INTRODUCTION

Background of the Study

Rodents are key mammalian group, and are highly successful in many

environments throughout the world. Indeed, rodents comprise about 43% of mammalian

species and surpassing all other mammalian orders in abundance of individuals as well as

in number of genera and species, also rodents are nearly cosmopolitan in distribution and

occur in a diverse array of habitats. In many instances, rodents provide major benefits to

the environment as Bio-engineers, but the conservation status of quite number of species

is listed by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources

(IUCN) as ‘at risk’, ‘threatened’ or ‘endangered’. However, some rodent species are pest

and cause significant losses to agricultural crops in many regions of the world.

(Singleton, Hinds, Krebs, and Spratt, 2003)

Singleton, 2003, stated that in Southeast Asia, rats are number one pre-harvest

pests. Rat populations occasionally erupt and cause massive problems. For as long as

man cultivates crops, rats will surely compete for a share of the produce, and as the

Philippines aims at attaining self-sufficiency in food production, rodents continue to take

their tithe. In the Philippines, rodent pests cause serious damage to rice crops (Joshi,

Matchoc, Bahatan and Dela Peña, 2000).

Gratz, 1994, says that aside from rodents being seen as pests in rice production

because of their gnawing habit which can cause economic losses, rodents also have a

serious implication for public health as they can amplify pathogens from the environment

and forms of zoonotic diseases. The public image of rodents in general and “rats” in
 2

particular is very poor. This is not hard to understand, given that pest rats constitute a

major health threat and an economic burden in a country that relies heavily on

agriculture.

Rodent’s high diversity in many agro-ecosystem provide an opportunity to

identify if an ecosystem is at poor condition or in good condition. In agricultural

landscapes, rodents and other more sedentary animal may be better indicators of

environmental health at a local to regional scale (Aplin, Jacob, Krebs & Singleton, 2003).

Objectives of the Study

The main objective of this study is to determine the diversity of rodents in Central

Luzon State University, and aims to identify and then monitor the positivity rate and

intensity of infection of helminth fauna.

Specifically, this study aims to:

1. identify the species of rodents inhabiting CLSU;

2. determine the distribution pattern and diversity of rodents;

3. identify the species of helminth parasites associated with rodents; and

4. determine the positivity rate and intensity of infection of helminth parasites.

Significance of the Study

This study will identify the different species of rodents in CLSU, as well as their

diversity and distribution pattern in the study area. Also, this study will cover the

possible occurrence of helminthiasis, micro parasitic disease of animals in which a part of

 3

the body is infected with parasitic worms, known as helminths. This study will be

beneficial in the CLSU community in terms of awareness on the distribution pattern of

rodents within in CLSU and on the diseases carried by rodents that can transferable to

humans. Moreover, this research will serve as benchmark for information for researcher’s

epidemiological studies on rodent-borne diseases that may affect humans and livestock.

Scope and Limitation of the Study

The study will focus on the diversity and distribution pattern of the rodents in the

selected areas in CLSU. The positivity rate and intensity of infection of the helminthic

parasites within the collected rodents will be identified. Helminths within the collected

rodents will be identified up to genus level only and rodents will be identified up to

species level using relevant taxonomic or any relevant keys.

Time and Place of the Study

The study will be conducted from September to November at Central Luzon State

University, Bantug, Science City of Muñoz, NuevaEcija. The rodents that will be

collected will be dissected and processed in the Parasitology Laboratory, College of

Veterinary Science and Medicine, CLSU.