Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a neglected clinical form of public health importance that is quite prevalent in the northern and eastern parts of Egypt. A comprehensive study over seven years (January 2005-December 2011) was conducted to track CL transmission with respect to both sandfly vectors and animal reservoirs. The study identified six sandfly species collected from different districts ...

Of 200 individual Xenopsylla cheopis fleas removed from Rattus norvegicus rats trapped in downtown Los Angeles, CA, 190 (95%) were positive for the presence of Bartonella DNA. Ninety-one amplicons were sequenced: Bartonella rochalimae-like DNA was detected in 66 examined fleas, and Bartonella tribocorum-like DNA was identified in 25 fleas. The data obtained from this study demonstrate an extrem...

Major introductions of roof rats (Rattus rattus) likely occurred in the ports of East Africa during the Third Plague Pandemic in the late 1800’s. Transport via trains, boats, and trucking likely introduced this species to inland areas of East Africa, ultimately including Northwest Uganda. Historic plague outbreaks occurred during the early part of the 20th century and continue to cause a human ...

The aim of the present research was to evaluate the potential of Nectomys rattus, the "water rat", to develop Schistosoma mansoni infection. Comparison with N. squamipes was carried out. Both species of rodents were submitted to transcutaneous infection using different infective cercariae loads: 50, 100 or 500. N. rattus showed high susceptibility to S. mansoni, with an infection rate of 71%. R...

A study to determine the diversity and distribution of ectoparasites and endoparasites infesting wild rat population of Carey Island was carried out from June to December 2010. A total of 81 rats were captured from various locations on Carey Island. Four rat species were identified namely, Rattus tiomanicus (45.7%), Rattus rattus diardii (25.9%), Rattus argentiventer (16%) and Rattus norvegicus...

The ultrastructure of the parathyroid glands of Rattus rattus was investigated. In the chief cells, the nucleus showed deep indentations, and lysosomal inclusions and rod-shaped crystalloids were present. Their ultrastructure is described, and the role of the lysosomal inclusions is discussed.

Citation: West K, Collins C, Kardailsky O, Kahn J, Hunt TL, Burley DV and Matisoo-Smith E (2017) The Pacific Rat Race to Easter Island: Tracking the Prehistoric Dispersal of Rattus exulans Using Ancient Mitochondrial Genomes. Front. Ecol. Evol. 5:52. doi: 10.3389/fevo.2017.00052 The Pacific Rat Race to Easter Island: Tracking the Prehistoric Dispersal of Rattus exulans Using Ancient Mitochondri...

Four bats and three rodents species were reported from Farasan Island. Triaenops persicus Dobson, 1871 is for the first time Saudi Arabia based on echolocation calls. The presence of Pipistrellus kuhlii (Kuhl, 1817), Asellia patrizii De Beaux, 1931, Rattus rattus (Linnaeus, 1758), Gerbillus nanus Blanford, 1875 are confirmed.

Knowledge of potential reservoirs of Leishmania spp. in an anthropic environment is important so that surveillance and control measures can be implemented. The aim of this study was to investigate the infection by Leishmania in small mammals in an area located in Minas Gerais, Brazil, that undergoes changes in its natural environment and presents autochthonous human cases of cutaneous leishmani...

Abstract Distribution pattern and relative abundance of the agricultural rodent pests rain-fed irrigated areas district Swat Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan were recorded from April 2011 to November 2013 using wire mesh live traps. A total 350 rodents (269 Rattus rattus 81 Mus musculus) captured under 2268 trap nights (trap success: 0.15). Regression daily captures on cumulative revealed an estima...