Landscape characteristics influence helminth infestations in a peri-domestic rodent - implications for possible zoonotic disease

Simple item page
dc.contributor.authorFroeschke, Gotzen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorMatthee, Sonjaen_ZA
dc.date.accessioned2014-09-16T09:25:06Z
dc.date.available2014-09-16T09:25:06Z
dc.date.issued2014-08
dc.date.updated2014-09-04T19:02:55Z
dc.descriptionCITATION: Froeschke, G. & Matthee, S. 2014. Landscape characteristics influence helminth infestations in a peri-domestic rodent - implications for possible zoonotic disease. Parasites & Vectors, 7:393 doi:10.1186/1756-3305-7-393.en_ZA
dc.descriptionThe original publication is available at http://www.parasitesandvectors.com/content/7/1/393en_ZA
dc.descriptionPublication of this article was funded by the Stellenbosch University Open Access Fund.en_ZA
dc.description.abstractBackground Anthropogenic habitat change often results in altered landscapes that can provide new environments where hosts, parasites and pathogens can interact. The latter can have implications for human and animal health when in close proximity to developed areas. We recorded the helminth species richness and level of infestation in the peri-domestic rodent, Rhabdomys pumilio, in three different human linked landscapes. The aim was, to investigate the potential of R. pumilio to act as a reservoir host for zoonotic helminths and to compare the effect of anthropogenic habitat change on its parasite infestation patterns. Methods Rodents (n = 518) were trapped in natural areas (nature reserves) and in three human linked landscapes (crop, livestock and urban fragments). Gastrointestinal parasite burdens were recovered and helminths identified from each animal. Generalized linear models were applied to investigate the effect of different landscape types on helminth infestation. Results Rhabdomys pumilio was the most abundant rodent species within each landscape type. Eight helminths species were recovered and overall helminth prevalence was 86.68%. Mean helminth species richness, prevalence and abundance were significantly higher in crop fragments compared to natural landscapes and overall lower for nematodes in livestock and urban areas. Cestode prevalence showed a tendency to be elevated at anthropogenic linked landscape types. Conclusions Host parameters and parasite infestations were strongly influenced by landscape characteristics. Resource-rich landscapes (crop fragments) provide favorable conditions for helminth infestations, while landscapes that are more closely associated with humans (livestock and urban landscapes) pose a larger risk by zoonotic species.en_ZA
dc.description.versionPublishers' versionen_ZA
dc.format.extent13 pagesen_ZA
dc.identifier.citationFroeschke, G. & Matthee, S. 2014. Landscape characteristics influence helminth infestations in a peri-domestic rodent - implications for possible zoonotic disease. Parasites & Vectors, 7:393 doi:10.1186/1756-3305-7-393.en_ZA
dc.identifier.issn1756-3305 (online)en_ZA
dc.identifier.otherdoi:10.1186/1756-3305-7-393
dc.identifier.urihttp://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1756-3305-7-393
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/95553
dc.language.isoen_ZAen_ZA
dc.publisherBioMed Centralen_ZA
dc.rights.holderGötz Froeschke et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.en_ZA
dc.subjectHelminth infestationsen_ZA
dc.subjectAnthropogenic habitatsen_ZA
dc.subjectHuman and animal healthen_ZA
dc.subjectZoonotic diseaseen_ZA
dc.subjectRhabdomys pumilio -- South Africaen_ZA
dc.titleLandscape characteristics influence helminth infestations in a peri-domestic rodent - implications for possible zoonotic diseaseen_ZA
dc.typeArticleen_ZA
Files
Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
Thumbnail Image
Name:
1756-3305-7-393.xml
Size:
169.74 KB
Format:
Extensible Markup Language
Description:
Download
Thumbnail Image
Name:
1756-3305-7-393.pdf
Size:
429.14 KB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Description:
Download article
Download
License bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Thumbnail Image
Name:
license.txt
Size:
1.95 KB
Format:
Item-specific license agreed upon to submission
Description:
Download
Collections
Research Articles (Conservation Ecology and Entomology)