Detection of zoonotic-borne parasites in Rattus spp. in Klang Valley, Malaysia

Background and Aim: Rattus spp. are the most common animals capable of adapting to their environment. They can be reservoirs or vectors of diseases that facilitate the transmission of zoonotic-borne parasites to humans. Hence, a study on the detection of parasites in rat populations in urban areas i...

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Main Authors: Mohd Qawiem, Firdaus, Nur Fazila, Saulol Hamid, Ain-Fatin, Raslan, Qian, Hui Yong, Nur-Mahiza, Md Isa, Yasmin, Abd Rahaman
Format: Article
Published: Veterinary World 2022
Online Access:http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/100921/
http://www.veterinaryworld.org/Vol.15/April-2022/26.html
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Institution: Universiti Putra Malaysia
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spelling my.upm.eprints.1009212023-07-26T02:36:15Z http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/100921/ Detection of zoonotic-borne parasites in Rattus spp. in Klang Valley, Malaysia Mohd Qawiem, Firdaus Nur Fazila, Saulol Hamid Ain-Fatin, Raslan Qian, Hui Yong Nur-Mahiza, Md Isa Yasmin, Abd Rahaman Background and Aim: Rattus spp. are the most common animals capable of adapting to their environment. They can be reservoirs or vectors of diseases that facilitate the transmission of zoonotic-borne parasites to humans. Hence, a study on the detection of parasites in rat populations in urban areas is crucial to prepare for emerging zoonosis. Therefore, this study aims to identify blood parasites, ectoparasites, and helminths in Rattus spp. from wet markets located in Klang Valley, an urban area with a high-density human population. Materials and Methods: A total of 32 rats were trapped in several wet markets in Klang Valley, Malaysia. They were anesthetized for morphometric examination followed by exsanguination. Various parasitological techniques such as perianal tape test, simple flotation, direct examination of the intestine, and fecal smear were performed for intestinal parasite detection; hair plucking, skin scraping, and full body combing for ectoparasite identification; and blood smear, microhematocrit centrifugation, and buffy coat techniques for blood parasite detection. Results: The rats were identified as Rattus rattus (71.9%) and Rattus norvegicus (28.1%). The only blood protozoan found was Trypanosoma lewisi. The ectoparasites identified belonged to two broad groups, mites (Laelaps spp. and Ornithonyssus spp.) and fleas (Xenopsylla cheopis), known to be parasitic zoonotic disease vectors. The zoonotic intestinal parasites were cestodes (Hymenolepis nana), nematodes (Nippostrongylus brasiliensis, Strongyloides spp., Trichuris spp., Capillaria spp., and Syphacia spp.), and intestinal protozoa (coccidian oocysts and Giardia spp.). Microscopic images showing Giardia spp. are the first report of this organism in rats in Malaysia. Conclusion: Rats caught in this urban area of the Klang Valley harbor parasites can pose a potential zoonotic threat to humans, raising public health concerns because of their proximity to densely populated urban areas. Veterinary World 2022-04-22 Article PeerReviewed Mohd Qawiem, Firdaus and Nur Fazila, Saulol Hamid and Ain-Fatin, Raslan and Qian, Hui Yong and Nur-Mahiza, Md Isa and Yasmin, Abd Rahaman (2022) Detection of zoonotic-borne parasites in Rattus spp. in Klang Valley, Malaysia. Veterinary World, 15 (4). art. no. 26. 1006 - 1014. ISSN 0972-8988; ESSN: 2231-0916 http://www.veterinaryworld.org/Vol.15/April-2022/26.html 10.14202/vetworld.2022.1006-1014
institution Universiti Putra Malaysia
building UPM Library
collection Institutional Repository
continent Asia
country Malaysia
content_provider Universiti Putra Malaysia
content_source UPM Institutional Repository
url_provider http://psasir.upm.edu.my/
description Background and Aim: Rattus spp. are the most common animals capable of adapting to their environment. They can be reservoirs or vectors of diseases that facilitate the transmission of zoonotic-borne parasites to humans. Hence, a study on the detection of parasites in rat populations in urban areas is crucial to prepare for emerging zoonosis. Therefore, this study aims to identify blood parasites, ectoparasites, and helminths in Rattus spp. from wet markets located in Klang Valley, an urban area with a high-density human population. Materials and Methods: A total of 32 rats were trapped in several wet markets in Klang Valley, Malaysia. They were anesthetized for morphometric examination followed by exsanguination. Various parasitological techniques such as perianal tape test, simple flotation, direct examination of the intestine, and fecal smear were performed for intestinal parasite detection; hair plucking, skin scraping, and full body combing for ectoparasite identification; and blood smear, microhematocrit centrifugation, and buffy coat techniques for blood parasite detection. Results: The rats were identified as Rattus rattus (71.9%) and Rattus norvegicus (28.1%). The only blood protozoan found was Trypanosoma lewisi. The ectoparasites identified belonged to two broad groups, mites (Laelaps spp. and Ornithonyssus spp.) and fleas (Xenopsylla cheopis), known to be parasitic zoonotic disease vectors. The zoonotic intestinal parasites were cestodes (Hymenolepis nana), nematodes (Nippostrongylus brasiliensis, Strongyloides spp., Trichuris spp., Capillaria spp., and Syphacia spp.), and intestinal protozoa (coccidian oocysts and Giardia spp.). Microscopic images showing Giardia spp. are the first report of this organism in rats in Malaysia. Conclusion: Rats caught in this urban area of the Klang Valley harbor parasites can pose a potential zoonotic threat to humans, raising public health concerns because of their proximity to densely populated urban areas.
format Article
author Mohd Qawiem, Firdaus
Nur Fazila, Saulol Hamid
Ain-Fatin, Raslan
Qian, Hui Yong
Nur-Mahiza, Md Isa
Yasmin, Abd Rahaman
spellingShingle Mohd Qawiem, Firdaus
Nur Fazila, Saulol Hamid
Ain-Fatin, Raslan
Qian, Hui Yong
Nur-Mahiza, Md Isa
Yasmin, Abd Rahaman
Detection of zoonotic-borne parasites in Rattus spp. in Klang Valley, Malaysia
author_facet Mohd Qawiem, Firdaus
Nur Fazila, Saulol Hamid
Ain-Fatin, Raslan
Qian, Hui Yong
Nur-Mahiza, Md Isa
Yasmin, Abd Rahaman
author_sort Mohd Qawiem, Firdaus
title Detection of zoonotic-borne parasites in Rattus spp. in Klang Valley, Malaysia
title_short Detection of zoonotic-borne parasites in Rattus spp. in Klang Valley, Malaysia
title_full Detection of zoonotic-borne parasites in Rattus spp. in Klang Valley, Malaysia
title_fullStr Detection of zoonotic-borne parasites in Rattus spp. in Klang Valley, Malaysia
title_full_unstemmed Detection of zoonotic-borne parasites in Rattus spp. in Klang Valley, Malaysia
title_sort detection of zoonotic-borne parasites in rattus spp. in klang valley, malaysia
publisher Veterinary World
publishDate 2022
url http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/100921/
http://www.veterinaryworld.org/Vol.15/April-2022/26.html
_version_ 1773545505149681664