Korean J Parasitol.  2013 Oct;51(5):603-606.

Intestinal Parasites among Wild Rodents in Northern Gangwon-do, Korea

• Lee YI
• Pyeon HJ
• Seo M

Abstract

To determine geographical patterns of natural parasite infections among wild rodents, a total of 46 wild rodents from 3 different localities in northern Gangwon-do (Province), Korea were examined for intestinal parasite infections. Along with nematodes such as hookworms and Syphacia spp., Plagiorchis muris (2 specimens) (Trematoda) were collected from striped field mice, Apodemus agrarius. In a Korean wood mouse, Apodemus peninsulae, the overall nematode infections were similar to A. agrarius, but an adult worm of Echinostoma hortense (Trematoda) was collected. In addition, 2 species of cestodes, i.e., Hymenolepis nana and Hymenolepis diminuta, were collected from A. agrarius. Through this survey, A. agrarius and A. peninsule were confirmed as the natural definite hosts for zoonotic intestinal helminths, i.e., P. muris, E. hortense, H. nana, and H. diminuta, in northern Gangwon-do, Korea. Considering increased leisure activities around these areas, seasonal and further comprehensive surveys on wild rodents seem to be needed to prevent zoonotic parasite infections.

Keyword

Plagiorchis muris; Echinostoma hortense; Apodemus agrarius; Apodemus peninsulae; Gangwon-do

MeSH Terms

Animals
Cestoda/isolation & purification
Cestode Infections/epidemiology/parasitology/*veterinary
Geography
Humans
Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic/epidemiology/parasitology/*veterinary
Murinae
Nematoda/isolation & purification
Nematode Infections/epidemiology/parasitology/*veterinary
Parasitic Diseases, Animal/epidemiology/*parasitology
Republic of Korea/epidemiology
Rodent Diseases/epidemiology/*parasitology
Trematoda/isolation & purification
Trematode Infections/epidemiology/parasitology/*veterinary
Zoonoses