Monospecific helminth and arthropod infections in an urban population of brown rats from Doha, Qatar
Parasitic infections were studied for the first time in an urban population of brown rats (Rattus norvegicus) from Doha. Only one species of helminth was found, the cestode Hymenolepis diminuta, and one ectoparasite, the flea Xenopsylla astia, from a sample size of 136 rats (52 males and 84 females)...
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| Format: | Article |
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Cambridge University Press
2001
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| Online Access: | https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/29496/ |
| _version_ | 1848793800259928064 |
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| author | Abu-Madi, Marwan A. Lewis, John W. Mikhail, M. El-Nagger, M.E. Behnke, Jerzy M. |
| author_facet | Abu-Madi, Marwan A. Lewis, John W. Mikhail, M. El-Nagger, M.E. Behnke, Jerzy M. |
| author_sort | Abu-Madi, Marwan A. |
| building | Nottingham Research Data Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | Parasitic infections were studied for the first time in an urban population of brown rats (Rattus norvegicus) from Doha. Only one species of helminth was found, the cestode Hymenolepis diminuta, and one ectoparasite, the flea Xenopsylla astia, from a sample size of 136 rats (52 males and 84 females). The prevalence of H. diminuta was 17.6%, increasing with host age but not in relation to host sex nor season of capture. Host age was a key factor in influencing abundance of infection, although there was a significant three-way interaction with season and host sex arising through heavy infections in juvenile male rats in the summer. The prevalence of X. astia was 45.6%, although both prevalence and abundance of infestations were season and host age dependent. In the winter prevalence and abundance were similar in both host age and sex groups, but in the summer both parameters of infestation were markedly higher among juveniles compared with adults. We found evidence for some association between these two species: H. diminuta was more prevalent among rats with fleas than among those without, although this association was season-, and independently sex- and age-dependent. There were no quantitative interactions and reasons for this are discussed in relation to the foraging and breeding behaviour of the brown rat in Qatar. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-14T19:06:03Z |
| format | Article |
| id | nottingham-29496 |
| institution | University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus |
| institution_category | Local University |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-14T19:06:03Z |
| publishDate | 2001 |
| publisher | Cambridge University Press |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | nottingham-294962020-05-04T20:32:30Z https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/29496/ Monospecific helminth and arthropod infections in an urban population of brown rats from Doha, Qatar Abu-Madi, Marwan A. Lewis, John W. Mikhail, M. El-Nagger, M.E. Behnke, Jerzy M. Parasitic infections were studied for the first time in an urban population of brown rats (Rattus norvegicus) from Doha. Only one species of helminth was found, the cestode Hymenolepis diminuta, and one ectoparasite, the flea Xenopsylla astia, from a sample size of 136 rats (52 males and 84 females). The prevalence of H. diminuta was 17.6%, increasing with host age but not in relation to host sex nor season of capture. Host age was a key factor in influencing abundance of infection, although there was a significant three-way interaction with season and host sex arising through heavy infections in juvenile male rats in the summer. The prevalence of X. astia was 45.6%, although both prevalence and abundance of infestations were season and host age dependent. In the winter prevalence and abundance were similar in both host age and sex groups, but in the summer both parameters of infestation were markedly higher among juveniles compared with adults. We found evidence for some association between these two species: H. diminuta was more prevalent among rats with fleas than among those without, although this association was season-, and independently sex- and age-dependent. There were no quantitative interactions and reasons for this are discussed in relation to the foraging and breeding behaviour of the brown rat in Qatar. Cambridge University Press 2001-12 Article PeerReviewed Abu-Madi, Marwan A., Lewis, John W., Mikhail, M., El-Nagger, M.E. and Behnke, Jerzy M. (2001) Monospecific helminth and arthropod infections in an urban population of brown rats from Doha, Qatar. Journal of Helminthology, 75 (04). pp. 313-320. ISSN 0022-149X http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayAbstract?fromPage=online&aid=708660&fulltextType=RA&fileId=S0022149X01000488 |
| spellingShingle | Abu-Madi, Marwan A. Lewis, John W. Mikhail, M. El-Nagger, M.E. Behnke, Jerzy M. Monospecific helminth and arthropod infections in an urban population of brown rats from Doha, Qatar |
| title | Monospecific helminth and arthropod infections in an urban population of brown rats from Doha, Qatar |
| title_full | Monospecific helminth and arthropod infections in an urban population of brown rats from Doha, Qatar |
| title_fullStr | Monospecific helminth and arthropod infections in an urban population of brown rats from Doha, Qatar |
| title_full_unstemmed | Monospecific helminth and arthropod infections in an urban population of brown rats from Doha, Qatar |
| title_short | Monospecific helminth and arthropod infections in an urban population of brown rats from Doha, Qatar |
| title_sort | monospecific helminth and arthropod infections in an urban population of brown rats from doha, qatar |
| url | https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/29496/ https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/29496/ |