A SURVEY OF CRYPTOSPORIDIUM SPECIES IN SKOMER BANK VOLES (CLETHRIONOMYS-GLAREOLUS SKOMERENSIS)

A survey of Skomer voles (Clethrionomys glareolus skomerensis) conduct ed in August of 1994 and 1995 discovered that 51% of live-trapped anim als were positive for Cryptosporidium species (Coccidia). Of the posit ive animals, 85% were shedding C. muris in their faeces, 5% C. parvum and 10% apparently both parasite species. On the U.K. mainland, the pr evalence of Cryptosporidium in the bank vole (Clethrionomys glareolus) is a quarter of that on Skomer and the species normally found is C. p arvum. Interest in C. parvum stems from the often severe diarrhoeal di sease cryptosporidiosis which it can cause in humans and livestock. Th e parasite occupies the gastro-intestinal tract and is transmitted bet ween hosts by the faecal-oral route. It has been suggested that wild r odents may be an important reservoir of infection by C. parvum for liv estock. However, on Skomer island, C. muris, which is rarely found in livestock, is the dominant species infecting voles.