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The helminth community of the wood mouse, Apodemus sylvaticus, in the Sierra Espuña, Murcia, Spain

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 April 2024

M.V. Fuentes ,
S. Sáez ,
M. Trelis ,
M.T. Galán-Puchades  and
J.G. Esteban
M.V. Fuentes*
Affiliation:
Departament de Parasitologia, Facultat de Farmàcia, Universitat de València, Av. Vicent Andrés Estellés s/n, 46100 Burjassot-València, Spain
S. Sáez
Affiliation:
Departament de Parasitologia, Facultat de Farmàcia, Universitat de València, Av. Vicent Andrés Estellés s/n, 46100 Burjassot-València, Spain
M. Trelis
Affiliation:
Departament de Parasitologia, Facultat de Farmàcia, Universitat de València, Av. Vicent Andrés Estellés s/n, 46100 Burjassot-València, Spain
M.T. Galán-Puchades
Affiliation:
Departament de Parasitologia, Facultat de Farmàcia, Universitat de València, Av. Vicent Andrés Estellés s/n, 46100 Burjassot-València, Spain
J.G. Esteban
Affiliation:
Departament de Parasitologia, Facultat de Farmàcia, Universitat de València, Av. Vicent Andrés Estellés s/n, 46100 Burjassot-València, Spain
*
*Fax: 34 963544769, Email: mario.v.fuentes@uv.es
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Abstract

The helminth community of the wood mouse, Apodemus sylvaticus, in the Sierra Espuña was characterized after a complete analysis of its helminth community component and infracommunity structure relative to host age, sex and year of capture. The helminth community comprised 13 species: one trematode, four cestodes and eight nematodes. The cestode Pseudocatenotaenia matovi and the nematode Syphacia frederici were the most prevalent and abundant helminth species, respectively. Sixty four percent of mice analysed presented helminths with a direct cycle and 42% presented helminths with an indirect cycle. The helminth community presents a low diversity with infracommunities usually made up of only one or two helminth species. Host age and year of capture seem to play a major role in determining species richness and helminth diversity, but not in determining the abundance of helminths. Host sex does not seem to affect the infection rate nor the diversity. Further studies on more samples of wood mice and other small mammal species in this regional park are needed to explore any possible interactions between helminth communities in the host populations.

Type
Review Article
Information
Journal of Helminthology , Volume 78 , Issue 3 , September 2004 , pp. 219 - 223
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2004

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