Ecto- and blood parasites affecting Meriones rex trapped in Najran, Saudi Arabia.

Meriones rex or king jird is endemic to Arabia, confined to the south-west of the peninsula. Examination of 25 jirds for arthropod-ectoparasites showed Xenopsylla astia, Ctenocephalides arabicus, Ornithonyssus bacoti and tick nymphs with indices of 0.6, 1.6, 0.64 and 0.24 respectively. The ectoparasites were more on female jirds than on males with indices of 3.8 and 2.0 respectively. Indirect haemagglutination tests for anti-Toxoplsama and anti-Leishmania antibodies showed positive reactions in 5 (20.0%) and 2 (8.0%) jirds respectively. However, neither skin lesion nor protozoal parasites were detected in tissue smears of liver and spleen. The ectoparasites encountered and the sero-positive reactions to Toxoplasma and Leishmania denote that the king jird, Meriones rex is of some medical and veterinary importance.

Natural Lieshmania infection in sand cats captured in Riyadh district, Saudi Arabia.

Felis margarita or sand cat is a nocturnal carnivore occurs in sandy areas of desert in many African and Arabin countries. Ten sand cats were captured alive in Riyadh district. Indirect haemagglutioation reactions against leishmaniasis were detected in four of them at dilutions 1/64 (1), 1/512 (1) and 1/1024 (2). On the other hand, Leishmania amastigotes were detected in the splenic smears of four (40%), two of which had amastigotes in the liver smears as well (20%). Unfortunately, culture for typing was not done. The role of sand cats as zoonotic host of leishmaniasis was discussed.

Blood parasites of five species of lizards trapped in Abha Province, Saudi Arabia.

Five species of lizards, Agama yemenensis, A. adramitana, Chamaeleo chamaeleon, C. calyptratus and Acanthodactylus baskinaus were trapped alive from Abha Province. Serological and parasitological examinations of blood revealed antibodies against toxoplasmosis and leishmaniasis. Blood films showed Hepatozoon spp. The results were discussed with reference to their role as reservoir hosts.

Characterization of Leishmania aethiopica from rock hyrax, Procavia capensis trapped in Najran, Saudi Arabia.

Cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by L. aethiopica is endemic in Ethiopia, Kenya and South-west Africa. In a previous paper, the present authors reported natural Leishmania species infection in two hyraxes, P. capensis. In this paper, an isolate from a rock hyrax. P. capensis (Pallas, 1766) was enzymatically characterized by demonstrating the mobilities of seven enzymes, to be identical with the reference strain of L. aethiopica.

Natural Leishmania infection in rock hyrax, Procavia capensis (Pallas, 1766) order: Hyracoidea, trapped in Najran, Saudi Arabia.

Cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania major (zoonotic, ZCL) and L. tropica (anthroponotic, ACL) is found in most countries of the Eastern Mediterranean Region. Phlebotomus papatasii is the proven vector of L. major and rodents Rhombomys opimus, Psammomys obesus, Meriones spp. and Gerbillus spp. serve as animal reservoirs. Ph. sergenti is the vector of L. tropica in the majority of endemic foci. On the other hand; in the Eastern African highlands (mainly Ethiopia and Kenya), stable foci of L. aethiopica are maintanined by hyraxes and transmitted by Ph. longipes and Ph. pedifer. In this paper, natural Leishmania sp. infection was demonstrated serologically (IHAT) and parasitologically (smear examination) in two out of four rock hyraxes trapped in the highlands of Najran, southern part of the Kingdom. It is concluded that the identity of the Leishmania parasite(s)in such a focus is essential since it has implication in control and treatment. Also, passive case-detection and isolates from man and sandfly in the vicinity of Najran for typing is a must.

Antibodies against toxoplasma in commensal rodents trapped in Riyadh Region, Saudi Arabia.

Toxoplasma gondii, that protozoal parasite which causes toxoplasmosis, pays no respect to boundaries of Zoology and Geography. It has been reported in a large number of birds and mammals including man from nearly all over the world. In Saudi Arabia, the incidence of human infection ranges between 21% and 49.3%. In this paper, the level of antibodies against Toxoplasma in sera of different species of rodents was measured by the indirect haemagglutination tests (IHA). The seropositivities ranged between 12.5% (Mus musculus) and 41.7% (Rattus norvegicus). The overall rate of infection was 35.6%. The role played by rodents in the spreading of the Toxoplasma infection was discussed.

Natural Babesia infection sought in black and Norway rats trapped in five Egyptian Governorates.

Babesiosis is a protozoal disease caused by members of the genus Babesia transmitted by the ixodid ticks. It is a parasite of various mammalian hosts as bovine (B. bovis), equine (B. equi), rodent (B. microti), canine (B. canis) and others. Human cases of babesiosis have been reported from several countries including Egypt. It is now well established that man may become infected (Fulminating or Subclinical) with several species of Babesia without prior splenectomy. In this paper, a total of 398 Rattus rattus and 90 R. norvegicus were trapped in Suez, Ismailia, Port Said, North Sinai and South Sinai Governorates. Blood films were taken from the atil after a simple cut of its end. The films were fixed in acetone free methyl alcohol and stained with Giemsa stain as usual. The results showed that all rats trapped in Ismailia had Babesia infection, then decreased in North Sinai, Port Said, South Sinai and was zero in Suez. As double infection. Trypanosoma lewisi was found in rats trapped in Port Said, North Sinai and South Sinai. But none had Theileria infection. The medical and veterinary importance of these results were discussed.

The effect of some anticoagulants against three commensal rodents under laboratory conditions.

Eight anticoagulant rodenticides were used against Rattus norvegicus, R. r. frugivorous and Muss musculus. Phenal proved to be the most suitable against R. norvegicus, while Redentin 75 was less effective. However, males accepted Super-Caid as bait. On the other hand, Klerat Super was more effective than Storm against R. r. frugivorous and M. musculus, in choice feeding and V.V. in no choice feeding. It was concluded that more than one anticoagulant rodenticide being recommended with interval between application in a large rodent infested area.