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1 July 2014 Capillaria hepatica in Wild Norway Rats (Rattus norvegicus) from Vancouver, Canada
Jamie L. Rothenburger, Chelsea G. Himsworth, Victoria Chang, Manigandan LeJeune, Frederick A. Leighton
Author Affiliations +
Abstract

Capillaria hepatica is a parasitic nematode that infects the liver of rats (Rattus spp.), and occasionally other mammalian species, including humans. Despite its broad geographic distribution and host range, the ecology of this parasite remains poorly understood. We characterized the ecology of C. hepatica in urban Norway rats (Rattus norvegicus) in Vancouver, Canada. The overall prevalence of C. hepatica among Norway rats was 36% (241/671); however, there was significant variation in prevalence among city blocks. Using a generalized linear mixed model to control for clustering by block (where OR is odds ratio and CI is confidence interval), we found C. hepatica infection was negatively associated with season (spring [OR = 0.14, 95% CI = 0.05–0.39]; summer [OR = 0.14, 95% CI = 0.03–0.61]; winter [OR = 0.34, 95% CI = 0.13–0.84], compared to fall) and positively associated with sexual maturity (OR: 7.29, 95% CI = 3.98–13.36) and presence of cutaneous bite wounds (OR = 1.87, 95% CI = 1.11–3.16). Our understanding of the ecology of C. hepatica in rats is hindered by a paucity of data regarding the main mechanisms of transmission (e.g., environmental exposure vs. active cannibalism). However, associations among infection, season, maturity, and bite wounds could suggest that social interactions, possibly including cannibalism, may be important in transmission.

Wildlife Disease Association 2014
Jamie L. Rothenburger, Chelsea G. Himsworth, Victoria Chang, Manigandan LeJeune, and Frederick A. Leighton "Capillaria hepatica in Wild Norway Rats (Rattus norvegicus) from Vancouver, Canada," Journal of Wildlife Diseases 50(3), 628-633, (1 July 2014). https://doi.org/10.7589/2013-09-256
Received: 18 November 2013; Accepted: 1 January 2014; Published: 1 July 2014
KEYWORDS
Black Rat
Calodium hepaticum
Capillaria hepatica
ecology
Norway rat
Rattus
urban
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