SEROPREVALENCE OF TOXOPLASMA GONDII AMONG COMMENSAL RODENTS FROM GIZA GOVERNORATE, EGYPT.

Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular zoonotic parasite that infects a large spectrum of warm-blood animals, including humans. Congenital toxoplasmosis is a worldwide problem. Rodents are intermediate hosts and serve as food for felids, the definitive hosts. A serological survey for antibodies to T. gondii was ca-ried out among two species of commensal rodent species Rattus norvegicus and R. rattus, trapped from different localities within Abu-El- Nomros center, Giza Governorate. Of 125 rats, 5 (4.0%) had anti-Toxoplasma antibodies. Of 79 R. nor- vegicus 3 (3.8%), and 46 R. rattus 2 (4.3%). The results showed that mature and immature of males and females of both sp'ecies had anti-toxoplasmal. This result was not sta- tistically significant between two species of R. norvegicus and R. rattus and also between the two sexes of each species.

EFFICACY OF THREE INSECTICIDES ON RAT FLEA (XENOPSYLLA CHEOPIS) INFESTING RODENTS IN GIZA GOVERNORATE, EGYPT.

The extensive use of insecticides in public health and agriculture sectors is the main reason for development of resistance in fleas associated in domestic rodents. The present work was planned to investigate the insecticidal efficacy of Lambda-cyhalothrin, Chlorpyrifos and Fenitrothion against rat flea (Xenopsylla cheopis) infesting rodent species in Giza Governorate, Egypt. The lethal concentration Lc50 and Lc90 of population percent were obtained from the established regression log concentrate-response lines. Data indicated that the values of lethal concentration (Lc50) were 0.293, 1.725 & 2.328% for Lambda-cyhalothrin, chlorpyrifos and Fenitrothion, respectively. The values of lethal concentration (Lc90) were 0.467, 2.839 & 5.197% for Lambda-cyhalothrin, chlorpyrifos and Fenitrothion, respectively.

RESPONSE OF DOMINANT RODENTS TO COUMATETRALYL AND BROMADIOLONE IN GREATER CAIRO, EGYPT.

Since the 1950s, anticoagulant rodenticides are used to control rodents in public health and agriculture sectors. The extensive use of these compounds has acted as selective force to rodents, leading to resistance. Resistance mechanisms have been iden- tified in rats and mice, including the modification of the enzyme that activates vitamin K, vitamin K epoxide reductase (VKOR). Susceptibility levels of the Norway rat, Rattus norvegicus and the roof rat, Rattus rattus to coumatetralyl (first generation anticoagulant) and broamdiolone (second generation anticoagulant) by bioassay detection method under laboratory conditions were studied. Animals were trapped from Greater Cairo, Egypt in which the anticoagulant rodenticides were used to control rodents for long periods. Complete mortality was recorded for both species and sexes within the standard feeding periods (under no-choice feeding test for 6-days to coumatetralyl and 4-days to bromadiolone). Rat species under studied still susceptible to coumatetralyl and bromadiolone. The present work revealed a significant correlation between species in comparison with consumed dose and death time. R. rattus showed more active ingredient intake (mg/kg) than R. norvegicus. Death time (days), R. rattus recorded higher mean values than R. norvegicus, also females showed higher mean values compared to males.

Efficacy of certain insecticides against rat flea (Xenopsylla cheopis) among rodent species in Cairo Governorate, Egypt.

The efficacy of malathion, chlorpyrifos and deltamethrine to oriental rat flea, Xenopsylla cheopis associated different rodent species was carried out in Cairo Governorates. The results indicated that the LC50 values were 1.972, 1.023 and 0.185 % for Malathion, Chlorpyrifos and Deltamethrine, respectively. The values of Lc90 were 4.452, 2.269 & 0.456% for the three insecticides respectively. Data also indicated that deltamethrine was effective on fleas than malathion and chlorpyrifos. The slope function was 3.625, 3.70 & 3.267, respectively.

Field studies on dominant rodents and the efficacy of certain insecticides to their fleas in Dakahlia Governorate, Egypt.

A preliminary survey of domestic rodent and the efficacy of bendiocarb, diazinon and pirimiphos-methyl insecticides to their fleas were carried out in Dakahlia Governorates (Aga, Meet-Ghamr, El-Senbellawen, Temi El-Amded, Beni-Abed, Dekernes, Nabarow, Talkha, Menia El-Nasr and El-Kordy). Rodent index (number of rodent/trap) and percentage frequency of drodent species were recorded from October 2010 to May 2011. The main rodent species found were the Norway rat, Rattus norvegicus, the grey-bellied rat, R. rattus alexandrinus, the white-bellied rat, R. r. frugivorus and the house mouse, Mus musculus. The rodent index at Beni-Abed, Nabarow, Meet-Ghamr, Dekernes and El-Kordy centers showed 0.46, 0.39, 0.34, 0.33 & 0.33, respectively, while Menia El-Nasr center showed the lowest (0.08). Aga, Talkha, El-Senbellawen, and Temi El-Amded centers showed moderate (0.25, 0.21, 0.2 & 0.16, respectively). The commonest flea species was the oriental rat flea, Xenopsylla cheopis, the mouse flea, Leptopsylla segnis, the dog flea, Ctenocephalides canis and the sticktight flea Echidnophaga gallinacea. The highest number of fleas was on R. norvegicus (Flea index=10.9) while lowest number was on Mus musculus (Flea index=0.1). X. cheopis was the highest frequency distributed for all domestic rodent species (60.9%), while, C. canis was the lowest (1.6%). The results showed that bendiocarb was effective (Lc50=0.389%) than diazinon (Lc50=1.039%) and pirimiphosmethyl (Lc50=2.056 %).