Comparison of helminths of three species of mice, Podomys floridanus, Peromyscus gossypinus, and Peromyscus polionotus, from southern Florida

Abstract

The helminths of 102 Florida mice, Podomys floridanus, 86 cotton mice, Peromyscus gossypinus, and 41 old-field mice, Peromyscus polionotus, from the Lake Wales ridge of southern Florida were studied. Nineteen species of helminths were found, and high indexes of similarity were found among the three host species. A trichostrongylid nematode, Carolinensis peromysci, and a pinworm, Syphacia peromysci, were common to all three hosts and accounted for 80% of all helminths collected. A liver fluke, Zonorchis komareki, and Carolinensis peromysci were more prevalent in mice from bayhead habitats, and two spirurid nematodes, Pterygodermatites peromysci and Gongylonema sp., were more prevalent in mice from flatwoods habitats. Other helminth species included four apparently derived from the cotton rat, Sigmodon hispidus, two from the eastern cottontail, Sylvilagus floridanus, and two from the raccoon, Procyon lotor. The helminth fauna of these three mice, which live in relatively xeric habitats, was dominated by nematodes.