Surveillance of small rodents and related health risks in a game bird farm

Abstract

Using live trapping devices we performed surveillance of small vertebrates in the game bird farm in Jinačovice in 2005 to 2006. The study was aimed at determining the species composition and numbers within individual technologies of rearing as well as finding possible reservoirs or sources of infectious agents. Five study areas were examined in 2005 and other three located within buildings were added in 2006. A line of 10 traps approximately 2 metres apart was employed on each study area. Small mammals trapped were sampled for parasitology and serology.Until the present, a total of 92 common species were captured – i.e., yellow-necked fieldmouse (Apodemus flavicollis), house mouse (Mus musculus), common vole (Microtus arvalis) and bank vole (Clethrionomys glareolus). Considering endoparasites, we found nematodes such as Aspicularis tetraptera and Syphacia obvelata, Catenotaenia spp. and undetermined members of the order Eucoccidiida. Ectoparasites included members of the order Siphonaptera – Ctenophthalmus solutus, Ctenophthalmus agyrtes, Megabothris (Gebiella) turbidus and Ctenophthalmus (Euct.) assimilis and order Acarina – Ixodes ricinus and Laelaps hilaris. Serology revealed antibodies against Leptospira grippotyphosa and L. sejroe.

Keywords

• small vertebrates
• live trapping
• biomonitoring
• bird farm
• infectious agents
• parasite