An island subspecies endemic to the remote St Kilda archipelago, Apodemus sylvaticus hirtensis is considered of national importance but has been little studied, despite its inclusion in the criteria for the islands’ designation as a World Heritage Site. This study expands our knowledge of the core ecology of the mice; distribution, morphology, age structure, breeding phenology, population density, range size, survival and fecundity are all described and quantified using data collected from 4462 captures of 787 individuals between 2009-2012 on three sites (Carn Mor, Glen Bay & Village Bay), 1-2km apart on the main island of Hirta. Morphological analysis confirmed the reputed gigantism the mice, with maximum body weights of 60g for males and 50.5g for a non-gravid female both being approximately double that of a mainland specimen (the heaviest gravid female caught weighed 56g). Sexual dimorphism was evident, with males >1 year old being 8.7% heavier than females on average. Significant geographical variation in size was also found; mice on the seabird breeding colony of Carn Mor were heavier, longer and in better condition than mice elsewhere. Mice were observed to have a well-defined breeding season between April and September, shorter than on the mainland, with most individuals not breeding until their second year and very few surviving two winters. No geographical differences were found in the proportion of adult mice more than a year old that were in breeding condition at any given time, although there were significant geographical differences in the proportion of individuals in breeding condition for ‘young adult’ mice entering their first spring and sub adult mice in the autumn of the year in which they were. Spatially explicit capture-recapture (SECR) methods were used to quantify population densities free from ad hoc methods of trapping area estimation. Temporal variation in population size typical of temperate small mammals was found, with densities as low as 2 mice/ha in spring, increasing through summer and autumn with juvenile recruitment until reaching a peak at the beginning of winter of up to 50 mice/ha. Geographical variation was again observed, with frequent significant differences between trapping sites and an overall trend of highest population densities on the seabird breeding site. Mean individual range sizes varied between 0.3-3.0ha and were largest in Village Bay and in males in breeding condition. Pradel robust design recruitment models were used to quantify monthly survival (0.67-1.00) and fecundity (0.03- 0.41) and overall rate of population change (0.81-1.52) between sessions. Survival varied little between grids outside of the breeding season, but tended to be greater in Carn Mor than Village Bay during the summer. Fecundity rates varied little between years and grids, with one exception where increased summer fecundity followed a severe winter decline on Carn Mor. The possible role of differences in the quality of the food supply (in particular the seabird breeding colony and spatial variation in sheep grazing pressure) on creating geographical variation in body size, condition, breeding phenology, density and population dynamics are discussed in detail, as is the overall pattern of insular traits found in the mice.

Amphibians develop in aquatic environments where they are very susceptible to the effects of pesticides and other environmental contaminants. Glyphosate-based herbicides are widely used and have been shown to affect survival and development of tadpoles under laboratory conditions. The goal my thesis is to determine if agriculturally relevant exposure to Roundup WeatherMax®, a herbicide formulation containing the potassium salt of glyphosate and an undisclosed surfactant, influences the survival and development of wood frogs tadpoles (Lithobates sylvaticus) under both laboratory and field conditions. In the field, experimental wetlands were divided in half using an impermeable curtain so that each wetland contained a treatment and control side. Tadpoles were exposed to two pulses of this herbicide at environmentally realistic concentration (ERC, 0.21 mg acid equivalent (a.e.)/L) and predicted environmental concentrations (PEC, 2.89 mg a.e./L), after which survival, growth, development, and expression of genes involved in metamorphosis were measured. Results indicate that exposure to the PEC is extremely toxic to tadpoles under laboratory conditions but not under field conditions. Results from both experimental conditions show sublethal effects on growth and development, and demonstrate that ERC of glyphosate-based herbicides have the potential to alter hormonal responses during metamorphosis. My secondary objectives were to compare the effects of Roundup WeatherMax® to the well-studied Vision® formulation (containing the isopropylamine (IPA) salt of glyphosate and POEA), and to determine which ingredient(s) are responsible for the sublethal effects on development. Survival, growth and gene expression results indicate that Roundup WeatherMax® has greater toxicity than Vision® formulation. Contrary to my prediction, results suggest that, under realistic exposure scenarios, POEA is not the sole ingredient responsible for the observed developmental effects. However, my results demonstrate that chronic exposure to the POEA surfactant at the PEC (1.43 mg/L) is extremely toxic to wood frog tadpoles in laboratory. As part of the Long-term Experimental Wetlands Area (LEWA) project, this research contributes to overall knowledge of the impacts of glyphosate-based herbicides on aquatic communities.

