First Record of Infection in (Rodentia: Muridae) in Tokunoshima Island, Japan

Overview

Journal Int J Parasitol Parasites Wildl

Date 2025 Mar 4

PMID 40034142

Authors

Keita Sakashita

Toshihiro Tokiwa

Ryotaro Suzuki

Taisei I

Mariko Suzuki

Asahi Itoi

Masami Yamamoto

Hisashi Yoshimura

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

The Ryukyu long-furred rat, (Rodentia: Muridae), is an endangered species endemic to the Tokunoshima, Amami-Oshima, and Okinawajima Islands, which are part of Japan's southwestern islands. During the pathological examination of a deceased wild individual from Tokunoshima Island, lymphoma and infection with three nonnative parasites, (Nematoda: Angiostrongylidae) (Nematoda: Trichosomoididae) and (Cestoda: Taeniidae), were identified. Among these, is a zoonotic species, with invasive rats as the final hosts and mollusks as intermediate hosts. Although the presence of has been widely reported across the southwestern islands of Japan, this is the first record of this species on the Tokunoshima Island. With this study, infection in wild is now confirmed in populations from all three islands where this species is found.

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