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Seasonal and site specific variation in the component community structure of intestinal helminths in Apodemus sylvaticus from three contrasting habitats in south-east England

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 February 2007

M.A. Abu-Madi
Affiliation:
School of Biological Sciences, Royal Holloway, University of London, Egham, Surrey, TW20 0EX, UK Department of Applied Sciences, Faculty of Technology, Qatar University, PO Box 2713, Doha, Qatar
J.M. Behnke*
Affiliation:
School of Biological Sciences, University Park, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK
J.W. Lewis
Affiliation:
School of Biological Sciences, Royal Holloway, University of London, Egham, Surrey, TW20 0EX, UK
F.S. Gilbert
Affiliation:
School of Biological Sciences, University Park, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK
*
*Author for correspondence. Fax: 0115 9513251 E-mail: jerzy.behnke@nottingham.ac.u

Abstract

Seasonal fluctuations in the prevalence and abundance of infection with intestinal helminths were studied in Apodemus sylvaticus (wood mouse, n = 399), from three contrasting habitats in southern England, to test the hypothesis that both intrinsic (host sex, age) and extrinsic (season, site) factors influence parasite species richness and abundance. Five species of helminths were recovered but only one of these (Capillaria murissylvatici) was site-specific (Dungeness). Total species richness was therefore 5 at Dungeness and 4 at the other two sites. Mean species richness was 1.4, but in adult mice there was a pronounced difference between the sites, and an independent highly significant effect of season. Syphacia stroma and Corrigia vitta both showed marked differences between sites in respect of prevalence and abundance of infection. Capillaria murissylvatici was encountered at Dungeness mostly in the spring whereas seasonal changes in abundance ofS. stroma were consistent across all three sites. Seasonal fluctuations in the abundance of Catenotaenia pusilla were compounded by differences between sites. Host sex was not a significant factor in any species, although a posteriorianalysis of S. stromaworm burdens for the Isle of Wight site revealed a moderate local sex effect. Overall the principal determinants of variation in helminth burdens were the extrinsic factors, site and season.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Cambridge University Press 2000

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