Morphological and molecular identification of Hymenolepis spp. in Rattus rattus and children with diarrhea from Upper Egypt.

Introduction: Hymenolepiasis remains among the most common parasitic zoonoses in developing countries. Little information is available about hymenolepiasis in children in Upper Egypt and rodents' contribution to maintaining the disease's epidemiology.

Methodology: A cross-sectional study was carried out to investigate the occurrence of Hymenolepis spp. in Rattus rattus and children in Asyut Governorate, Egypt. Rodents (n = 100) were randomly trapped from various localities in Asyut Governorate, and stool samples from 120 children were collected from the same localities. Laboratory examination of the collected samples involved investigation of the small intestine of R. rattus for adult worm detection by morphological examination, followed by examination of stool samples of children using direct smear, formol-ether sedimentation technique, and Sheather's sugar flotation technique. Confirmation of Hymenolepis spp. positive samples were performed using polymerase chain reaction targeting the internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS-1) and restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP).

Results: This study revealed the occurrence of Hymenolepis spp. in 45% of the examined R. rattus, comprising 43% positivity for H. diminuta and 2% for mixed infection by H. nana and H. diminuta. Hymenolepis nana was detected in 28.3% of the examined children. PCR-RFLP confirmed these findings, showing 100% sensitivity. Collectively, these findings reveal the potential contribution of R. rattus as an important reservoir for Hymenolepis infection in Upper Egypt.

Conclusions: This study concluded that personal education, periodical deworming of children, rodent control, and hygienic measures should be implemented by governmental and nongovernmental organizations to reduce the incidence of infection.