Macroparasite communities of wild rats from island and coastal habitats in Peninsular Malaysia / Nur Syazana Binti Mad Tahir
The occurrences of macroparasites communities in 363 wild rats of two urban coastal cities (Kuantan and Malacca) and two islands (Carey Island and Penang) of Peninsular Malaysia were recorded between May 2010 to August 2011. The wild rats from both habitats comprised of mainly commensal rat speci...
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Format: | Thesis |
Published: |
2013
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Online Access: | http://studentsrepo.um.edu.my/6407/1/THESIS_FINAL.pdf http://studentsrepo.um.edu.my/6407/ |
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Summary: | The occurrences of macroparasites communities in 363 wild rats of two urban coastal
cities (Kuantan and Malacca) and two islands (Carey Island and Penang) of Peninsular
Malaysia were recorded between May 2010 to August 2011. The wild rats from both
habitats comprised of mainly commensal rat species namely; Rattus norvegicus, Rattus
rattus diardii, Rattus tiomanicus and Rattus argentiventer. Overall, higher numbers of
females (60.3%) were captured compared to males (39.7%) with more adults (87.9%)
compared to juveniles (12.1%). The rats were infected with a minimum of one species
and a maximum of six species of ectoparasites while up to five species of endoparasites
were seen in each rat. In R. norvegicus the highest number of ecto and endoparasites
infestation/infection was seen respectively.
There were no differences in the types of macroparasites recovered from both coastal
and island rat populations. Overall, ectoparasites diversity index was low for all sites,
although Carey Island recorded higher index compared to other locations with 8
numbers of species. Nine cosmopolitan ectoparasite species were recovered in total with
5 mite species, (Laelaps nuttali, Laelaps echidninus, Ornithonyssus bacoti,
Listrophoroides sp., Laelaps sculpturatus) 2 lice, (Polyplax spinulosa, Hoplopleura
pacifica,) one flea (Xenopsylla cheopis) and one tick (Ixodes granulatus). Host sex
(male and female) and host age (adult and juvenile) did not influence ectoparasite
infestation on the rat population. However, seasons played a significant role with
Ornithonyssus bacoti, Laelaps sculpturatus, Polyplax spinulosa, Hoplopleura pacifica
and Ixodes granulatus with higher infestion during wet compared to dry season.
Endoparasites infections comprised entirely of cosmopolitan species, namely
Nippostrongylus brasiliensis, Angiostrongylus malaysiensis, Capillaria hepatica,
Mastophorus muris, Heterakis spumosa, Hepatojarakus malayae, Syphacia muris,
iii
Taenia taeniaeformis, Hymenolepis diminuta and Rodentolepis (=Hymenolepis) nana.
Species diversity index was low in all locations. Host sex influenced endoparasitic
infection only for Capillaria hepatica, Syphacia muris and Rodentolepis
(=Hymenolepis) nana while other helminths (Hepatojarakus malayae, Taenia
taeniaformis, Rodentolepis (=Hymenolepis) nana) showed significant effects between
host ages. Season also played a significant role determining diversity and prevalence for
most endoparasite species with higher infection observed during the dry season.
Despite low diversity, seven ectoparasites (Laelaps nuttali, Laelaps echidninus,
Ornithonyssus bacoti, Polyplax spinulosa, Hoplopleura pacifica, Ixodes granulatus and
Xenopsylla cheopis) and 5 helminths species (Capillaria hepatica, Angiostrongylus
malaysiensis, Hymenolepis diminuta, Taenia taeniaeformis, Rodentolepis
(=Hymenolepis) nana) recovered were zoonotic. The close association between the rat
populations with human may facilitate the transmission of zoonotic parasites circulating
in these ecosystems. Therefore, long term monitoring of the rodent population is
necessary in order to predict future disease prevalence. |
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