Lead concentrations in Hymenolepis diminuta adults and Taenia taeniaeformis larvae compared to their rat hosts (Rattus norvegicus) sampled from the city of Cairo, Egypt

Concentrations of lead, determined by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry, were compared between the cestodes Hymenolepis diminuta and Taenia taeniaeformis and its host rat (Rattus norvegicus). Rats were sampled at 2 sites, which differed in respect to lead pollution as quantified from road dust, adjacent to the city of Cairo, Egypt. Comparing lead levels among host tissues and the parasites the significantly highest accumulation was found in H. diminuta, followed by rat kidney and larvae of T. taeniaeformis. Calculation of bioconcentration factors showed that H. diminuta contained 36-, 29-, 6- and 6-fold higher lead levels than intestinal wall, liver, kidney and larvae of T. taeniaeformis, at the more polluted site. At the less contaminated site lead bioconcentration factors for H. diminuta were found to be 87, 87 and 11 referred to intestine, liver and kidney of the host. Due to a high variability of the lead concentrations in H. diminuta it was not possible to indicate differences in metal pollution between both sampling sites. This variability may be influenced by different age structures of cestode infrapopulations. It is likely that younger worms contain lower metal levels than older worms due to a shorter exposure period. Thus, it is necessary to standardize the sampling of worms which should be used for indication purposes. Due to a lack of adequate sentinel species in terrestrial habitats more studies are required to validate and standardize the use of helminths as accumulation bioindicators in order to obtain mean values with low standard deviations. The host–parasite system rat–H. diminuta appears to be a useful and promising bioindication system at least for lead in urban ecosystems as rats as well as the tapeworm are globally distributed and easily accessible.

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Helminths of the brown rat (Rattus norvegicus) (Berkenhout, 1769) in the city of Palermo, Italy

Helminthologia ◽

10.2478/s11687-010-0037-4 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 47 (4) ◽

pp. 238-240 ◽

Cited By ~ 18

Author(s):

C. Milazzo ◽

A. Ribas ◽

J. Casanova ◽

M. Cagnin ◽

F. Geraci ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Rattus Norvegicus ◽

Infection Intensity ◽

Helminth Species ◽

Hymenolepis Diminuta ◽

Nippostrongylus Brasiliensis ◽

Syphacia Muris ◽

Brown Rat ◽

Males And Females ◽

Taenia Taeniaeformis ◽

The City

AbstractA helminthological survey was performed on 143 brown rats (Rattus norvegicus) from the city of Palermo (Italy). The overall prevalence of helminth infection was 98.60 %. The following parasites were found: Brachylaima sp. (prevalence 8.39 %) (Trematoda); Taenia taeniaeformis larvae (11.89 %), Rodentolepis nana (13.29 %), Hymenolepis diminuta (24.48 %) (Cestoda); Gongylonema sp., (4.90 %), Syphacia muris (8.39 %), Nippostrongylus brasiliensis (18.88 %), Eucoleus gastricus (30.07 %), Mastophorus muris (30.77 %), Capillaria hepatica (54.55 %), Heterakis spumosa (82.52 %) (Nematoda) and one acanthocephalan (0.70 %). The species found in males were also present in females, with the exception of the acanthocephalan. No significant differences were found between males and females in prevalence (P%) or mean infection intensity (MI). However, a significant correlation between both P% and MI, as well as host age, was observed in some helminth species. Hosts were infected by one to six helminth species (median = 3). This is the first report from Sicily of helminths in R. norvegicus.

