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Seasonal dynamics of Pneumocystis carinii in the field vole, Microtus agrestis, and in the common shrew, Sorex araneus, in Finland

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 January 1999

J. LAAKKONEN ,
H. HENTTONEN ,
J. NIEMIMAA  and
T. SOVERI
J. LAAKKONEN
Affiliation:
Section of Anatomy and Embryology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, P.O. Box 57, FIN-00014 Helsinki University, Helsinki, Finland
H. HENTTONEN
Affiliation:
Finnish Forest Research Institute, Vantaa Research Center, P.O. Box 18, FIN-01301 Vantaa, Finland
J. NIEMIMAA
Affiliation:
Finnish Forest Research Institute, Vantaa Research Center, P.O. Box 18, FIN-01301 Vantaa, Finland
T. SOVERI
Affiliation:
Section of Physiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, P.O. Box 57, FIN-00014 Helsinki University, Helsinki, Finland
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Abstract

Seasonal dynamics of Pneumocystis carinii in the field vole, Microtus agrestis, and in the common shrew, Sorex araneus, were investigated in southern and central Finland by microscopical examination of methenamine silver-stained tissue sections. In both host species at both localities the number of P. carinii cyst forms was highest in late autumn (November). In S. araneus, prevalence was higher than in M. agrestis during all seasons. None of the animals was heavily infected or apparently ill, and neither species showed any extrapulmonary dissemination. In this study covering an increase phase and 4 peak host-density phases of the vole cycle, the occurrence of P. carinii seemed to be related to the population density of M. agrestis.

Keywords

Pneumocystis cariniiMicrotus agrestisSorex araneusseasonalitytransmission
Type
Research Article
Information
Parasitology , Volume 118 , Issue 1 , January 1999 , pp. 1 - 5
Copyright
1999 Cambridge University Press

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