ABSTRACT
Objective: To investigate the Angiostrongylus cantonensis infection in rodents in Zhangzhou City and provide basis for control the disease. Methods: Eighteen villages in 4 counties, which located in coastal and mountain regions of rodent breeding, were selected between 2013-2015. Rodents were collected by cage trapping, and organs of heart and lungs were prepared for microscopic examination of A. cantonensis after identification of the species and age of the rodent. The infection rate was calculated and correlation between natural environment and the infection rate was analyzed. Results: A total of 1 551 rodents were collected and identified to be Rattus flavipectus, R. norvegicus, Sorex araneus, Mus musculus and R. lossea with a high-to-low ranking of R. flavipectusï¼41.8%ï¼, R. norvegicusï¼28.4%ï¼ and S. araneusï¼20.9%ï¼. The overall infection mice was 9.2%ï¼142/1 551ï¼. The infection rates of R. norvegicus and R. flavipectus were 13.2%ï¼58/441ï¼ and 11.4%ï¼74/649ï¼ respectively, both significantly higher than that of Sorex araneusï¼»1.5%ï¼5/323ï¼ï¼½, Mus musculusï¼»1.4%ï¼1/74ï¼ï¼½ and R. losseaï¼»6.3%ï¼4/63ï¼ï¼½ ï¼P<0.05ï¼. The infection rate in the costal regions was 12.4%ï¼83/668ï¼, significantly higher than that in the mountain regionsï¼6.68%, 59/883ï¼ï¼χ2=15.083, P<0.05ï¼. Moreover, in contrast with the significant difference in the infection rate between hillyï¼9.2%, 46/499ï¼ and mountainous areasï¼3.4%, 13/384ï¼, there the infection rate showed no significant difference between coastal flatlandï¼12.7%, 53/416ï¼ and coastal hilly areasï¼11.9%, 30/252ï¼ ï¼χ2=2.264, P>0.05ï¼. In addition, 696 adult worms were found in 142 infected rodents. These worms mainly located in the pulmonary arteryï¼94.3%ï¼, then and the heart ï¼5.7%ï¼. There was also no significant difference in infection rate between maleï¼9.2%, 73/795ï¼ and female rodentsï¼9.1%, 69/756ï¼ ï¼P>0.05ï¼. Conclusion: R. flavipectus and R. norvegicus are the important reservoir hosts for A. cantonensis in Zhangzhou. The infection rate in different species of rodents varies in different ecological environments.
