Microbiological and parasitological investigations in rodents posing sanitary risk in animal facilities

A total of 88 rodents – 22 Norway rats (Rattus norvegicus), 36 black rats (Rattus rattus) and 10 house mice (Mus musculus), were caught in different animal facilities and two zoos. Additionally, 10 albino rats and 10 laboratory mice from a specialised vivarium were studied. Samples of hair, intestinal tract and liver were examined microbiologically. Faecal samples from the three synanthropic rodent species were investigated for presence of helminth eggs, and diaphragms of carcasses – for presence of Trichinella larvae. Microbiological examination showed that synanthropic rodents carried enterotoxigaenic Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis strains and some bacteria such as Klebsiella pneumoniaе, Citrobacter freundi, Enterococcus faecalis, Proteus spp. Moraxella atlantae, posing a potential risk for farm animal health. The detected eggs of parasites as Aspiculuris tetraptera, Hymenolepis spp., Eimeria spp., Oxyiuridae spp., were specific for synanthropic rodents.