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BOY HARMED BY LEAD TO GET $1.5 MILLION IN COURT SETTLEMENT

PEDIATRICS ◽

10.1542/peds.94.4.557 ◽

1994 ◽

Vol 94 (4) ◽

pp. 557-557

Author(s):

J. F. L.

Keyword(s):

Attention Deficit Disorder ◽

Health Department ◽

Insurance Company ◽

Circuit Court ◽

Milwaukee County ◽

Lead Dust ◽

The Family ◽

Lead Levels ◽

Federal Standard ◽

The City

A 5-year old boy who was poisoned by lead during his landlord's attempts to clear his apartment of lead-based paint will receive up to $1.5 million over his lifetime from the landlord's insurance company. The boy has attention deficit disorder with hyperactivity. In reports filed with the Milwaukee County Circuit Court, doctors said the disorder had either been caused by the lead poisoning or had been made worse by it. ...In the summer of 1991, the city health department discovered that the boy's blood contained lead levels that were three times the Federal health standard. In June 1992, the city ordered the owners of the apartment building, a converted 65-year-old frame house, to begin removing the lead-based paint. But instead of alleviating the victim's problem, their scraping of the paint spread lead dust throughout the home. As a result, lead levels increased to eight times the Federal standard. The family sued, contending negligence.

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Small mammals of the Kaluga region – reservoirs of dangerous zoonotic diseases

10.31016/978-5-9902341-5-4.2020.21.291-294 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 291-294

Author(s):

Nikanorova ◽

Kozlov

Keyword(s):

Small Mammals ◽

Mus Musculus ◽

Rattus Norvegicus ◽

Zoonotic Diseases ◽

Myodes Glareolus ◽

Field Mouse ◽

Vector Borne ◽

Kaluga Region ◽

The City ◽

Small Forest

The article considers the issues of carriage by small mammals of dangerous zoonotic diseases: leptospirosis, tularemia, hantaviruses. Data on the detection of antigens to pathogens in the districts of the Kaluga region are presented. As you know, small mammals are the main link in maintaining zoonotic natural focal diseases. The larval phases of ixodic ticks, mosquitoes and other parasitic arthropods prefer to feed on the blood of mouse rodents, which contributes to the spread of vector-borne infections and infestations. The following species of mouse rodents are found in the Kaluga Region: small forest mouse (Apodemus uralensis), gray vole, red vole (Myodes glareolus), field mouse (Apodemus agrarius), gray rat (Rattus norvegicus), and house mouse (Mus musculus). In natural biotopes, field species prevail in number: field mouse, gray vole, red vole. In the Kaluga region, antigens for tularemia, hantaviruses, and leptospirosis were found in small mammals in 4.9–9.4% of the studied animals on average per year. Of particular concern are the city of Kaluga, Borovsky, Babyninsky, Yukhnovsky, Ulyanovsk, Medynsky, Maloyaroslavetsky, Meshchovsky, Peremyshlsky, Kozelsky, Dzerzhinsky and Ulyanovsk districts. The data obtained indicate the stationarity of these diseases in the territory of the Kaluga region.

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GENETICALLY CONTROLLED VARIATION OF "ACID" β-GALACTOSIDASE DETECTED IN Rattus norvegicus BY ISOELECTRIC FOCUSING

Genetics ◽

10.1093/genetics/100.3.455 ◽

1982 ◽

Vol 100 (3) ◽

pp. 455-473

Author(s):

Tommy C Douglas ◽

Kathryn A Kimmel ◽

Patti E Dawson

Keyword(s):

