Helminths and Ectoparasites of Rattus rattus and Mus musculus from Sicily, Italy

Abstract

We investigated the endo- and ectoparasitic fauna of 45 specimens of Rattus rattus and 44 specimens of Mus musculus collected in Sicily. This study is the second survey of the parasitic fauna of these 2 rodent species on this Mediterranean island. Four nematode species, 1 cestode species, 2 flea species, and 1 tick species were recovered from R. rattus. Six nematode species, 3 cestode species, 1 digenean species, 1 flea species, and 1 tick species were recovered from M. musculus. As noted on other western Mediterranean islands, both rodent species show a depauperate parasite species richness in comparison with continental situations.