A Review on Rodent-borne Parasitic Zoonosis: Public Health Risk to Humans

Rodent species such as Rattus rattus diardii and Rattus norvegicus are invasive species and potential reservoirs of significant pathogens of humans. The zoonotic infections are among the most common on earth and are responsible for over 60% of all human infectious diseases. This is due to several factors such as urbanization, poor sanitation and climate change across the globe, that has led to change or increase the occurrence of rodent-borne diseases. This review summarizes the public health importance of some rodent-borne parasitic zoonosis. Many parasitic pathogens (Cryptosporidium spp., Entamoeba spp., Hymenolepis spp., Giardia spp.) that are directly or indirectly transmitted by rodents to humans have a serious consequence in human health. Furthermore, human-rodent interaction has substantially contributed to the transmission of zoonotic parasitic infections to humans. The conclusion in this review is that rodents play an important role in transmission of several parasitic diseases to humans. Therefore, it is crucial to pay adequate attention on control of rodents and surveillance.