This article is from the WSSF 2017 AFRMA Rat & Mouse Tales news-magazine.

Studies done in the Downtown Eastside (DTES) and from a nearby international shipping port by the Vancouver Rat Project in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, found liver and stomach worms in the wild rats tested.

Liver worms are also found in other rodent species and can infect humans, though rare. Of the rats tested, overall 34% had liver worms which varied from 0 to 81% in each location trapped. Rats trapped in the fall were more likely to be infected. Transmission most likely occurs through cannibalism and older rats and those with bite wounds were more likely to be infected.

Stomach worms are tiny and need to be identified by microscope. They are associated with a thickening of the stomach lining, stomach pimples, inflammation, and in rare cases benign stomach tumors. Of the rats tested, 74% showed infection and/or changes. Older rats were more likely to be infected.

Article Liver Worms in Rats: It’s a rat eats rat world! and 3 out of 4 Rats in Vancouver have secretive stomach worms on Vancouver Rat Project. There were several various studies done that you can find on the Results and Resources page.

Note: Any wild rodents a person brings in for any reason needs to be medicated, treated for parasites, quarantined, and tested as they can bring in infectious diseases to your pet stock or yourself.