TY  - JOUR
A1  - Riebold, Diana
A1  - Russow, Kati
A1  - Schlegel, Mathias
A1  - Wollny, Theres
A1  - Thiel, Joerg
A1  - Freise, Jona
A1  - Hueppop, Ommo
A1  - Eccard, Jana
A1  - Plenge-Boenig, Anita
A1  - Loebermann, Micha
A1  - Ulrich, Rainer Günter
A1  - Klammt, Sebastian
A1  - Mettenleiter, Thomas Christoph
A1  - Reisinger, Emil Christian
T1  - Occurrence of gastrointestinal parasites in small mammals from Germany
JF  - Vector borne and zoonotic diseases
N2  - An increase in zoonotic infections in humans in recent years has led to a high level of public interest. However, the extent of infestation of free-living small mammals with pathogens and especially parasites is not well understood. This pilot study was carried out within the framework of the "Rodent-borne pathogens" network to identify zoonotic parasites in small mammals in Germany. From 2008 to 2009, 111 small mammals of 8 rodent and 5 insectivore species were collected. Feces and intestine samples from every mammal were examined microscopically for the presence of intestinal parasites by using Telemann concentration for worm eggs, Kinyoun staining for coccidia, and Heidenhain staining for other protozoa. Adult helminths were additionally stained with carmine acid for species determination. Eleven different helminth species, five coccidians, and three other protozoa species were detected. Simultaneous infection of one host by different helminths was common. Hymenolepis spp. (20.7%) were the most common zoonotic helminths in the investigated hosts. Coccidia, including Eimeria spp. (30.6%), Cryptosporidium spp. (17.1%), and Sarcocystis spp. (17.1%), were present in 40.5% of the feces samples of small mammals. Protozoa, such as Giardia spp. and amoebae, were rarely detected, most likely because of the repeated freeze-thawing of the samples during preparation. The zoonotic pathogens detected in this pilot study may be potentially transmitted to humans by drinking water, smear infection, and airborne transmission.
KW  - parasites
KW  - rodents
KW  - insectivores
KW  - Hymenolepis
KW  - Germany
Y1  - 2020
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1089/vbz.2019.2457
SN  - 1530-3667
SN  - 1557-7759
VL  - 20
IS  - 2
SP  - 125
EP  - 133
PB  - Liebert
CY  - New Rochelle
ER  -