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Prevalence and transmission of Toxoplasma gondii in wild brown rats, Rattus norvegicus

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 April 2009

J. P. Webster
J. P. Webster
Affiliation:
Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PS
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Summary

Prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii within 6 UK farmstead wild rat populations, and 1 population maintained within a captivecat-free environment for 2·5 years, was examined. The mean prevalence found was 35% (n = 235), which is more than 3 times as high as all other wild rat prevalence levels previously reported in the UK. There were no significant age, sexor site differences in prevalence between or within populations irrespective of habitat type or presence of cats. Toxoplasma was also maintained within the captive rat population in the absence of cats at a prevalence, intensity, age and sexdistribution similar to that of the farmstead rat populations. These results suggest, firstly, that Toxoplasma can beperpetuated within wild rat populations without the sympatric presence of cats and secondly, that the congenital route isthe predominant route of transmission in wild rats. This study concludes that wild rats represent a significant and persistent wildlife intermediate host reservoir for toxoplasmosis.

Keywords

wild ratsToxoplasma gondiiprevalencecatscongenital transmission
Type
Research Article
Information
Parasitology , Volume 108 , Issue 4 , May 1994 , pp. 407 - 411
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1994

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