Plagiorchis muris infection in Apodemus agrarius from northern Gyeonggi-do (Province) near the demilitarized zone

Korean J Parasitol. 2007 Jun;45(2):153-6. doi: 10.3347/kjp.2007.45.2.153.

Abstract

The small intestines of 6 species of rodents and 1 species of insectivore were examined seasonally for Plagiorchis muris infection in 3 different localities in northern Gyeonggi-do (Province), near the demilitarized zone (DMZ). A total of 1,496 animals, including 1,366 Apodemus agrarius, 54 Crocidura lasiura (insectivore), 32 Mus musculus, 28 Micronytus fortis, 9 Eothenomys regulus, 6 Micronys minutus, and 3 Cricetulus triton, were live-trapped at Yeoncheon-gun (n = 351), Paju-shi (804) and Pocheon-gun (343) at 3-mo intervals from December 2004 to September 2005. A total of 1,647 P. muris were collected from 72 (5.3%) A. agrarius. The infection rate was the highest in Pocheon-gun (8.2%), followed by Yeoncheon-gun (5.0%) and Paju-shi (4.2%). A higher infection rate was observed in A. agrarius captured during September (19.4%) than those captured during December (3.0%), June (2.6%), or April (0%). However, the worm burden was the highest in June (av. 32.1/animal), followed by September (24.7), December (4.0), and April (0). None of the other animal species were found infected with P. muris. The results reveal that A. agrarius is a natural definitive host for P. muris, and infection rates and worm burdens vary seasonally and geographically.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Arvicolinae / parasitology
  • Cricetinae
  • Cricetulus / parasitology
  • Eulipotyphla / parasitology
  • Intestine, Small / parasitology
  • Korea / epidemiology
  • Mice / parasitology
  • Murinae / parasitology*
  • Prevalence
  • Rodent Diseases / epidemiology
  • Rodent Diseases / parasitology*
  • Rodentia
  • Seasons
  • Trematoda / isolation & purification*
  • Trematode Infections / epidemiology
  • Trematode Infections / parasitology
  • Trematode Infections / veterinary*