rat parasites

Question
QUESTION: I found a clump of white gel like substance at my 1 yr 8 mo old female albino rat.  Upon closer inspection they are little worms; I put them in a plastic bag.  Is my other little hooded female at risk and what should I do?

ANSWER: I don't know enough about rats to answer this but finding a gel-like substance 'at' your rat doesn't tell me where they came from.
I have no idea if they came from her or a piece of rotten food she found that has tiny maggots.
Many a client showed us what they thought were worms and they turned out to be maggots. Animals can actually eat food with maggots in it and they pass right out into the stool of the animal still alive, so the owners think they 'came' from that animal.
Call the vet's and ask them if they have rat wormer.We have never had a client ask for it.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I found the clump at the rectum of my rat.  I didn't find it in her bedding.  I have made a Vet appt tonight

Answer
I have found a good page for you. Apparently rats get pinworms a lot.
Here is what the page says:\\Helminths

   * Nematodes (roundworms, this includes pinworms)
         o Syphacia muris (Oxyurid known as rat pinworm), most common parasite seen in rats. The life cycle is direct and requires only a short time, 11-15 days for completion of the cycle. They are migratory moving after ingestion to the large intestine and then to the perianal area to deposit eggs. These eggs are then disseminated into the surroundings, surviving weeks, where they can be reingested or ingested by another rat. Age, sex, and immune status are factors. Weanling rats, particularly males, may be most affected. These numbers diminish with the age of the rat. This parasite is not considered pathogenic unless there is heavy infestation or in the immunocompromized, and then symptoms may include: constipation, fecal impaction, and rectal prolapse. Humans have their own species of pinworm, and are considered a wrong host for the rat pinworm because its life cycle can not be completed.

here is the page:

http://ratguide.com/health/digestive/endoparasites.php

Hope you get some relief for him!