Wild rats are known as a major reservoir and intermediate host for several pathogenic microbial species. Thus, theVeterinary Research Institute (VRI) conducted a survey to determine the presence of parasitic pathogens in local rats, such as blood protozoans, gastrointestinal parasites, as well as ectoparasites such as mites and lice. The study was conducted with the collaboration of Kuala Lumpur City Council Pest Control Unit, whereby a total of 105 wild rats were trapped at two urban areas of Kuala Lumpur; namely PasarPudu and Chow Kit. Autopsy was done on the rats to acquire the skin, organ and blood samples..The skin scrapping was performed on skin samples to identify the common species of mites and lice, while the floatationtechnique was conducted on faecal samples to identify helminth eggs. Results showed thatspecies of Tritrichomonas, Strongyloides, Nippostrongylus, Blastocystis, Rodentolepis, Coccidia, Trichuris, Capillaria and Ascarid were found in the faeces while Trypanosoma sp.was found in the blood samples taken from the animals. Taeniataeniformis was obtained from liver samples while theectoparasites found on skin were identified as Radfordia,Polyplax,Linognathus and Hoploplurasp. Control and eradication of rodent pests is crucial in combating emerging and re-emerging diseases which may be zoonotic as rodents are reservoirs to various pathogens.

Rodents particularly those belonging to the Muridae family in Malaysia have been well studied because of their medical and economic importance. Much of the work on rodents has been focusing on the identification of endo and ecto parasites. Parasites in rats (Murids) particularly helminthes belonging to the Nematoda family have been described by many workers for more than a century. This
paper is an attempt to compile 50 papers on rodent nematodes that has been published in various scientific journals over the last
100 years in Malaysia. It is hoped that this literature overview on rodent nematodes will come useful as a reference material for the budding parasitologist and biology scientist.

<p>In this study the prevalence of the nematode Trichosomoides crassicauda in the conventional rats colony of the Central Animal House (DTAEP) at the Faculdade de Medicina-USP was determined. Three hundred and sixty-five rats were submitted to post mortem examination: 130 males and 133 females 8 to 19 weeks old; and 102 retired breeders (51 males and 51 females) over 20 weeks of age. The prevalence of urinary calculi, which have been associated with T. crassicauda infestation, was also determined. The results obtained showed that the overall prevalence of T. crassicauda in the colony was 48% (43% in males and 53% in females) and the maximum value was observed for male rats over 16 weeks of age (80%). The maximum average number of worms found per rat was 2.5, in 16 weeks old female rats. There was no significant difference in the prevalence of calculi between infected and uninfected rats (10% and 16%, respectively), but the difference was found to be significant between males and females (23% and 4%). Furthermore, the calculi found in males (mucoid) were quite different from those found in females (crystals).</p> | Determinou-se a prevalência do nematóide Trichosomoides crassicauda na colônia convencional de ratos Wistar do Biotério Central (DTAEP) da Faculdade de Medicina da USP. Foram examinadas as bexigas urinárias de 365 ratos sendo 130 machos e 133 fêmeas, de 8 a 19 semanas de idade; e 51 machos e 51 fêmeas, com idade acima de 20 semanas, retirados da reprodução. Foi também determinada a prevalência de cálculos urinários, os quais têm sido associados à presença do parasita. Os resultados obtidos indicaram que a prevalência do T. crassicauda na colônia foi de 48% (43% em machos e 53% em fêmeas), sendo que o máximo valor observado foi 80%, em machos de 16 semanas de idade. O número médio de parasitas por rato não ultrapassou o limite de 2,5 em fêmeas de 16 semanas de idade. Não houve diferença na prevalência de cálculos urinários entre animais parasitados e não parasitados (10% e 16%, respectivamente), mas esta diferença foi significante entre machos e fêmeas (23% e 4%). Além disso, os cálculos encontrados nos machos (mucóides) foram diferentes daqueles encontrados nas fêmeas (cristais).