Abstract
Prevalence and abundance of Cryptosporodium parvum and Giardia spp. were studied in 3 species of rodents from forests and abandoned agricultural fields in N.E. Poland (Clethrionomys glareolus n = 459; Microtus arvalis n = 274; Apodemus flavicollis n = 209). Overall prevalence was consistently higher in the voles compared with A. flavicollis (70.6, 73.0 and 27.8% respectively for C. parvum and 93.9, 96.3 and 48.3% respectively for Giardia spp.). Prevalence and abundance of infection also varied markedly across 3 years with 1998 being a year of higher prevalence and abundance with both species. Fewer older animals (especially C. glareolus and M. arvalis) carried infection with C. parvum and infections in these animals were relatively milder. Although seasonal differences were significant, no consistent pattern of changes was apparent. Host sex did not influence prevalence or abundance of infection with C. parvum, but made a small contribution to a 4-way interaction (in 5-way ANOVA) with other factors in the case of Giardia spp. The 2 species co-occurred significantly and in animals carrying both parasites there was a highly significant positive correlation between abundance of infection with each, even with between-year, seasonal, host age, sex and species differences taken into account. Quantitative associations were confined to the 2 vole species in the study. These results are discussed in relation to the importance of wild rodents as reservoir hosts and sources of infection for local human communities.
Highlights
Prevalence and abundance of Cryptosporodium parvum and Giardia spp. were studied in 3 species of rodents from forests and abandoned agricultural fields in N.E
Overall prevalence was consistently higher in the voles compared with A. flavicollis (70n6, 73n0 and 27n8 % respectively for C. parvum and 93n9, 96n3 and 48n3 % respectively for Giardia spp.)
A wide range of natural reservoir hosts has been reported for C. parvum (Sturdee, Chalmers & Bull, 1999) and experimental transmission studies have established that some strains of this organism lack host specificity and can be transmitted between mammalian hosts (O’Donoghue, 1995 ; Okhuysen et al 1999)
Summary
Three age classes were established on the basis of weight (Morris, 1972) and sexual development, corresponding to immature juveniles (age class 1), young mature animals (age class 2) and adults (age class 3). For C. glareolus age classes 1, 2 and 3 comprised respectively voles 15 g in weight (approximately less than 1n5 month old), 15–19n5 g in weight (1n5 to 2n5 months old) and 19n5 g (2n5 months and older ; Mazurkiewicz, 1972 ; Kozakiewicz, 1976). For M. arvalis these were respectively voles 14 g (less than 1n5 month old), 14n5–19 g (1n5 to 2n5 month old) and 19 g (2n5 months and older ; Adamczewska-Andrzejewska, 1973). For A. flavicollis the 3 age classes corresponded to mice 20 g (less than 3n5 month old), 20–30 g (3n5 to 7 month old) and 30 g (7 months and older ; Swierczewska, 1981), respectively
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