Submitted by Cássio da Cruz Nogueira (cassionogueirakk@gmail.com) on 2017-10-16T17:45:15Z No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Dissertacao_EfeitosSuplementacaoAntioxidantes.pdf: 5034502 bytes, checksum: bbffe067232b16b05949f5d1fe62310a (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Irvana Coutinho (irvana@ufpa.br) on 2017-10-24T13:50:12Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Dissertacao_EfeitosSuplementacaoAntioxidantes.pdf: 5034502 bytes, checksum: bbffe067232b16b05949f5d1fe62310a (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-10-24T13:50:12Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Dissertacao_EfeitosSuplementacaoAntioxidantes.pdf: 5034502 bytes, checksum: bbffe067232b16b05949f5d1fe62310a (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011 / FAPESPA - Fundação Amazônia de Amparo a Estudos e Pesquisas / Durante a infecção malárica, o Plasmodium pode provocar elevado estresse oxidativo, resultando em lesões oxidativas, podendo levar ao desenvolvimento de malária grave, como a malária cerebral e a pulmonar. Desse modo, tem se discutido o papel das Espécies Reativas de Oxigênio e das defesas antioxidantes na fisopatogenia da doença, bem como o potencial benefício da suplementação com antioxidantes. Nesse sentido, duas fontes de antioxidantes são particularmente interessantes: a N-acetilcisteína (NAC) e o cogumelo Agaricus sylvaticus. Assim, o objetivo deste estudo foi investigar o potencial benefício da suplementação com Nacetilcisteína e Agaricus sylvaticus sobre as alterações oxidativas em modelo experimental de malária causada pelo Plasmodium berghei. Para isso, foram utilizados 200 camundongos machos (Mus musculus) divididos randomicamente em 20 grupos, como segue: Grupos I-V (controles positivos); VI-X (controles negativos); Grupos XI-XV: (animais infectados e tratados com NAC); Grupos XVI-XX: (animais infectados e tratados com Agaricus sylvaticus). As amostras de tecido cerebral e pulmonar e o sangue total foram coletados após 1, 3, 5, 7 e 10 dias de infecção e submetidas a dosagens de malondialdeído (MDA), capacidade antioxidante equivalente ao trolox (TEAC), nitritos e nitratos (NO) e avaliação do grau de parasitemia. Os resultados mostraram que a parasitemia aumentou progressivamente com a evolução da doença e que houve uma diminuição significante do 7º ao 10º dia de infecção nos grupos de animais suplementados com ambos os antioxidantes. A capacidade antioxidante total foi maior nos grupos de animais suplementados com os antioxidantes, sendo que os animais tratados com Agaricus sylvaticus apresentaram efeito mais pronunciado nas amostras pulmonares, ocorrendo aumento progressivo ao longo dos dias de estudo. Paralelamente, os níveis de MDA pulmonar nos grupos Agaricus sylvaticus e NAC mostraram-se semelhante entre si e com o controle positivo. Por outro lado, o MDA cerebral nos grupos suplementados com antioxidantes aumentou durante a infecção, mas não de maneira progressiva. Além disso, nos grupos Agaricus sylvaticus os níveis de MDA foram menores do que em NAC, particularmente no 5º dia de infecção. Assim, as lesões oxidativas foram mais pronunciadas no tecido pulmonar do que no cerebral e relacionadas a peroxidação lipídica, no entanto, o Agaricus sylvaticus mostrou-se mais efetivo na prevenção da peroxidação lipídica cerebral e pulmonar. Adicionalmente, os níveis de NO pulmonar apresentaram-se elevados nos animais suplementados com NAC em relação ao Agaricus sylvaticus do 3° ao 10° dias de estudo, aumentando progressivamente, e os animais suplementados com Agaricus sylvaticus apresentaram níveis de NO semelhantes aos do controle negativo. NAC também induziu a síntese de NO cerebral, mas não ocorreu aumento progressivo. Além disso, os grupos controles positivos e negativos apresentaram níveis de NO cerebral semelhantes. Provavelmente Agaricus sylvaticus e NAC atuem por dois mecanismos distintos para tentar debelar a infecção e podem ser úteis na terapia adjuvante da malária. / During malaria infection, Plasmodium may provoke high oxidative stress, resulting in oxidative damage, and may lead to the development of severe malaria, such as cerebral and pulmonary malaria. Furthermore, the involvement of reactive oxygen species and antioxidant defenses in the physiopathological phenomena of disease has been discussed, as well as the potential benefit of antioxidant supplements. Hence, from the antioxidant sources that would be suitable, two are particularly interesting: N-acetylcysteine (NAC) and mushroom Agaricus sylvaticus. