Blood parasites of the Black Rat (Rattus rattus) In El-Kala National Park in north-eastern Algeria

Chedli-Bendjedid El-Tarf University, El-Tarf 36000, Algeria.

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Abstract

El-Kala National Park in north-eastern Algeria, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, is a protected yet inhabited area where diverse ecosystems and human activities coexist within the agriculturally oriented wilaya of El-Tarf. The cosmopolitan black rat (Rattus rattus) is widespread in the park and may act as a reservoir for ectoparasites, endoparasites, and blood parasites, potentially affecting wildlife, human health, and ecosystem stability. This study provides the first baseline assessment of blood parasite diversity in R. rattus within the Wildlife Park, the core zone of the Biosphere Reserve. A total of 115 rats were examined, and 200 thin blood smears were prepared and stained using May Grünwald–Giemsa for microscopic analysis. Five blood parasite taxa were observed, including forms morphologically compatible with Plasmodium spp. (notably P. falciparum-like organisms), Plasmodium tomodoni, Fallisia simplex, Trypanosoma thecadactyli, and a Trypanosoma sp. related to the T. brucei group. The overall infection prevalence reached 47.66% (55/115). These findings reveal a substantial infection burden in R. rattus and highlight its potential role as a reservoir facilitating parasite transmission within this inhabited protected area. This baseline study provides essential data to guide routine health surveillance and integrated parasite management as key components of sustainable wildlife conservation.