Identification of helminth eggs in pet hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus and Phodopus sungorus) in Lima, Peru

Munoz-Huaman C.; Zárate-Rendón D.A.; Zegarra V R.; Maguina-Molina C. · Revista de Investigaciones Veterinarias del Peru (2024) · DOI: 10.15381/rivep.v35i3.28274

Resumen

The aim of this study was to evaluate the presence of helminth eggs in faeces of hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus and Phodopus sungorus) raised as pets for sale in shops in the centre of Lima, Peru. The study was descriptive, cross-sectional and prospective. Faeces from 63 pools of hamsters from four shops were evaluated with the flotation technique using the sugar-salt solution, during the months of May to July 2021. The helminth eggs were identified according to their dimension and morphology. Helminth eggs were identified in 60.5 and 36% of Syrian hamster (M. auratus) and Russian hamster (P. sungorus) pools, respectively. Syphacia spp was the parasite found most frequently (36.5%), followed by Aspiculuris tetraptera (7.9%). Hymenolepis spp was the only cestode and zoonotic parasite found.

Instituciones: Universidad Nacional Agraria La Molina; Universidad Científica del Sur