Potential of Bandicota bengalensis Gray and Hardwicke inhabiting commensal areas in transmitting parasitic zoonotic diseases
Loading...
Date
2022
Authors
Rara, Shivani
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana
Abstract
Present study recorded the potential of Bandicota bengalensis inhabiting commensal areas in transmitting parasitic zoonotic diseases. A total of 100 rats collected from fish market and railway station at Ludhiana, Punjab from November 2020 to October 2021 were examined for the presence of ecto and endoparasites along with risk factor analysis. Parasites found were identified based on morphological features of adults and their eggs. 25.00% rats collected two locations were found infected with one species of ectoparasites i.e. Oriental rat flea, Xenopsylla cheopis. Total 34 rat fleas were found in 25 rats with flea index of <1.0 indicating low risk of disease transmission. The liver and intestines of rats collected from both the locations were found infected with seven species of endoparasites, comprising two cestode species (Hymenolepis nana and Cysticercus fasciolaris) and five nematode species (Nippostrongylus brasiliensis, Calodium hepaticum, Syphacia muris, Trichuris muris and Heterakis spumosa). Rats were having concurrent infection of one or more parasites. 79.00% rats collected from two locations were found infected with endoparasites with mean parasite intensity and parasite index of 30.73 and 24.28, respectively indicating high risk of disease transmission. The host age, sex and season had no significant effect on parasite prevalence except that of H. nana and S. muris whose infection in rats collected from fish market was significantly affected by season. The present study suggests that proper rodent pest and vector management should be conducted in animal and human inhabitations to avoid the spread of zoonotic diseases caused by them.
Description
Keywords
Citation
Rara, Shivani (2022). Potential of Bandicota bengalensis Gray and Hardwicke inhabiting commensal areas in transmitting parasitic zoonotic diseases (Unpublished M.Sc. thesis). Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, Punjab, India.