Aonchotheca forresteri is a parasitic nematode that infects the marsh rice rat in Florida. Occurring mainly in adults, it inhabits the stomach. It is much more common during the wet season, perhaps because its unknown intermediate host is an earthworm that only emerges when it rains. The worm was discovered in 1970 and formally described in 1987. Originally classified in the genus Capillaria, it was reclassified in Aonchotheca in 1999. A. forresteri is small and narrow-bodied, with a length of 13.8 to 19.4 mm in females and 6.8 to 9.2 mm in males. Similar species such as A. putorii differ in features of the alae and spicule, the size of the female, and the texture of the eggs.
Hassalstrongylus musculi is a nematode worm of the genus Hassalstrongylus that infects the marsh rice rat and house mouse in the United States and Oryzomys couesi, Oligoryzomys fulvescens, and Handleyomys melanotis in San Luis Potosí, Mexico. It was first described as Longistriata musculi by Dikmans in 1935, but transferred to Hassalstrongylus in 1971 and 1972 by Marie-Claude Durette-Desset. She later renamed the material she had used to describe H. musculi in 1972 as H. forresteri. The females cannot be distinguished from those of the other species in the marsh rice rat, H. forresteri and H. lichtenfelsi.
Hassalstrongylus lichtenfelsi is a nematode worm of the genus Hassalstrongylus that infects the marsh rice rat in Florida. The females cannot be distinguished from those of the other species in the marsh rice rat, H. forresteri and H. musculi.
Taenia mustelae is a tapeworm of the genus Taenia from the United States. Adults infect carnivorans such as weasels, skunks, and martens, but larvae have been found in rodents such as the Florida mouse and the marsh rice rat in Florida and the hispid cotton rat in Florida and Georgia. These rodents may serve as intermediate hosts.
Stenoponia americana is a species of large flea in the family Hystrichopsyllidae. It is widespread in North America east of the Great Plains and is found mainly on rodents, notably deermice (Peromyscus) and voles (Microtus). In Missouri, it has been recorded on the fox squirrel, brush mouse, cotton mouse, prairie vole, woodland vole, and white-footed mouse. Hosts recorded in Tennessee include the northern short-tailed shrew, woodland vole, white-footed mouse, hispid cotton rat, marsh rice rat, and house mouse. In South Carolina, recorded hosts include the cotton mouse, hispid cotton rat, and marsh rice rat.
Polygenis gwyni is a flea that commonly infects the hispid cotton rat in the southern United States; it is also frequently found on other species ecologically associated with the cotton rat. Hosts recorded in South Carolina include the cotton rat as well as the Florida woodrat, cotton mouse, marsh rice rat, and brown rat.
Capillaria gastrica is a parasitic nematode in the genus Capillaria. Among the known host species are the marsh rice rat and deermouse.
Litomosoides scotti is a parasitic nematode in the genus Litomosoides. First described in 1973, it infects the marsh rice rat and is known from a saltwater marsh at Cedar Key, Florida.
Mastophorus muris is a parasitic nematode in the genus Mastophorus. It infects animals such as the marsh rice rat, hispid cotton rat, and singing vole.
Amblyomma maculatum is a species of tick in the genus Amblyomma. Immatures usually infest small mammals and birds that dwell on the ground; cotton rats may be particularly favored hosts. Some recorded hosts include:
Listrophorus is a genus of parasitic mites in the family Listrophoridae. North American species with their hosts include:
Prolistrophorus bakeri is a parasitic mite in the genus Prolistrophorus. Together with the Argentine P. hirstianus, it forms the subgenus Beprolistrophorus. P. bakeri has been found on the hispid cotton rat, marsh rice rat, and cotton mouse in Georgia, South Carolina, Texas, and Florida and on Oryzomys couesi in Colima. It was formerly placed in the genus Listrophorus.
Parastrongylus schmidti is a species of parasitic nematode in the genus Parastrongylus. It was first described as Angiostrongylus schmidti in 1971 from the marsh rice rat in Florida, but later assigned to Parastrongylus.
Pterygodermatites ondatrae is a species of parasitic nematode in the genus Pterygodermatites. It has been recorded in the hispid cotton rat in Florida and Texas. In Florida, it has also been recorded on the marsh rice rat, together with an unnamed species of the same genus, the female of which cannot be distinguished from that of P. ondatrae.
Pterygodermatites is a genus of parasitic nematodes in the family Rictulariidae. Their life-cycle is complex. Species include:
Physaloptera hispida is a parasitic nematode in the genus Physaloptera. It has been found on the marsh rice rat, hispid cotton rat, Florida mouse, cotton mouse, and oldfield mouse in Florida.
Trichostrongylus affinis is a species of parasitic nematode in the genus Trichostrongylus. It primarily infects cottontails (Sylvilagus), but has also been found in the hispid cotton rat and the marsh rice rat.
Trichostrongylus sigmodontis is a species of parasitic nematode in the genus Trichostrongylus. It primarily infects the hispid cotton rat, but has also been found in the marsh rice rat.
