Helminth fauna of rodents (Arvicolidae and Muridae) from the Kampinos National Park
Kucia, M.; Sulgostowska, T.; Jóźwiak, H.
Wiadomosci Parazytologiczne 52(2): 127-134
2006
ISSN/ISBN: 0043-5163 PMID: 17120995 Document Number: 596440
One hundred and sixty-nine rodents from the family Arvicolidae and Muridae were collected and examined in an area of the Kampinos National Park (Poland) that is near a human settlement. The samples comprised Microtus arvalis (n=5), Mus musculus (n=131), Apodemus silvaticus (n=9), A. flavicollis (n=8), A. agrarius (n=14) and Micromys minutus (n=2). The examination of certain internal organs viz. alimentary tract, liver, lungs, kidneys, heart and body cavity, revealed the presence of 8 helminth species; they include 3 species of cestodes (Paranoplocephala macrocephala, Hymenolepis diminuta and Taenia taeniaeformis) and 5 species of nematodes (Heterakis spumosa, Aspiculuris tetraptera, Syphacia obvelata, Heligmosomoides polygyrum and Mastophorus muris). All helminths were detected in the alimentary tract, including the liver. It was observed that species that have complex life cycles undergo seasonal fluctuations in their abundance. The distribution of particular helminths along the alimentary tract of the rodent species studied is also described.