Isoelectric Focusing ◽

Rattus Norvegicus ◽

Rat Kidney ◽

Ph Dependence ◽

Point Mutations ◽

Autosomal Locus ◽

Ph Optimum ◽

Banding Patterns ◽

Isoelectric Points ◽

Significant Linkage

ABSTRACT Two genetically variant forms of rat "acid" β-galactosidase were found to differ in isoelectric point and pH dependence, but not in thermostability or sensitivity to inhibition by p-mercuribenzoate (PMB). The results of two backcrosses and an intercross indicated that the isoelectric focusing phenotypes are controlled by two codominant alleles at a single autosomal locus, for which we propose the name Glb-1. No significant linkage between Glb-1 and albino (LG I), brown (LG II), or hooded (LG VI) was observed. Strain-specific differences in total levels of kidney β-galactosidase were detected, but it is not yet known whether the variation is controlled by genes linked to Glb-1. Experiments in which organ homogenates were incubated with neuraminidase indicated that the genetically variant forms do not result from differences in sialylation, though sialylation does appear to be largely responsible for the presence of multiple bands within each phenotype and for differences in the banding patterns of β-galactosidases derived from different organs. The β-galactosidase present in the bands used for Glb-1 typing resembles human GM1 gangliosidase (GLB1) with respect to pH optimum, substrate specificity, and susceptibility to inhibition by PMB. It also appears that Glb-1 is homologous with the Bgl-e locus of the mouse. In rats as in mice the genetically variant bands of β-galactosidase are active at acid pH and have relatively high isoelectric points. In both species these bands are readily detectable in kidney homogenates, and can be revealed in homogenates of liver or spleen following treatment with neuraminidase. The presence of the same β-galactosidase bands in homogenates of rat kidney and small intestine as well as in neuraminidase-treated homogenates of liver and spleen suggests that the Glb-1 variants differ by one or more point mutations in the structural gene for "acid" β-galactosidase.

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Endoparasitic Infection in Laboratory Rat Strain, Long-Evans (Rattus norvegicus Berkenhout, 1769)

Bangladesh Journal of Scientific and Industrial Research ◽

10.3329/bjsir.v44i1.2718 ◽

1970 ◽

Vol 44 (1) ◽

pp. 109-116 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Farhana Muznebin ◽

Hamida Khanum ◽

Zaibun Nessa ◽

Dipa Islam

Keyword(s):

Key Words ◽

Rattus Norvegicus ◽

Parasite Species ◽

Hymenolepis Diminuta ◽

Helminth Parasite ◽

New Finding ◽

Syphacia Muris ◽

Rat Strain ◽

Long Evans ◽

Taxonomic Groups

In the present study, five helminth parasite species from two taxonomic groups were identified from Long-Evans (Rattus norvegicus Berkenhout, 1769). The cestodes were Vampirolepis nana Siebold, Hymenolepis diminuta Rud and nematodes were Citellina dispar Prendel, Heterakis spumosa Schneider and Syphacia muris Yamaguti. C. dispar is a new finding in Bangladesh. The highest prevalence of H. diminuta was recorded but the highest intensity was recorded in V. nana. The prevalence and intensity of V. nana was 56.25% and 65.11±13.23; H. dimisnuta was 72.92% and 4.37±0.89; C. dispar was 62.50% and 19.63 ±2.10; H. spumosa was 66.67% and 9.06±1.85; and S. muris was 64.58% and 24.65±2.60 respectively. Differences in prevalence and intensity due to sexes and seasons were also evaluated. Key words: Cestodes, Nematodes, Helminth, Prevalence, Intensity. doi: 10.3329/bjsir.v44i1.2718 Bangladesh J. Sci. Ind. Res. 44(1), 109-116, 2009

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Hymenolepiasis in Rats (Rattus Norvegicus) With Its Zoonotic Potential in Mymensingh District of Bangladesh

Research in Agriculture Livestock and Fisheries ◽

10.3329/ralf.v7i2.48865 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 7 (2) ◽

pp. 255-259

Author(s):

Rahul Pratap Singh ◽

Babul Chandra Roy ◽

Asish Kumer Debnath ◽

Sultana Fizun Nahar ◽

Md Hasanuzzaman Talukder

Keyword(s):