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the potential benefit NAC and Agaricus sylvaticus supplementation against oxidative changes in murine malaria caused by Plasmodium berghei. Two-hundred male mice (Mus musculus) were randomly divided into 20 groups, as following: Groups I-V (positive control); Groups VI-X (negative control); Groups XI-XV: (infected and treated with N-acetylcysteine animals); Groups XVI-XX: (infected and treated with Agaricus sylvaticus animals). Them, brain, lung, and blood samples were collected after 1, 3, 5, 7, or 10 days after infection for malondialdehyde (MDA), trolox equivalente antioxidant capacity (TEAC), nitrites and nitrates (NO) measurement, and parasitemia rate evaluation. Results show that parasitemia increased progressively with evolution of disease, and that was a significant decrease from 7th to 10 th day of infection in both antioxidant supplemented groups. Total antioxidant capacity was higher in supplemented animal’s groups, in that Agaricus sylvaticus treated animals presented a most pronuncied effect in lung samples, with progressive increase along with the days of infection. At the same time, pulmonary MDA levels in the Agaricus sylvaticus and NAC groups showed similar between themselves and with positive control. On the other hand, the cerebral MDA in antioxidants supplemented groups increased during infection, but not in a progressive way. Besides, in the Agaricus sylvaticus groups, MDA levels were lower than NAC, particularly in 5th day of infection. Thus, oxidative damage were most pronounced in pulmonary tissue than brain and related to lipid peroxidation. However, Agaricus sylvaticus was found to be more effective in preventing lipid peroxidation in brain and lung. In addition, pulmonary NO levels were increased in Nacetylcysteine supplemented animals in relationship to Agaricus sylvaticus from 3rd to 10th days of study, progressively increasing, and Agaricus sylvaticus supplemented animals presented similar NO levels to negative control groups. NAC also induced cerebral NO synthesis, but not in a progressive way. In addition, positive and negative control groups show similar cerebral NO levels. Probabily Agaricus sylvaticus and NAC act in two distinct mechanisms in attempt to defeat infection, and can be helpful in the adjuvant therapy of malaria.

Amphibians develop in aquatic environments where they are very susceptible to the effects of pesticides and other environmental contaminants. Glyphosate-based herbicides are widely used and have been shown to affect survival and development of tadpoles under laboratory conditions. The goal my thesis is to determine if agriculturally relevant exposure to Roundup WeatherMax®, a herbicide formulation containing the potassium salt of glyphosate and an undisclosed surfactant, influences the survival and development of wood frogs tadpoles (Lithobates sylvaticus) under both laboratory and field conditions. In the field, experimental wetlands were divided in half using an impermeable curtain so that each wetland contained a treatment and control side. Tadpoles were exposed to two pulses of this herbicide at environmentally realistic concentration (ERC, 0.21 mg acid equivalent (a.e.)/L) and predicted environmental concentrations (PEC, 2.89 mg a.e./L), after which survival, growth, development, and expression of genes involved in metamorphosis were measured. Results indicate that exposure to the PEC is extremely toxic to tadpoles under laboratory conditions but not under field conditions. Results from both experimental conditions show sublethal effects on growth and development, and demonstrate that ERC of glyphosate-based herbicides have the potential to alter hormonal responses during metamorphosis. My secondary objectives were to compare the effects of Roundup WeatherMax® to the well-studied Vision® formulation (containing the isopropylamine (IPA) salt of glyphosate and POEA), and to determine which ingredient(s) are responsible for the sublethal effects on development. Survival, growth and gene expression results indicate that Roundup WeatherMax® has greater toxicity than Vision® formulation. Contrary to my prediction, results suggest that, under realistic exposure scenarios, POEA is not the sole ingredient responsible for the observed developmental effects. However, my results demonstrate that chronic exposure to the POEA surfactant at the PEC (1.43 mg/L) is extremely toxic to wood frog tadpoles in laboratory. As part of the Long-term Experimental Wetlands Area (LEWA) project, this research contributes to overall knowledge of the impacts of glyphosate-based herbicides on aquatic communities.

