Biologia, Bratislava, 56/Suppl. 9: 105-109, 2001.

ISSN 0006-3088 (Biologia). ISSN 1335-6399 (Biologia. Section Cellular and Molecular Biology).

Full Paper

Occurrence of chlamydial antibodies in small mammals (Insectivora, Rodentia) in Slovakia.

Lydia Cislakova¹*, Michal Stanko², Jana Fricova², Ladislav Mosansky², Milan Travnicek³ & Monika Halanova¹

¹ Institute of Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, Pavol Jozef Safarik University, Kosice, Srobarova 2, SK-04180 Kosice; e-mail: cislak@central.medic.upjs.sk

² Institute of Zoology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Löfflerova 10, SK-04002 Kosice, Slovakia

³ Institute of Infectology and Tropical Veterinary Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine, Komenskeho 73, SK-04181 Kosice.

* corresponding author

Received: December 28, 2000 / Accepted: April 23, 2001

Abstract

Chlamydial infections (Chlamydia psittaci) of small mammals (Insectivora, Rodentia) in the region of East Slovakia are presented. Hosts were caught in several areas of Slovakia in habitats with different levels of human disturbance. Research has been realised during 1991-2000. The authors examined 1 004 sera coming from seven insectivore and ten rodent species. Each serum was examined by means of micromethod of complement binding reactions using antigen Chlamydia psittaci. Chlamydial infections were found in 217 individuals (prevalence 21.6%) of eleven mammal species. The chlamydial antibodies were proved at levels ranging from 1:32 to 1:1024. The highest prevalence of antibodies was detected in the most abundant rodent species Apodemus agrarius (24.0%), Microtus arvalis (20.9%), Apodemus flavicollis (20.8%), and Clethrionomys glareolus (19.7%). Positive hosts were found in all habitat types. Higher prevalence of two positive host species (Apodemus flavicollis, Clethrionomys glareolus) in lowland habitats comparing with values from submontane regions was significant. Similarly, statistically higher prevalence of chlamydial antibodies was found in both rodent families (Muridae, Arvicolidae) were found in lowland conditions. Also significantly higher prevalence was found in same rodent species from disturbed habitats comparing with original ones. Results showed that chlamydial infections occur frequently in insectivore hosts as well as in both rodent families (Arvicolidae, Muridae).

Key words: small mammals, serological examination, chlamydial antibodies.