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Background and Aim: Toxoplasmosis is caused by the parasite Toxoplasma gondii. Cats are the only known hosts that excrete resistant oocysts. Wild rats serve as crucial reservoirs and intermediate hosts for T. gondii’s survival and dissemination. Consuming soil and water containing oocysts can lead to illness. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of toxoplasmosis in wild rats through molecular detection as an indicator of environmental contamination in Surabaya. Materials and Methods: One hundred rats were collected from the three areas (housing, dense settlements, and traditional markets) and distributed into the five zones: West, East, Central, North, and South of Surabaya. Brain tissue samples were extracted using a Geneaid™ (New Taipei City, Taiwan) DNA isolation kit and analyzed through the loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) method. Results: The study analyzed brain tissue from 100 wild rats, consisting of 77 Rattus tanezumi and 33 Rattus norvegicus, displaying 30% LAMP positivity. The study revealed that 30% (30/100) of wild rats tested were infected with T. gondii. The molecular prevalence rate in male rats was 32.35% (22/68), compared to females with 25% (8/32). 41.9% of the housing population, 33.3% of traditional markets, and 22.6% of dense settlements had the highest molecular prevalence. The high positive molecular rate at the trapping site can be attributed to cats and dense populations. Conclusion: Thirty percentage wild rats were tested positive for toxoplasmosis in Surabaya, East Java, Indonesia using LAMP method. Implementing strict control and monitoring is crucial in preventing the transmission of diseases from wild rats to humans. It is necessary to carry out further research related to genetic analysis of T. gondii to determine the type of T. gondii that infects animals and humans in Surabaya through bioassay and molecular test.

Bearded dragons (Pogona vitticeps) are popular exotic pets. Oxyurid can be transmitted to them through contaminated insect and vegetable feed that may carry infective larvae and worm eggs. Oxyuriasis frequently infects Bearded dragon which then causes diarrhea, weight loss, and other digestive issues. This study investigated the impact of various feeding practices and feed hygiene on the prevalence and severity of Oxyurid infections in Bearded dragon. Total of 24 Bearded dragon was used on this study. The variation of feed was used in groups include mixed vegetable and insect feed without hygiene procedures (P0), insect feed without hygiene procedure (P1), vegetable feed without hygiene procedure (P2), mixed vegetable and insect feed with hygiene procedures (P3). For P3, the insects' stomach contents were removed and washed, while the vegetables were rinsed under running water and then dried before being fed to the reptiles. The morphology of Oxyurida eggs found in each group was examined using native and flotation techniques, while, the McMaster technique was carried out for infection intensity measurement. Data observed was analyzed using the Mann-Whitney test to evaluate the significance of the treatment effects, and the Kruskal-Wallis test to examine the associations. It showed that Pharyngodon sp. was found in all feed groups. A significant relationship (P < 0.05) was found between feed type, feed hygiene, and the infection rate of Pharyngodon sp. Conversely, the group which received the same type of feed but adhered to stringent feed hygiene protocols exhibited a significant fewer infection. This study highlights the critical importance of proper feeding management and feed hygiene in maintaining the health of Bearded dragon, particularly in preventing oxyurida infections

Cryptosporidiosis is a waterborne zoonosis caused by Cryptosporidium, which is a parasite that causes infection of the small intestine and leads to acute diarrhea in both humans and animals. Wild rats (Rattus spp.) are known to carry many zoonotic pathogens including Cryptosporidium. Given their close proximity to humans in urban environments, the likelihood of disease transmission is high. This study aims to detect the Cryptosporidium spp. infection in wild rats in Surabaya City, East Java Province. Intestinal fecal samples were collected using necropsy. The flotation test and Ziehl-Neelsen stain were used to observe the presence of Cryptosporidium under the microscope. The results showed that 69 samples were positive for Cryptosporidium spp. in the oocyst stage, which appeared dark pink with a clear cavity and the size of the oocysts ranged from 2-6 μm. The high incidence of cryptosporidiosis in wild rats is a potential health threat to both animals and humans.

Background: The protozoan Toxoplasma gondii is the source of the zoonosis Toxoplasmosis. and causes public health problems throughout the world. Environmental contamination by oocysts excreted by cats as definitive hosts affects the spread of this disease. Wild rats as rodents can be used as an indicator of environmental contamination by oocysts, considering that rats have a habit of living in dirty environments and can be infected by oocysts from the environment. Aim: This study aims to detection of toxoplasmosis from tissue cysts and serological test in wild rats as an indicator of environmental contamination in Surabaya. Methods: A total of 100 wild rats collected from Surabaya were collected in five areas (west, east, central, north, and south Surabaya) obtained from three trapping locations: housing, dense settlements, and markets. All samples were examined microscopically for parasitological tests through the brain tissue samples, and the serum was examined using the ToMAT (Toxoplasma Modified Agglutination Test) to detect the presence of Ig G and Ig M. Results: The results showed that the seroprevalence of T. gondii in wild rats was 31% (30% for Ig G and 1% for Ig M). Tissue cysts in the rat brain samples tested were 19% (19/100).Ig G prevalence rate in female rats was 25% (8/32) while for males it was 32.3% (22/68). The highest seropositive Ig G from densely populated settlements was 50%, markets were 25.8%, and housing was 12.1%. The highest seropositive Ig M from densely populated settlements was 2.8%. Population density and the presence of cats are factors supporting the high seropositive rate at the trapping location. Conclusion: This study revealed that there has been Toxoplasmosis contamination in Surabaya with evidance of 31% in serology and active infection with 19% tissue cyst. It is necessery for controling with survailance in cats to prevent transmission in humans. [Open Vet J 2023; 13(11.000): 1443-1450]