Infections with blood parasites in the small British rodentsApodemus sylvaticus,Clethrionomys glareolusandMicrotus agrestis

Abstract

SUMMARYThree populations of small wild British rodents were studied by capture–recapture methods over a period of 3 years, a fourth group was studied for 1 year and a fifth was sampled annually for 4 years. Blood smears were taken from 3 species of rodents: the woodmouseA podemus sylvaticus, the bank voleClethrionomys glareolus(and an island sub-speciesC.g. skomerensis) and the short-tailed voleMicrotus agrestis. The smears were examined microscopically. Four genera of haemoparasitesBabesia, Hepatozoon, TrypanosomaandGrahamellawere detected.Babesiawas absent fromC.g. skomerensis, Hepatozoonwas rarely found inA. sylvaticusandM. agrestisandTrypanosomawas rare inA. sylvaticus. More males were infected than females but the difference was only statistically significant for the infection withHepatozoonin adultC.g. skomerensis. Infections withBabesiaandHepatozoonwere more prevalent in adult animals and infections withTrypanosomawere more prevalent in younger individuals. Only inC.g. skomerensiswas there a significant difference between age classes in the prevalence of infection withGrahamella– there being more adults infected. Concurrent infections were detected,Hepatozoonbeing the parasite most commonly involved. The prevalence of infections was found to be approximately proportional to the number of animals known to be alive, regardless of the season.

Natural infections of small mammals with blood parasites on the borderland of boreal and temperate forest zones

“…Our results are in accordance to data from former Czechoslovakia, Austria and Great Britain (Šebek 1975, Šebek et al 1980, Frank 1978, Healing 1981, Turner 1986), but higher than from Norway (0-16.7% in summer -Wiger 1979). However, the infection with Herpetosoma trypanosomes depends on season (Turner 1986, Karbowiak andWita 2001).…”

“…T. evotomys was relatively rare in bank vole in spring (0.9% -Šebek 1975, Šebek et al 1980) and frequent in late summer (Baker et al 1963, Karbowiak andWita 2001). The prevalence of T. microti was higher in root vole from Białowieża Forest (21.4-50.0%) than those noted for field vole (0.9-12.8% - Baker et al 1963, Šebek 1975, Healing 1981 and common vole Microtus arvalis (9.0% - Pawelczyk et al 2004). However, some authors showed the between-year variability in prevalence of this parasite (Wiger 1979, Pawelczyk et al 2004.…”

Haemogregarines of the genus Hepatozoon (Apicomplexa: Adeleina) in rodents from northern Europe

“…Seasonal (Wiger 1979, Turner 1986) and annual (Healing 1981) differences in the occurrence of blood forms of Hepatozoon have previously been reported from rodents in northern and Central Europe. In the present study, lung meronts were common in C. glareolus in all seasons (Table 1).…”

“…Intracellular gametocytes are found in circulation either in erythrocytes or in leukocytes. Surveys of small mammals in Central Europe (Mahnert 1972, Frank 1977, Šebek 1978, Šebek et al 1980, Walter and Liebisch 1980, Healing 1981, Turner 1986 indicate that Hepatozoon infections are especially common in the bank vole, Clethrionomys glareolus (Schreber). One species, Hepatozoon erhardovae Krampitz, 1964, has the bank vole as the type host.…”

Diversity of Babesia Infecting European Sheep Ticks ( Ixodes ricinus )

“…Human cases of babesiosis caused by B. microti in Europe are rarely described and were most likely acquired abroad (4). B. microti has also been documented as a parasite of rodents in different parts of Europe (5,7,22). The tick that is probably involved in maintenance of B. microti in rodent populations in Europe is Ixodes trianguliceps.…”