Assessment of Wild Rodents Endoparasites in Kirimiri Forest in Embu County, Kenya

Abstract

Rodents are reservoirs and hosts of zoonotic diseases. Rodents’ pathogenic parasites can be introduced in soils, water supplies, vegetables and fruits thus playing significant role in human infection. Though studies on rodents and their parasites are necessary to understand and manage zoonotic disease cycle, knowledge gap of endoparasite composition of wild rodents that interact with domestic animals and humans still exists in Kenya. This study was carried out to determine prevalence of rodents’ endoparasites in Kirimiri forest, Embu County in Kenya between January and May 2016. Wild rats were caught by laying traps in 100 m x 100 m grid of 50 Sherman and 50 victor traps. Rodents’ morphometric data was used for their identification. Necropsy was performed for gastrointestinal tract (GIT) and endoparasites extracted, counted and prevalence determined. Three species of rats totaling to 355 rats comprising 199 males and 156 females were captured and identified and a total of 533 endoparasites extracted. Rate of endoparasite prevalence was significantly higher in Rattus spp a peri-domestic rodent compared to forest rodents’ species (χ= 57.791, P = < 0.05). Asyphalia obvelata (44.79 %) had higher prevalence while the H. dinimuta had lowest prevalence (6.20 %). Prevalence based on forest patches, GIT and was different. The study highlights the importance of rodents as potential vectors for intestinal parasitic infections.