HAEMOGLOBINOPATHY IN WILD RATS, RATTUS RATTUS (LINNAEUS) INFECTED WITH A CESTODE PARASITE, HYMENOLEPIS DIMINUTA (RUDOLPHI)

Sudheer Kumar, Dileep Kumar Gupta and Neelima Gupta*

ABSTRACT

The study was conducted to observe the influence of a cestode parasite, Hymenolepis diminuta on the haemoglobin concentration and extent of haemoglobinopathy of the common house rat, Rattus rattus Linnaeus, 1758 from Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, India. Examination of Rattus rattus (n=109) revealed Hymenolepis infection (prevalence 24.50%; intensity 1-4 parasites per host) from the small intestine of the host. The parasites were fixed, dehydrated, stained and mounted as per routine techniques. The haemoglobin values were evaluated in two groups (Group A: control; Group B: Hymenolepis infected) of male and female hosts. The results indicated significantly lower values of haemoglobin concentration in rats infected with cestodes which indicates that the parasite interacted with the host’s metabolism. The percentage fall in males was 33.08% and 34.67% in females. The fall in haemoglobin concentration recorded from the infected male and female rats may be attributed to the various types of anaemia, haemorrhage and haemolysis (erythrocyte destruction). The findings reveal that haemoglobinopathy expresses itself as a pathological manifestation in Rattus rattus infected with Hymenolepis.

Keywords: Rattus rattus, Hymenolepis diminuta, weight groups, haemoglobin.