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Population biology of Eimeria (Protozoa: Apicomplexa) in Apodemus sylvaticus: a capture/recapture study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 April 2000

S. HIGGS
Affiliation:
Division of Zoology, School of Animal and Microbial Sciences, The University of Reading, Whiteknights, PO Box 228, Reading RG6 6AJ, UK
F. NOWELL
Affiliation:
Division of Zoology, School of Animal and Microbial Sciences, The University of Reading, Whiteknights, PO Box 228, Reading RG6 6AJ, UK Present address: The Arthropod-borne and Infectious Diseases Laboratory, Foothills Campus, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado CO 80523-1682, USA.

Abstract

The first long-term (27 month) survey of single species of Eimeria occurring in a population of Apodemus sylvaticus in the UK showed that Eimeria apionodes, E. hungaryensis and E. uptoni occurred throughout the period whilst E. sp. E. was only found during 4 months. In first-captured animals, overall prevalence of Eimeria spp. was 73%: a figure higher than previously published, but possibly an underestimate. Multiple infections (2 or 3 species) occurred in 34% of first-capture infected animals, but without significant associations. There were no significant differences of prevalence rates between the sexes, nor between adults and juveniles, except for E. uptoni which was more common in juveniles than in adults. E. hungaryensis and E. uptoni probably occurred as near-continuous infections whilst E. apionodes occurred more intermittently but with no long-term total immunity. Monthly prevalence data indicated ongoing trends over the 27 months. Prevalences of E. apionodes indicated an annual cycle, lowest in January–May and with a peak in October–November, correlating positively with both the number of animals and the percentage of juveniles in the host population and also with the environmental relative humidity. There was no consistent pattern for E. uptoni and an annual cycle for E. hungaryensis was not apparent.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
2000 Cambridge University Press

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