Helminthes of synanthropic rodents [rodentia: muridae] from Dakahlia and Menoufia, Egypt

A cross-sectional survey was conducted to monitor and compare the prevalence of helminthes in rodents from Dakahlia and Menoufia governorates. The domestic rodents [271] were Rattus norvegicus, Rattus rattus frugivorous, Rattus r. alexandrinus, and Mus musculus. The overall prevalence of helminthes was 52.8%. In Dakahlia, 72/145 rats [49.6%] were infected. The highest prevalence of infection was in R. r. frugivorous 43 [60.4%], then R. r. alexandrinus 44 [47.7%], R. norvegicus 38 [44.7%], and the lowest was M. musculus 20 [40%]. In Menoufia, 71/126 rats [56.3%] were infected. The highest prevalence of infection was in R, r. frugivorous 36 [77.7%], then M. musculus 27 [48.1%], R. norvegicus 23 [47.8%], and the lowest was in R. r. alexandrinus 40 [47.5%]. A total of 24 species of helminthes [11 trem-atodes, 4 cestodes and 10 nematodes] were identified among the 271 rodents. The commonest trematode was Mesostephanus aegypticus followed by Stictodora tridactyla. The commonest cestode was Hym-enolepis diminuta followed by Taenia taeniaformis. The commonest nematode was Capillaria hepatica followed by Trichurus muris. Given the zoonotic potential of rodents' parasites and since several residential, commercial, and agricultural sites exist in the examined geographic areas, the potential health risk should not be ignored

Host-induced phenotypic differences in Egyptian Heterophyes [digenea: heterophyidae]

A comparative morphometric study identified host-related variations in Heterophyes heterophyes. In one study, variations in adult H. heterophyes obtained from different definitive hosts were examined. Significant differences were in size and dimensions of body organs of adults collected from dogs, cats and albino-rats experimentally infected with encysted metacercariae [EMC] from mullet [Mugil cephalus]. Hypotheses on the sources of host-dependent variations were interpreted in terms of adaptation to conditions created by the host. In a second study, comparative morphometric analysis of adults recovered from puppies experimentally fed on EMC isolated from five sympatric fish species was done. No significant differences were in adults H. heterophyes recovered from puppies feed on EMC of different fishes. Constancy in morphological characters of adults reared in the same host, independent of a change of fish was seen. So, the variations depend upon host species where worms develop, and host selection may determine the worm morphology and phenotypic plasticity