Stowaways of a Stowaway: Parasites of Invasive Rodents

Abstract

Human-induced ecosystem modifications include the introduction of alien species, among which rodents are particularly widespread. The expansion and adaptations of invasive rodents, which can come from distant regions, even different continents, have a wide spectrum of ecological consequences, including the spread of parasites and pathogens. As the title of this Research Topic reflects, the parasites travel to these newly colonized areas as stowaways on a stowaway (1, 2). Studies of parasites of invasive rodents have focused mainly on those carried by the genera Rattus and Mus. The available literature describes the parasites found and their prevalence, with particular attention given to zoonotic species that pose a threat for human health, and analyses of the specific host traits that enable successful invasions. Some recent studies have also investigated the spillover effect, shedding light on how the stowaway parasites are transmitted to native rodent species, and the role played by both invasive and native animals in transmission dynamics and maintenance of the new parasites in colonized environments. Our aim here is to focus on recent work in the field, dealing with previously unexplored Research Topics, and to identify research gaps and new questions to be pursued in the future.