Grassland versus forest dwelling rodents as indicators of environmental contamination with the zoonotic nematode Toxocara spp.

ABSTRACT: Small mammals are suspected of contributing to the dissemination of Toxocara canis and helping with the parasite survival during periods when there is a temporary absence of suitable definitive hosts. While the primary aim of the current study was the assessment of seroprevalence of Toxocara spp. infections in wild rodents in Poland, we also explored the role of intrinsic (sex, age) and extrinsic factors (study site) influencing dynamics of this infection to ascertain whether grassland versus forest rodents play a greater role as indicators of environmental contamination with T. canis. We trapped 577 rodents belonging to four species (Myodes glareolus, Microtus arvalis, Microtus agrestis, Alexandromys oeconomus) in north-eastern Poland. Blood was collected during the parasitological examin

SUBMITTER: Krupinska M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9832041 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature