INTESTINAL HELMINTH INFESTATION OF SAND RATS (Psammomys obesus) COLLECTED FROM NORTH COAST EGYPT ECOLOGICAL MORPHOLOGICAL AND HISTOPATHOLOGICAL APPROACH

Psammomys obesus is a terrestrial rodent's species of gerbil subfamily belong to Muridae. Zoonotic diseases associated with rodents; pose a significant threat to human health and animals. Mouse whipworm Trichuris muris has been used as a tractable model of human trichuriasis. Zoonotic cestode Raillietina sp. causes public health problem when moving from wild habitats to those inhabited by humans. Endoparasitic agents, which can be very serious in human and livestock health, are mostly homed by wild rodents. The current study investigates intestinal helminth infestation of Psammomys obesus. Thirtyseven adult rats were captured from saline marsh areas of North Coast, Egypt. Rats were examined for intestinal parasite with morphological and pathological features. Thirty-three rats were found infected with: Trichuris muris, 16 (48.48, %); Raillietina trapezoides, 4 (12.12, %); mixed infection of Trichuris muris and Raillietina trapezoides, 5(15.15%). Gross examination of both small and large intestines revealed intestinal blockage and diarrhea. Histopathological changes of the intestine showed degeneration of the intestinal mucosa; and atrophy of the villi and intestinal glands. Different parts of worms observed in the lumen of colon mucosa and at the tip of villi results in discontinuity of the muscularis mucosa and necrotic lesions on the mucosa. Also, necrotic colitis and enteritis were observed. Two types of anemia were confirmed by hematological analysis. Moreover, two types of eggs were noticed. The helminths infecting Psammomyes obesus were morphologically identified with their pathological effects. Further studies are needed to assess transmitted zoonotic parasitic diseases impact public health in Egypt.