Intestinal helminths infection of Reithrodontomys mexicanus (Rodentia: Cricetidae) from a Suburban Area in Medellín, Colombia.

Abstract

Background: Gastrointestinal parasites associated with small wild rodents in Colombia remain poorly understood.

Aim: This study aimed to identify the intestinal helminths of Reithrodontomys mexicanus, a common wild rodent species, in rural areas of Medellín, Colombia.

Methods: Between June and December 2022, 31 individuals were captured and sex-classified. Fecal samples underwent flotation and sedimentation analysis.

Results: The overall helminth prevalence in R. mexicanus was 67.7% (21/31). Identified helminth egg morphotypes included: Ascarid (types 1 and 2), Dicrocoeliidae-like (types 1 and 2), Physaloptera sp., Strongyloides sp., Trichuris sp., and two unidentified nematode eggs.

Conclusion: This study reveals that R. mexicanus hosts a diverse range of parasites, including those with significant public health implications such as Ascaris spp., Dicrocoelium spp., and Trichuris spp. Our findings contribute to the understanding of wild rodent helminth fauna in South America and provide the first documentation of parasites in R. mexicanus.