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Case Reports
. 2020 Dec 14;9(12):1048.
doi: 10.3390/pathogens9121048.

Enzootic Hepatic Capillariasis (Calodium hepaticum) in Street Rats (Rattus norvegicus) from Marseille City, France

Cédric Roqueplo  1   2 , Hubert Lepidi  3   4   5 , Hacène Medkour  3   4 , Younes Laidoudi  3   4 , Jean-Lou Marié  2   6 , Bernard Davoust  2   3   4
Affiliations
Case Reports

Enzootic Hepatic Capillariasis (Calodium hepaticum) in Street Rats (Rattus norvegicus) from Marseille City, France

Cédric Roqueplo et al. Pathogens. .

Abstract

Hepatic capillariasis is a rare and neglected zoonosis affecting wild and synanthropic small rodents. It is caused by infection with Calodium hepaticum in liver. Despite the worldwide distribution of the host Rattus norvegicus (brown or street rats) in the urban area, the epidemiological status of this parasitosis remains unknown. In the present study, we examined a total of 27 brown rats from the city centre and a garden (four km from the city centre) of Marseille, France. All rats were autopsied and 52% showed the presence of C. hepaticum eggs in the liver. This result draws general attention to public health risks, since street rats are living near the human population.

Keywords: Calodium hepaticum; France; Rattus norvegicus; hepatic capillariasis; rodent; zoonosis.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Micrograph showing pathological lesions (arrowed) of liver affected by capillariasis. The yellowish-white lesions are located under the Glisson’s capsule and grouped in patches with irregular forms.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Histologic characteristics of Calodium hepaticum infection in rat (Rattus norvegicus) liver. Liver parenchyma showed numerous oval or spherical eggs of C. hepaticum in a necrotic fibrous tissue (arrow) [haematoxylin–eosin–safran—HES, original magnification ×30].
Figure 3
Figure 3
(a) Rat liver: uteri of adult worms (Calodium hepaticum) with eggs [HES, original magnification ×80]. (b) Lysing dead worms [HES, original magnification ×30].
Figure 4
Figure 4
Rat liver. (a) eggs of C. hepaticum within foci in a fibrous and inflammatory tissue (arrow) [HES, original magnification ×190]. (b) eggs of C. hepaticum doliiform (barrel-shaped) with thick wall (bilayer) consisting of proteins forming radial striae [Schiff’s periodic acid—PAS, original magnification ×250].
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