STUDIES OF THE ECOLOGY OF SOME BLOOD PROTOZOA OF WILD SMALL MAMMALS IN NORTH GERMANY

  • 1 January 1980
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 37  (1) , 31-40
Abstract
In 1977 and 1978, 696 small mammals of 9 spp. [Mustela nivalis, Sorex araneus, Crocidura russula, Sciurus vulgaris, Erinaceus europaeus, Clethrionomys glareolus, Microtus, agrestis, Apodemus flavicollis and Oryctolagus cuniculus] were surveyed for protozoal blood parasites. The parasites found were Hepatozoon sylvatici in A. flavicollis, H. erhardovae and Trypanosoma evotomys in C. glareolus, T. microti and Babesia microti in M. agrestis and T. crocidurae in C. russula. H. erhardovae showed regularly high infection-rates (> 70%) during both 1977 and 1978. H. sylvatici was found only in 5.6% of the yellow-necked mice from March-Oct. T. microti and T. evotomys were predominately found in July-Oct. The high infection-rates of the bank vole with B. microti from Jan.-March and July-Aug. indicate a bimodal type of seasonal dynamic. Under natural conditions M. agrestis was the only host for B. microti. Nymphs of the tick Ixodes ricinus were able to transmit B. microti to Syrian golden hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus) in the laboratory.