Abstract

A total of 150 Laboratory mice divided into four age groups consisted of 4, 6, 8 and 10 weeks old were used in this study by placing each animal individually in a special cage within the period between October 2019 to the end of February 2020 at the Research and Graduate Studies Laboratory University of Mosul, Iraq. This study aimed to investigate intestinal parasitic infections in laboratory mice, stool samples were collected for 150 laboratory mice and periodically to perform laboratory tests that included direct slide examination and using the concentration method to detect eggs of worms and cysts of protozoa parasites, the culture of parasites also was used by prepared manufactured culture media to develop parasites. The infection was diagnosed in 136 (90.66%) mice while the rest 14 (9.33%) mice did not record any parasitic infection (clean). The higher rate of infection 58% was reported for Trichomonas muris followed by Entamoeba muris and Giardia muris which found in 22%, 15.3% respectively. In the other hand the infection with Hymenolepis diminuta was recorded in 16% from infected cases by identifying the eggs of this worm in stool samples. This study shows the high rate of parasites infection in laboratory mice which might have negative effects on the result of previous scientific researches, in addition to wasting effort, time, and materials.