A Survey of Nematode Parasites of Small Mammals in Tunisia, North Africa: Diversity of Species and Zoonotic Implications

• Published in: Comparative Parasitology
• Main Authors: Jrijer, Jamel, Bordes, Fréderic, Morand, Serge, Neifar, Lassad
• Other Authors: Université de Sfax, Biodiversité et Ecosystèmes Aquatiques, Département des Sciences de la vie, Faculté des Sciences de Sfax (FSS), Université de Sfax - University of Sfax-Université de Sfax - University of Sfax-Faculté des Sciences de Sfax (FSS), Université de Sfax - University of Sfax-Université de Sfax - University of Sfax, Institut des Sciences de l'Evolution de Montpellier (UMR ISEM), Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement (Cirad)-École Pratique des Hautes Études (EPHE), Université Paris Sciences et Lettres (PSL)-Université Paris Sciences et Lettres (PSL)-Université de Montpellier (UM)-Institut de recherche pour le développement IRD : UR226-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: HAL CCSD 2015
• Subjects: small mammals; Rodentia; Erinaceomorpha; nematodes; zoonoses; Tunisia; North Africa; [SDV]Life Sciences [q-bio]; Rattus rattus
• Online Access: https://hal.umontpellier.fr/hal-03038967; https://doi.org/10.1654/4767.1

International audience The presence of nematodes was investigated in 84 small mammals belonging to 10 species living in arid wildhabitats from Central Tunisia. Hosts were infected with a total of 7 species of nematodes. The dominant parasite species wasGongylonema neoplasticum, which was found in the stomach of 7 host species with prevalences varying from 15.4% inGerbillus campestris to 50% in Meriones shawi. Several nematodes, such as Syphacia obvelata, Acanthocheilonema viteae,Trichuris gerbilli, and G. neoplasticum, are potential zoonotic parasites. These latter species were collected from M. shawi,Meriones libycus, Mus musculus, Mus spretus, Rattus rattus, G. campestris, Psammomys obesus, and Ctenodactylus goundi,raising concern that these rodents and their associated rodent-borne helminths could be of potential concern for public healthin this region.