This study devised a method to detect Ribeiroia ondatrae (class Trematoda) in water-bodies using environmental DNA (eDNA) collected from filtered water samples from selected ponds in the USA and Canada. Species-specific PCR primers were designed to target the Internal Transcribed Spacer-2 (ITS-2) region of the parasite’s genome. The qualitative PCR method was 70% (n=10) accurate in detecting R. ondatrae in ponds previously found to contain the parasite, while the qPCR method was 88.9% (n=9). To examine how the retinoic acid (RA) pathway gene expression may be perturbed during R. ondatrae infections, leading to limb development abnormalities in the wood frog (Lithobates sylvaticus). Multiple sequence alignments were used to design degenerate PCR primers to eight RA biosynthesis genes, but only two gene fragments were identified using this approach. Without effective primer sets it was not possible to measure changes in gene expression in infected frogs.

This study devised a method to detect Ribeiroia ondatrae (class Trematoda) in water-bodies using environmental DNA (eDNA) collected from filtered water samples from selected ponds in the USA and Canada. Species-specific PCR primers were designed to target the Internal Transcribed Spacer-2 (ITS-2) region of the parasite’s genome. The qualitative PCR method was 70% (n=10) accurate in detecting R. ondatrae in ponds previously found to contain the parasite, while the qPCR method was 88.9% (n=9). To examine how the retinoic acid (RA) pathway gene expression may be perturbed during R. ondatrae infections, leading to limb development abnormalities in the wood frog (Lithobates sylvaticus). Multiple sequence alignments were used to design degenerate PCR primers to eight RA biosynthesis genes, but only two gene fragments were identified using this approach. Without effective primer sets it was not possible to measure changes in gene expression in infected frogs.

Amphibians develop in aquatic environments where they are very susceptible to the effects of pesticides and other environmental contaminants. Glyphosate-based herbicides are widely used and have been shown to affect survival and development of tadpoles under laboratory conditions. The goal my thesis is to determine if agriculturally relevant exposure to Roundup WeatherMax®, a herbicide formulation containing the potassium salt of glyphosate and an undisclosed surfactant, influences the survival and development of wood frogs tadpoles (Lithobates sylvaticus) under both laboratory and field conditions. In the field, experimental wetlands were divided in half using an impermeable curtain so that each wetland contained a treatment and control side. Tadpoles were exposed to two pulses of this herbicide at environmentally realistic concentration (ERC, 0.21 mg acid equivalent (a.e.)/L) and predicted environmental concentrations (PEC, 2.89 mg a.e./L), after which survival, growth, development, and expression of genes involved in metamorphosis were measured. Results indicate that exposure to the PEC is extremely toxic to tadpoles under laboratory conditions but not under field conditions. Results from both experimental conditions show sublethal effects on growth and development, and demonstrate that ERC of glyphosate-based herbicides have the potential to alter hormonal responses during metamorphosis. My secondary objectives were to compare the effects of Roundup WeatherMax® to the well-studied Vision® formulation (containing the isopropylamine (IPA) salt of glyphosate and POEA), and to determine which ingredient(s) are responsible for the sublethal effects on development. Survival, growth and gene expression results indicate that Roundup WeatherMax® has greater toxicity than Vision® formulation. Contrary to my prediction, results suggest that, under realistic exposure scenarios, POEA is not the sole ingredient responsible for the observed developmental effects. However, my results demonstrate that chronic exposure to the POEA surfactant at the PEC (1.43 mg/L) is extremely toxic to wood frog tadpoles in laboratory. As part of the Long-term Experimental Wetlands Area (LEWA) project, this research contributes to overall knowledge of the impacts of glyphosate-based herbicides on aquatic communities.

Amphibian populations are declining globally due to a litany of factors including pollution, disease, climate change, and most importantly, habitat destruction. As most amphibian life histories involve their populations being recruitment limited, focusing on the mechanism behind breeding habitat selection will reveal useful cues that managers may use to increase abundance and breeding success. Though there are many theoretical models that describe the distribution of animals in response to a resource, the ideal free distribution (IFD) theory has not yet been applied to amphibian settling decisions. Through this application of the IFD, I have found that a population of wood frogs (Lithobates sylvaticus) in Patuxent National Wildlife Refuge select vernal pools that are large, deep, and hold water into the summer months to breed from 2010-2015. This information will provide managers with the ability to predict sites where wood frogs will breed in the future, as well as describe the cues that wood frogs are cueing in on so we can protect, alter, or create ideal breeding habitat.

