Diagnosis of the pinworm Syphacia muris in the Wistar rat Rattus norvegicus

This study aimed to compare three qualitative parasitological methods for the diagnosis ofSyphacia murisinfection in 30 Wistar rats (Rattus norvegicus) infected naturally. Methods of spontaneous sedimentation (Hoffman, Pons and Janer, or HPJ) and spontaneous flotation (Willis) for faecal samples and a method of taping (Graham) were performed and compared. The Graham and Willis methods were more sensitive than the HPJ method (PS. muriseggs in 100% of the samples. Eggs were detected in 83% and 60% of the samples using the Willis and HPJ methods, respectively. Method choice is important for screening for parasites of rats kept under laboratory conditions, as accurate diagnosis helps prevent future environmental contamination and infection. We concluded that the Graham method was the most efficient of those tested in this study for detection ofS. murisinfection in rats. This method is also rapid, inexpensive and practical, and should be implemented as a necessary measure for infection control.