Variations in small mammal helminths structure during host population
peak and decline periods and according to locality
Abstract
Our results indicated that 64 % (38/59) of small mammals (Apodemus
flavicolis, A. sylvaticus, Myodes glareolus, Microtus agrestris, M.
arvalis, Sorex araneus and S. minutus) studied in 2015 were infected
with Syphacia, Trichuris, Aonchotheca, Heligmosomidae and tapeworms, and
64 % (27/42) of animals investigated in 2018 were infected with
Syphacia, Trichuris, Aonchotheca, Heligmosomidae and tapeworms. In 2018,
prevalence of infection was 83 % (15/18) in autumn in NW Bohemia and 50
% (12/24) in autumn 2018 in South-East Bohemia. Regarding locality,
total prevalence of infection and species richness were higher in
North-West Bohemia. Total prevalence of infection according to season
was 72 % (18/25) in spring and 62 % (47/76) in autumn. In NW Bohemia
in 2015, 72 % (18/25) of animals were infected in spring and 59 %
(20/34) in autumn. Statistically significant differences in parasite
infection of Murinae and Arvicolinae were evident when comparing years
and seasons.