| A Survey on Parasitic Infections of House Mice in Kerman Province, Iran |
| Paper ID : 1050-IPCA5 (R1) |
| Authors |
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Mohammad Shahryar Sheikh Abdolsalami *1, Elmira Hadizadeh Andouhjerdi2 1Bahonar University of Kerman, Veterinary faculty 2Veterinary Student of Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman, Iran |
| Abstract |
| Rodents pose significant challenges to public health by acting as reservoirs for zoonotic diseases and transmitting various infections. Additionally, their ectoparasites, such as ticks, lice, and fleas, can spread diseases to humans. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of ectoparasitic and endoparasitic infections in house mice (Mus musculus L.) in Kerman, Iran, to highlight the importance of parasite identification and control. A total of 100 house mice were captured using live traps from different locations in Kerman during the spring and summer of 2014. The mice were identified as M. musculus and examined for ectoparasites and endoparasites. Collected parasites were preserved in 70% alcohol and glycerin until identification. Out of 100 examined mice, 63 were infested with at least one parasite species. The identified ectoparasites included Rhipicephalus sanguineus (Latreille, 1806) (2%), Rhipicephalus turanicus Pomerantzev, 1940 (3%), Myocoptes musculinus (Koch, 1844) (25%), Ornithonyssus bacoti (Hirst, 1913) (26%), Polyplax sp. (1%), and first instar of Diptera larvae (1%). The detected endoparasites consisted of Syphacia obvelata (Rudolphi, 1802), Syphacia muris (Yamaguti, 1935), Aspicularis tetraptera (Nitzsch, 1821), Heterakis spumosa Schneider, 1866, Cysticercus sp., Physaloptera sp., Trichuris sp., Hymenolepis nana (Bilharz, 1851) Ransom, 1901, and Hymenolepis diminuta (Rudolphi, 1819). Among the arthropods, Ornithonyssus bacoti had the highest prevalence (26%), while Syphacia obvelata was the most common helminth. The findings indicate a high prevalence of parasitic infections in house mice in Kerman. Given that some of these parasites are zoonotic, controlling rodent populations and implementing parasite control programs are essential to reducing the risk of disease transmission to humans. |
| Keywords |
| Parasitic infections, House mice, Mus musculus, Ectoparasites, Endoparasites, Kerman, Iran |
| Status: Abstract Accepted |
