Quantitative and qualitative analysis of helminth fauna in Rattus rattus rufescens

A helminthological survey of 149 house rats in Jodhpur during the year 1975 revealed infection with 8 helminth species: 4 cestodes, Vampirolepis fraterna, Hymenolepis diminuta, Mathevotaenia symmetrica and Taenia taeniaeformis (larval stage); 3 nematodes, Aspiculuris pakistanica, Rictularia ratti and Syphacia sp. and one acanthocephalan, Moniliformis sp. Vampirolepis fraterna, H. diminuta and A. pakistanica were most common, R.ratti and M. symmetrica less frequent, and T. taeniaeformis, Syphacia sp. and Moniliformis sp. of occasional occurence. Multiple infections were more frequent among male than female hosts.