Objective:

To investigate on the presence of helminths in Didelphis marsupialis and Rattus rattus in zones invaded by the African Giant Snail Achatina fulica in the Metropolitan area of Bucaramanga, Santander.

Methodology:

Specimens of Didelphis marsupialis and Rattus rattus, were captured and examined for the presence of helminths in internal organs.

Results:

Angiostrongylus sp. was not found in the blood vessels of the two mammal species examined. The following adult nematodes were observed in the gastrointestinal tract of Didelphis marsupialis: Physaloptera sp., Aspidodera sp., Travassostrongylus sp., Cruzia sp., Trichuris sp., and Capillaria sp., besides the trematode Rhopalias sp. In the digestive tract of Rattus rattus, two nematodes (Nippostrongylus sp. and Heterakis sp.) and two cestodes (Hymenolepis sp. and a strobilocercus of Taenia taeniaeformis), the latter in liver, were found. Strongylid Type eggs, as well as Ascaroidea, Spiruroidea and Trichuroidea, were observed in Didelphis marsupialis feces. In Rattus rattus feces, Strongylid Type, Ascaroidea and Hymenolepididae eggs, were detected.

Conclusions:

Possums (D. marsupialis) and rats (R. rattus) from the metropolitan area of Bucaramanga seem to be parasitized by a wide variety of helminths in their digestive system, judging by the findings of several genera of nematodes, cestodes and trematodes, only with having processed two specimens of each species of mammal. The authors recommend further similar studies in the region including a larger number of animals and the examination of more organs like the heart and the gall bladder in addition to the digestive tract.

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