Low Socioeconomic Status ◽

Rattus Norvegicus ◽

Reservoir Host ◽

Hymenolepis Diminuta ◽

Residential Areas ◽

Low Socioeconomic ◽

Rural Villages ◽

Rural Village ◽

Laboratory Rats ◽

Hygiene Practices

Hymenolepis nana and Hymenolepis diminuta are globally widespread zoonotic cestodes and rats act as main reservoir host of these cestodes. Wild brown rats (Rattus norvegicus) are the most common rats usually live in human’s dwellings, especially in areas of low socioeconomic status and low levels of hygiene practices. Since there is scarcity of information of the hymenolepiasis in rats in Bangladesh, therefore the aim of this study was to determine the incidence of H. nana and H. diminuta in wild and laboratory rats. A total of 60 rats were collected from the residential areas of rural villages of Mymensingh sadar and the Bangladesh Agricultural University campus and 10 were from the laboratory of the Department of Parasitology, BAU, Mymensingh. The rats were killed by cardiac puncture and tapeworms were collected and subsequently were subjected for morphological study under the stereomicroscope. Two species of cestodes, namely H. nana and H. diminuta were detected showing the overall prevalence of 23.3 % and 35 % respectively. The high prevalence of H. nana (30%) was determined in rats captured from the rural village areas whereas H. diminuta was found more prevalent (60%) in the laboratory rats. The result of the current study suggests that H. nana infection in rural village areas may act as a risk factor for the zoonotic transmission of hymenolepiasis to human in Bangladesh. Res. Agric., Livest. Fish.7(2): 255-259, August 2020

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Predicting children's blood lead levels from exposure to school drinking water in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Journal of Water and Health ◽

10.2166/wh.2020.248 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 18 (4) ◽

pp. 595-601

Author(s):

Dawit Debebe ◽

Fiseha Behulu ◽

Zerihun Getaneh

Keyword(s):

Heavy Metals ◽

Drinking Water ◽

Water Supply ◽

Addis Ababa ◽

Blood Lead ◽

World Health ◽

Blood Lead Levels ◽

Human Beings ◽

Lead Levels ◽

The City

Abstract Human beings could be exposed to impacts associated with heavy metals such as lead (Pb) through drinking water. The objective of this study was to evaluate quality of water consumed by kindergarten school children in Addis Ababa city, who are highly susceptible to issues related to heavy metals in water. Through conducting chemical analysis, using microwave plasma atomic emission spectrophotometry (MP-AES), the level of lead (Pb) was measured at 38 selected schools in the city. Drinking water samples were taken from three water supply sub-systems: Akaki, Legedadi, and Gefersa. Results revealed the average Pb concentration in the city was 62.37 μg/L which is significantly higher than the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended threshold value of 10 μg/L. The children's blood lead levels and exposure to Pb were also calculated using the integrated exposure uptake bio-kinetic (IEUBK) model as per USEPA guidelines. Estimated geometric mean blood lead levels (BLLs) for each school ranged from 4.4 to 13.2 μg/dL. On average, the model predicted that 20% of children in the city will have blood lead levels above the WHO recommended 10 μg/dL. The study can be considered as an unprecedented piece of work as it addresses critical issues and methods to mitigate problems caused by high concentration of Pb in water supply distribution infrastructure.

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The helminth parasites of two sympatric species of the genus Apodemus (Rodentia, Muridae) from south-eastern Slovakia

Acta Parasitologica ◽

10.2478/s11686-010-0043-1 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 55 (4) ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Jarmila Ondríková ◽

Dana Miklisová ◽

Alexis Ribas ◽

Michal Stanko

Keyword(s):

