A decade of research on ectoparasites and endoparasites in wild rats in Indonesia (2015-2025): A review.

Abstract

Zoonotic diseases, which are transmitted between vertebrate animals and people, significantly impact global public health. Wild rats are reservoirs for numerous zoonotic illnesses, such as leptospirosis, toxoplasmosis, trypanosomiasis, and helminth infections. This study analyzed the prevalence and diversity of ectoparasites and endoparasites in wild rats in Indonesia over a decade (2015-2025). We conducted a comprehensive search using PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus, and Science Direct, which yielded 62 publications, of which 25 met the inclusion criteria. Significant variations in ectoparasite and endoparasite loads were observed in wild rats across regions, seasons, and host species, reflecting infestation across a wide range of habitats, including urban, semi-urban, island, and rice field environments. Although molecular techniques are increasingly being applied in parasitology, only six studies used them for parasite identification in wild rats. This review highlights research gaps related to small sample sizes, limited data on blood parasites, and insufficient molecular characterization. Findings suggest that environmental changes-such as urbanization, deforestation, agricultural expansion, and seasonal shifts-may influence parasite distribution patterns.