STUDIES ON THE PARASITIC PROTOZOA OF WILD MICE FROM BERKSHIRE WITH A DESCRIPTION OF A NEW SPECIES OF TRICHOMONAS*

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Abstract
SUMMARY: The work consists of a study of the protozoal parasites of wild rodents of the Silwood Park area, Berkshire. A comparison of the figures for the incidence of parasitic Protozoa in Apodemus sylvaticus and Clethrionymus glareolus at Silwood Park with those of Elton et al. for the same hosts in the Oxford area, shows that the incidence of parasites may vary widely between two geographically close populations. Observations of mitosis in Trichomonas muris confirm Wenrich's description of the process in that species. Individuals of T. muris apparently undergoing autotomy are described. Trichomonas microti Wenrich & Saxe, a four‐flagellate species, is reported for the first time from Apodemus sylvaticus. Trichomonas sylvatici sp. n. is described from the caecum of Apodemus. This differs from T. muris in the small size (3‐10μ× 1‐3μ), in the absence of a chromatic basal rod and chromatic granules and in the possession of a relatively large 3‐lobed blepharoplast. A species of Chilomastix is reported from the caecum of mice and voles. The literature concerning the taxonomy of “Hexamita muris” is surveyed. It is concluded that the forms in mice belong to a single species and that the valid name should be Syndyomita muris n. comb. A list of synonyms is given.