The striped field mouse (Apodemus agrarius) as a host of fleas (Siphonaptera) and tapeworms (Cestoda) in suburban environment of Lublin (eastern Poland)

Zbigniew Zając; Joanna Kulisz; Aneta Woźniak

doi:10.18778/1730-2366.15.02

Authors

Zbigniew Zając Medical University of Lublin, Chair and Department of Biology and Parasitology, Radziwiłłowska 11 st., 20–080 Lublin https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4684-7245
Joanna Kulisz Medical University of Lublin, Chair and Department of Biology and Parasitology, Radziwiłłowska 11 st., 20–080 Lublin https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3604-2558
Aneta Woźniak Medical University of Lublin, Chair and Department of Biology and Parasitology, Radziwiłłowska 11 st., 20–080 Lublin https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0505-2144

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18778/1730-2366.15.02

Keywords:

Apodemus agrarius, fleas, tapeworms

Abstract

The striped field mouse, Apodemus agrarius, is one of the most abundant species among small rodents in Poland. It occurs commonly across the whole country inhabiting diverse ecological niches as meadows, farmlands, enclaves of natural habitats in cities. Wide range of ecological tolerance of this species makes it often the host, reservoir and vector of many pathogens: viruses, bacteria, protozoa, helminths and arthropods. The aim of the present study was to carry out a qualitative and quantitative analysis of the fleas community and intestinal tapeworms of A. agrarius in suburban environment of Lublin (eastern Poland).

In studied population three species of Siphonaptera class i.e. Ctenophthalmus agyrtes, Nosopsyllus fasciatus, Hystrichopsylla talpae and one intestine Cestoda species Hymenolepis diminuta were identified. The results of our researches confirmed role of A. agrarius as the reservoir for tapeworms and host for fleas in urban environment. High level of the prevalence of fleas and tapeworms in rodents indicates the significant degree of contamination and can cause an epidemiological threat for human’s health.

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