Trichuris muris |
Gastrointestinal Helminth |
Nematoda |
46.17% |
Eggs embryonate in environment and hatch upon ingestion. First stage
larvae establish in mucosa of colon and caecum, and moult until reaching
maturity. Adult worms remain embedded in epithelium and release eggs
with the host faeces. (Flynn, 2007; Panesar & Croll, 1980; Wakelin,
1969) |
|
Gastrointestinal Helminth |
Nematoda |
30.33% |
Direct – eggs
embryonate on perianal region of host, and are ingested by another host
from the perineum, or from contaminated food or water. Eggs hatch in the
host, and adults reside in the lumen of the caecum and colon and release
eggs with host faeces. (Flynn, 2007) |
|
Hepatic
Helminth
|
Nematoda |
58.23% |
Eggs embryonate in environment and hatch in the intestine
following ingestion. Infective larvae penetrate the mucosa and enter the
liver via the hepatic portal system. Larvae develop into adults and
reproduce, leaving gravid females in the liver. Eggs are released upon
the host’s death via necrophagy or decomposition of the host body.
(Flynn, 2007; C. W. Lee, 2009) |
Bartonella sp. |
Bloodborne Microparasite |
Bacteria |
47.12% |
Transmission occurs during feeding on the host by an arthropod vector
(typically fleas and ticks), potentially from the vector’s faeces. The
bacteria enter the bloodstream, where they invade erythrocytes and
reproduce intracellularly. Further transmission occurs during later
bloodfeeding by the arthropod ectoparasites. (Harms & Dehio,
2012) |
Sarcocystis dispersa |
Bloodborne Microparasite |
Ampicomplexa |
6.90% |
M.musculus is the intermediate host, and becomes
infected upon ingesting sporozoites, which disperse through the blood.
Bradyzoite cysts develop in skeletal tissue, and complete their life
cycle following predation of the host by owls. (Flynn, 2007; Kolářová,
1986; Skárková, 1986) |
Nosopsyllus fasciatus |
Arthropod ectoparasite |
Fleas
(Siphonaptera)
|
34.15% |
Eggs
are laid on the fur of the host, and fall into the environment where
they hatch. Larvae moult and pupate, and jump onto the fur of the host
when movement is detected, where reproduction occurs. (Flynn,
2007) |
Radfordia sp.,
Myobia sp., Trombicula sp.
|
Arthropod ectoparasite
|
Mites
(Acari)
|
84.42%
|
Parasite eggs hatch on the host, where they develop through larval and
nymph stages to become adults. Reproduction occurs in the fur of the
mice, and transmission occurs through direct contact between hosts.
(Flynn, 2007; Friedman & Weisbroth, 1977)
|