No description available.

Insgesamt 1746 Kleinsäuger aus den Familien Muridae (Murinae, Arvicolinae) und Soricidae aus dem Naturschutzgebiet ”Großer Hakel” (Sachsen-Anhalt) und der Tagebaufolgelandschaft ”Phönix-Ost und Rusendorf” Meuselwitz (Thüringen) wurden auf einen Befall mit Capillaria hepatica und Metazestoden von Bandwürmern (Cyclophyllida) untersucht. Das Tiermaterial stammte aus genehmigten faunistischen Untersuchungen aus den Jahren 1993 bis 1997 in Zusammenarbeit mit der Universität Halle und dem Naturkundemuseum "Mauritianum" Altenburg. Alle Mäuse wurden seziert und der Brust- und Bauchraum einschließlich aller Organoberflächen, der Subkutis, des Gehirns und der Leber untersucht. Eine Altersbestimmung der Wirte erfolgte bei den untersuchten Rötelmäusen (Clethrionomys glareolus). Erstmals in Deutschland konnte im Hakel ein stabiles Endemiegebiet von Capillaria hepatica bei Wildmäusen nachgewiesen werden. Die aus dem ”Großen Hakel” stammenden Gelbhals- (Apodemus flavicollis) und Rötelmäuse wiesen Befallshäufigkeiten von 8,5 bzw. 15,1 % auf, die Eizahlen pro Leber lagen zwischen 67 und 3 600 000. Weibliche Mäuse zeigten eine höhere Befallshäufigkeit als männliche Mäuse. Bei den Rötelmäusen konnte ein Anstieg der Befallshäufigkeit von 5,8 % der bis zu 3 Monate alten bis auf 28,6 % der bis zu einem Jahr alten Tiere beobachtet werden. Patente Infektionen waren erst in der Altersgruppe 3-6 Monate nachzuweisen. In dem Untersuchungsgebiet Meuselwitz war Capillaria hepatica bei den untersuchten 1069 Muridae und Soricidae nicht nachweisbar. Eine aktuelle Übersicht der weltweit in 53 Ländern festgestellten 137 Wirtsarten aus 25 Säugetierfamilien von Capillaria hepatica wurde zusammengestellt. Die Familie Muridae stellt mit 83 Arten die bedeutendste Wirtsgruppe dar. Bisher wurde über 56 Capillaria-hepatica-Infektionen beim Menschen (davon 39 Kinder) aus 18 Ländern berichtet. Die Leitsymptome der Erkrankung beim Menschen sind intermittierendes Fieber, Hepatomegalie, Leukozytose mit hochgradiger, persistierender Eosinophilie, Anämie, Hypergammaglobulinämie und Hypoalbuminämie. Die Serumaktivitäten von AST, ALT und LDH sind erhöht. Die Diagnose der zum Teil tödlich verlaufenden Erkrankung ist intra vitam bisher nur durch Leberbiopsie oder Laparotomie möglich. Einzelne Versuche mit serologischen Tests scheinen erfolgversprechend. Die Einzelnachweise von Capillaria hepatica bei Mensch, Hase und Sumpfbiber in Deutschland (Bayern, Sachsen und Sachsen-Anhalt) sind als Hinweise auf bestehende Endemiegebiete zu werten. Aufgrund der weiteren Verbreitung und der diagnostischen Probleme kann von einer höheren Gefährdung des Menschen (insbesondere Kleinkinder) und der Haustiere durch den Zoonoseerreger Capillaria hepatica ausgegangen werden. Bei 10,5 % aller untersuchten Mäuse wurden Metazestoden gefunden. Die Rötelmaus wies insgesamt mit durchschnittlich 23,5 % (Meuselwitz 30,2 %, Hakel 15,1 %) die signifikant höchsten Befallshäufigkeiten mit Metazestoden auf. Insgesamt konnten bei Muridae und Soricidae in Sachsen-Anhalt und Thüringen Metazestoden von 8 Bandwurmgattungen bzw. -arten (Cladotaenia globifera, Mesocestoides spp., T. crassiceps, T. martis martis, T. martis americana, T. mustelae, T. polyacantha, T. taeniaeformis) nachgewiesen werden. Die breiteste Metazestodenfauna mit insgesamt 7 Arten wurde bei der Feldmaus (Microtus arvalis), nur jeweils eine Metazestodenart dagegen bei Brandmaus (Apodemus agrarius), Zwergmaus (Micromys minutus), Feldspitzmaus (Crocidura leucodon) und Waldspitzmaus (Sorex araneus) gefunden. Die Zwergspitzmaus (Sorex minutus) war nicht von Metazestoden befallen. Eine deutliche Wirtsspezifität (Feldmaus) konnte für T.