Rattus n orvegicus (Berkenhout 1769) as Potential Reservoir Host of Zoonotic Parasites from Selected Backyard Pig Farms in Basag, Butuan City, Agusan Del Norte,Philippines

Rodents play a significant role in public health as a biological reservoir of various parasitic zoonoses. Preliminary detection of zoonotic parasites among wild rats, Rattus norvegicus in selected backyard livestock farms in Basag was carried out to assess their vectored zoonotic parasites. The results of the study showed that 100% of the collected rats were infected with zoonotic helminths and these parasites were identified as Hymenolepis diminuta, Hymenolepis nana, Cysticercus fasciolaris, Taenia spp., hookworms, Angiostrongylus cantonensis, Capillaria spp. and Echinostoma spp. with prevalence at 66.7%, 33.3%, 33.3%, 6.70%, 100%, 6.70%, 20% and 6.70%, respectively. Moreover, infection rate has significant association to the farming practices (average farming experience rs=-0.402, p =0.038; distance of pig pen to the neighboring household rs=0.402, p =0.038), and to some morphological features of rats such as the head-body size (rs=0.534, p =0.040), length of the tail (rs=0.534, p =0.040) and hind-foot measurement (rs=0.570, p =0.026). In addition, possible cross-infection of hookworm between rats and backyard raised pigs was also recorded. The results indicate that there was significant relationship between the intensity of zoonotic parasites and the rat’s behavior and morphology; the presence of some susceptible host (pigs, stray dogs/cats); and the hygiene practices and knowledge of farmers pertaining to backyardlivestock faming. Consequently, it was recommended that rodents must be eliminated in livestock farms and the conceptualization of a community-based intervention programs for animal/ public health aspects must be address in backyard farming to prevent rodent- borne disease outbreak in the future.