Prevalence of high zoonotic-importance gastrointestinal helminth parasites and associated risk factors in synanthropic rodents in Greece.

BACKGROUND

Rodents are a group of animals that are important from a veterinary and public health perspective, as they harbor various pathogens. Among them, gastrointestinal helminths have attracted significant scientific attention in recent years, as some of them can be transmitted to humans, supporting the role of rodents in maintaining and spreading zoonotic pathogens. Information on gastrointestinal helminth infections in rodents in Greece is limited.

AIM: The present study aimed to determine the prevalence of gastrointestinal helminthic infection in synanthropic rodent species in Northern Greece, investigate potential factors associated with these infections, and assess the relevance of rodents as hosts of zoonotic parasites.

METHODS

The investigated areas included urban, semi-urban, and rural habitats. Fecal samples were collected from 100 rodents belonging to three species (68 Mus musculus, 21 Rattus norvegicus, and 11 Rattus rattus) from four regional units in Northern Greece. All fecal samples were examined using standard parasitological methods.

RESULTS

Copromicroscopic examination revealed gastrointestinal helminths in 58% of the rodents. The parasites and prevalence were as follows: the nematodes Aspiculuris tetraptera (1%), Capillaria spp. (6%), Heterakis spumosa (20%), Nippostrongylus brasiliensis (20%), Strongyloides ratti (6%), Syphacia spp. (1%), and Trichuris muris (4%);and the zoonotic cestode species Hymenolepis diminuta (21%),and Hymenolepis nana (4%). The prevalence of parasites was significantly associated with habitat, regional unit, season, and body condition.

CONCLUSION

The findings of this study demonstrate the presence of helminth parasitic pathogens in synanthropic rodents in different environments and a strong association with the area of origin, with a particularly high prevalence in an important summer destination.