The aim of the present research was to evaluate the potential of
Nectomys rattus, the "water rat", to develop Schistosoma
mansoni infection. Comparison with N. squamipes was carried
out. Both species of rodents were submitted to transcutaneous
infection using different infective cercariae loads: 50, 100 or 500.
N. rattus showed high susceptibility to S. mansoni, with
an infection rate of 71%. Rodents were able to excrete viable eggs of
S. mansoni in the feaces during all infection period. For both
species, the small intestine, followed by the liver and the large
intestine, presented the highest concentration of eggs among the
surveyed organs. Infection caused no animal death. Moreover, N.
rattus accomplished the parasite's life cycle, by infecting the
snails Biomphalaria glabrata and later Mus musculus.
These evidences indicate that both N. rattus, as for N.
squamipes are potential reservoirs for schistosomiasis in Brazil.
Considering the fact that N. rattus and N. squamipes
exist in the same natural ecosystems of S. mansoni, we suggest
that these rodents must be regarded as influential factors in
epidemiology surveys.