Sympatric Species ◽

Helminth Fauna ◽

Hymenolepis Diminuta ◽

Individual Species ◽

Helminth Parasites ◽

Heligmosomoides Polygyrus ◽

Mean Intensity ◽

Host Ecology ◽

Taenia Taeniaeformis ◽

Rodent Populations

AbstractThe helminths of two sympatric species of rodents, the striped field mouse Apodemus agrarius and the yellow-necked mouse, Apodemus flavicollis from Slovakia were studied to determine whether there are similarities in the composition of the helminth fauna of two closely related host species living in the same area. A total of twelve species of helminths were identified in these rodent populations, including Brachylaima sp. (Trematoda); Hymenolepis diminuta (Rudolphi, 1819), Mesocestoides sp. larvae, Rodentolepis fraterna (Stiles, 1906), Rodentolepis straminea (Goeze, 1782), Skrjabinotaenia lobata (Baer, 1925), Taenia taeniaeformis larvae (Batsch, 1786) (Cestoda); Aonchotheca annulosa (Dujardin, 1845), Heligmosomoides polygyrus (Dujardin, 1845), Heterakis spumosa Schneider, 1866, Mastophorus muris (Gmelin, 1790) and Syphacia stroma (Linstow, 1884) (Nematoda). In A. agrarius, H. polygyrus was the most prevalent, as well as the most abundant helminth, but R. fraterna was the species with the highest mean intensity. In contrast, S. stroma dominated the A. flavicollis helminth fauna with the highest prevalence, mean abundance and mean intensity. Both rodent populations harboured nine helminth species, although the mean individual species richness was significantly higher in A. agrarius than in A. flavicollis. The analysis of helminth diversity at both component and infracommunity levels revealed differences between the two rodent populations, which are most likely attributable to the specific host ecology.

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Enzootic Hepatic Capillariasis (Calodium hepaticum) in Street Rats (Rattus norvegicus) from Marseille City, France

Pathogens ◽

10.3390/pathogens9121048 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 9 (12) ◽

pp. 1048

Author(s):

Cédric Roqueplo ◽

Hubert Lepidi ◽

Hacène Medkour ◽

Younes Laidoudi ◽

Jean-Lou Marié ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Health Risks ◽

Rattus Norvegicus ◽

Human Population ◽

City Centre ◽

Small Rodents ◽

Public Health Risks ◽

Worldwide Distribution ◽

Calodium Hepaticum ◽

The City ◽

Hepatic Capillariasis

Hepatic capillariasis is a rare and neglected zoonosis affecting wild and synanthropic small rodents. It is caused by infection with Calodium hepaticum in liver. Despite the worldwide distribution of the host Rattus norvegicus (brown or street rats) in the urban area, the epidemiological status of this parasitosis remains unknown. In the present study, we examined a total of 27 brown rats from the city centre and a garden (four km from the city centre) of Marseille, France. All rats were autopsied and 52% showed the presence of C. hepaticum eggs in the liver. This result draws general attention to public health risks, since street rats are living near the human population.

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Understanding the Vegetable Contamination Process with Parasites from Wastewater Irrigation and Its Impact on Human Health in Hidalgo, Mexico

Journal of Agricultural Science ◽

10.5539/jas.v8n5p42 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 8 (5) ◽

pp. 42

Author(s):

Saúl Montero-Aguirre ◽

Iourii Nikolskii-Gavrilov ◽

Cesáreo Landeros-Sánchez ◽

Oscar Luis Palacios-Vélez ◽

L. Traversoni-Domínguez ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Human Health ◽

Research Work ◽

Hymenolepis Diminuta ◽

Fecal Coliforms ◽

Contaminated Water ◽

Potential Harm ◽

Helminth Eggs ◽

Bibliographic Data ◽

The City ◽

Irrigation Waters

The use of untreated municipal wastewaters for irrigating agricultural crops negatively affects human health. Thus, the sewage effluent from the city of Pachuca, in the state of Hidalgo, Mexico, used for agricultural purposes was the most important reason to undertake this research work, whose main objective was to understand the process that involves its current use as irrigation water, and the potential harm to human health because the raw vegetables produced using this irrigation scheme are being consumed by the general public. The content of fecal coliforms and helminth eggs in wastewaters were determined and the level of parasitological contamination of vegetables and the potential number of people affected was estimated due to the consumption of raw produce without proper pretreatment, a common practice in Mexico. The potential level of parasitological contamination of vegetables was estimated by analyzing bibliographic data collected under similar climatic and technological conditions as in Pachuca. Results indicate that the level of wastewater contamination from fecal coliforms in Pachuca was 5000 times higher than the maximum permissible level based on Mexican standards for irrigation waters, and for Ascaris lumbricoides L. and Hymenolepis diminuta (Rudolphi) eggs up to 64 times. The number of persons potentially infected through consumption of raw vegetables irrigated with this contaminated water was estimated to be 169,000 annually.

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