Parasites of Domestic Animals and Their Possible Zoonoses – a Study from Selected Sites of Western Province, Sri Lanka

Present study was based on a parasitic survey of captured domestic rat (Rattus rattus) at five selected study sites including, Gampaha, Dalugama, Kadawatha, Sedawatte-Bloemandhal and Wattala,of the Western Province, Sri Lanka. Study also included examination of enteric parasite stages in fresh fecal samples of residents, domestic cats and dogs of the Sedawatte-Bloemandhal, a shanty area. Results revealed the presence of intestinal helminthes, Hymenolepis diminuta and Strongyloides spp. In R. rattus captured from Sedawatte-Bloemandhal whereas, liver cysts of Cysticercus fasciolaris and intestinal worm like Moniliformis moniliformis and Trypanosoma lewisi from the sample captured from Dalugama. Rats captured from other three sites were not positive for any parasites. Trichurid and toxocarid types of egg were recorded in the fecal samples of domestic dogs and cats respectively. Human fecal samples were positive only for as carid type eggs but with mild infection. This study concludes that R. rattus, dogs and cats associated with human livings might be causing zoonoses in low sanitary conditions. Amarasinghe L D* and Premathilake E M D L