pusilla by non-indigenous Norway Rats Rattus norvegicus, to evaluate their impact on auklet reproductive success. Rat distribution was assessed by surveying accessible parts of Kiska Island for rat sign and prey hoards. To quantify prey selection and infer diet, the contents of all hoards found were identified. Age, sex and size structure of the rat population was assessed using limited snap trapping on and off the Sirius Point auklet colony. Norway Rat sign was abundant in all areas near breeding seabirds and marine sources of food but rat sign abundance varied among years at Sirius Point. Although we found a larger proportion of juvenile to adult rats (0.54 : 0.46, p < 0.01) at Sirius Point, no significant differences were found in the proportion of reproductive to non-reproductive females (0.50 : 0.27, p > 0.05) or in overall adult body size (257 g and 37 cm : 236 g and 35 cm, p > 0.05) between Sirius Point and Christine Lake where breeding auklets are absent. Surplus killing and food hoarding by rats was noted in all years during the auklet laying period, with adult Least Auklets being the principal prey taken (4-148 individuals per hoard, n = 16 hoards). Our observations were consistent with the notion that rats have a negative impact on auklet populations, but for management purposes further information on whether rats are the sole cause of auklet reproductive failure is required.

The non-agouti mutation in Norway rats (Rattus norvegicus) selected for behavior

2013 ◽  
Vol 91 (3) ◽  
pp. 111-117
Author(s):  
R. Gulevich ◽  
I. Oskina ◽  
O. Ilyina ◽  
Yu. Herbeck ◽  
I. Plyusnina ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Aggressive Behavior ◽  
Rattus Norvegicus ◽  
Wild Type Allele ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Norway Rat ◽  
Chain Reactions ◽  
Polymerase Chain Reactions ◽  
Phenotypic Manifestation ◽  
Polymerase Chain ◽  
Norway Rats

The frequency of aa homozygous descendants was studied in crosses of Aa heterozygous Norway rat (Rattus norvegicus (Berkenhout, 1769)) parents selected for tame and aggressive behavior. First, Aa heterozygotes were obtained in crosses between tame homozygotes for the wild-type allele (AA) and aggressive homozygotes for the non-agouti allele (aa). The most tame and the most aggressive descendants were selected from the progeny of the Aa genotype by using the glove test. Then Aa rats were crossed among tame and among aggressive descendants, and the AA and Aa genotypes of grey descendants were identified by polymerase chain reactions (PCR). The segregation of descendants into the AA, Aa, and aa genotypes was cumulatively analyzed in five generations of selection with regard to the phenotypic manifestation of tame and aggressive behavior in their parents. The frequency of aa descendants in the progeny of mothers with low aggressive behavior scores was less than expected and less than in the progeny of mothers with high aggressive behavior scores.

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