台中縣畜牧場及台中市區鼠類體外寄生蟲及廣東住血線蟲(Angiostrongylus Cantonensis)寄生率之調查
摘要
Purpose: In this study, we investigated the prevalence of ectoparasites and Angiostrongylus cantonensis in rats in the Taichung area in Taiwan. Methods: Using Sherman live traps, we captured 97 rats in Taichung County and 95 rats in Taichung City to screen for ectoparasites in the skin and Angiostrongylus cantonensis in the hearts, lungs and brains. Results: In Taichung County, we found 32% of the rats had fleas, 5.2% ticks and 24.7% mites; in the Taichung City, none were found to have fleas, 5.3% had ticks and 3.2% had mites. Angiostrongylus cantonensis was found to be most prevalent in Rattus norvegicus. In Taichung County, Angiostrongylus cantonensis was found in 8.2% the lungs and heads and 3.2% in the brains of these rats: in Taichung City, it was found 7.4% lungs and hearts and none (0%) in the brains. Leptopsylla segnis was found for first time in the Taichung area. There was a much higher prevalence of Angiostrongylus contonensis found in rats captured in ditches. Conclusion: Considering that most Angiostrongylus contonensis were found in rats captured in ditches, public health efforts may want to focus on these areas to control infection by these worm-like parasites.