The Role of the Norway Rat, Rattus norvegicus, as a Reservoir of Zoonotic Helminth Species in the City of Barcelona (Spain)
Fuentes, Màrius V. (Universitat de València)
Puchades-Colera, P. (Universitat de València)
Gosálvez, Carla (Universitat de València)
Sáez-Durán, S. (Universitat de València)
Cholvi-Simó, M. (Universitat de València)
Ruvira, S. (Universitat de València)
Sanxis-Furió, J. (Universitat de València)
Pascual, J. (Agència de Salut Pública de Barcelona)
Bueno-Marí, Rubén (Laboratorios Lokímica)
Franco, S. (Agència de Salut Pública de Barcelona)
Peracho, V. (Agència de Salut Pública de Barcelona)
Montalvo Porro, Tomas (Institut de Recerca Sant Pau)
Trelis, María (Universitat de València)
Debenedetti, Á.L. (Universitat de València)
Galán-Puchades, María Teresa (Universitat de València)
Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona

Date:	2025
Abstract:	Urban rat species, Norway and black rats, are involved in the transmission of several zoonotic pathogens to humans, such as helminth parasites. As part of a multidisciplinary study concerning the rodent population in Barcelona (Spain), 300 specimens of the Norway rat were analyzed to elucidate their role in the transmission of zoonotic helminths. The sample included 263 specimens from the sewage system and 37 from public gardens. A total of 84. 3% of the rats analyzed were found parasitized, and 206 (68. 7%) harbored zoonotic species. Adult rats were found to be more heavily parasitized with zoonotic helminths than juveniles, but sex and site of capture had no influence. Six zoonotic helminths were identified: Hydatigera taeniaeformis larvae, Rodentolepis nana, Hymenolepis diminuta, Calodium hepaticum, Gongylonema neoplasticum, and Moniliformis moniliformis. Human zoonotic helminth infections often go unreported, so the role of R. norvegicus in their transmission is unknown. According to our results, it is advisable to monitor and control rodent populations in deprived settlements close to cities and in cities themselves, and to promote good hygienic and sanitary practices, especially among vulnerable populations and workers with high exposure such as sewage workers.
Rights:	Aquest document està subjecte a una llicència d'ús Creative Commons. Es permet la reproducció total o parcial, la distribució, la comunicació pública de l'obra i la creació d'obres derivades, fins i tot amb finalitats comercials, sempre i quan es reconegui l'autoria de l'obra original.
Language:	Anglès
Document:	Article ; recerca ; Versió publicada
Subject:	Barcelona ; Rattus norvegicus ; Spain ; Helminths ; Reservoir ; Zoonoses
Published in:	Animals, Vol. 15 Núm. 3 (february 2025) , p. 298, ISSN 2076-2615

DOI: 10.3390/ani15030298
PMID: 39943068

19 p, 321.2 KB

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Research literature > UAB research groups literature > Research Centres and Groups (research output) > Health sciences and biosciences > Institut de Recerca Sant Pau
Articles > Research articles
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