Blood parasites of mound-building mouse, Mus spicilegus Petényi, 1882 (Mammalia, Rodentia).

Mound-building mice, Mus spicilegus, were studied for the blood parasites in Eastern Slovakia, vicinity Kechnec village near Kosice town (Kosická kotlina basin, 21 degrees 14' E, 48 degrees 33' N) during years 2002-2005. Overall, 251 specimens were examined. The parasites were detected using microhematokrit centrifugation technique and on the Giemsa's method stained blood smears and light microscopy. The parasites were found in 3.57% of specimens; 1.20% of mice were infected with Bartonella sp., 2.39% were infected with Babesia piroplasms. No Hepatozoon hemogregarines and trypanosomes were observed. The intensity of infection with Bartonella was low, less than 0.01% of erythrocytes were invaded, the percent of the erythrocytes with Babesia sp. was less than 0.01%. The morphological description and measurements of parasites were made using the "Analysis" software combined with a video camera and a microscope. The mean size of Bartonella sp. bacteria's were 0.8 x 0.3 microm, range 0.4-1.5 x 0.1-0.9 microm, Babesia sp. occurred in pear-shaped and ring-like forms, 1.00-1.27 microm in diameter, and 0.98-1.27 microm in size, respectively. The regular form of four cells--"maltese cross" was not noticed. This is the first record infection of Mus spicilegus with blood parasites.