-crassiceps- und T.-polyacantha-Metazestoden festgestellt werden. Im Gebiet Meuselwitz dominierten bei Muridae Metazestoden von T. mustelae (Befallshäufigkeit 9,3 %) sowie von T. martis martis (Befallshäufigkeit 6,4 %), im Hakel von T. martis martis (Befallshäufigkeit 2,5 %) sowie T. mustelae (Befallshäufigkeit 2,2 %). Während in Meuselwitz die höchsten Befallshäufigkeiten mit Metazestoden von T. mustelae (24,7 %) bei der Rötelmaus und von T. martis martis (13 %) bei der Gelbhalsmaus vorlagen, waren im Hakel die Rötelmäuse am häufigsten mit T.-mustelae- (8,2 %) und T.-martis-martis- Metazestoden (4,8 %) befallen. Mit zunehmendem Alter der Rötelmäuse stieg die Befallshäufigkeit mit Metazestoden bei dieser Tierart an. Rötelmäuse unter einem Alter von 2 Monaten waren noch nicht von Metazestoden befallen. Infektionen mit 2 Metazestodenarten traten erstmals bei 4 Monate alten Rötelmäusen auf, bei zwei Tieren im Alter von 9 bzw. 12 Monaten wurden Infektionen mit 3 Metazestodenarten (Cladotaenia globifera + T. martis americana + T. mustelae; Cladotaenia globifera + T. martis martis + T. mustelae) nachgewiesen. Bei insgesamt 10 Muriden konnten Mischinfektionen mit Capillaria hepatica und Metazestoden von Bandwürmern festgestellt werden. Bei Mäusen der Familie Soricidae sind ausschließlich Metazestoden von Cladotaenia globifera gefunden worden. Erstnachweise für Deutschland stellen Funde der Metazestoden von Cladotaenia globifera bei der Feldspitzmaus, T. martis americana bei der Rötelmaus, T. mustelae bei Erd- und Zwergmaus und T. polyacantha bei der Waldmaus dar. Das erste Mal in Europa konnten T.-martis-americana-Metazestoden bei der Feldmaus gefunden werden. Eine wichtige Einflußgröße auf die Metazestodenfauna war das Aufeinandertreffen von End- und Zwischenwirt in bestimmten Biotopen. / The occurrence of Capillaria hepatica and metacestodes of Cyclophillida was investigated in 1746 small mammals of the families Muridae (Murinae, Arvicolinae) and Soricidae from the nature reserve ”Grosser Hakel” (Saxony-Anhalt) and the former open-cast mining area "Phoenix-Ost and Rusendorf" Meuselwitz (Thuringia). The animals came from approved faunistic surveys in co-operation with the University of Halle and the natural history museum ”Mauritianum” Altenburg. All mice were sectioned and the thoracic as well as the abdominal cavity including all organ surfaces, subcutaneous tissue, brain and liver were examined. The age of all bank voles (Clethrionomys glareolus) was determined. In the nature reserve "Grosser Hakel"an stable endemic area of Capillaria hepatica in wild mice could be detected for the first time in Germany. The percentage of yellow-necked mice (Apodemus flavicollis) infected with Capillaria hepatica in that area was 8.5 %, the percentage of bank voles infected with Capillaria hepatica in that area reached 15.1 % respectively. The number of eggs per liver ranged from 67 to 3,600,000. The proportion of infected mice was higher in female than in male mice. In bank voles the frequency of infection increased with age (from 5.8 % in the age of 3 months to 28.6 % in the age of one year). Patent infections were first detected in the age group of 3 to 6 month. No Capillaria hepatica could be found in 1069 Muridae and Soricidae examined in the Meuselwitz area. A current survey of the world-wide occurrence of Capillaria hepatica in 137 hosts of 25 mammal families was prepared. The family of Muridae (with 83 species) is the most important host group. Up to now 56 Capillaria-hepatica-infections in humans (including 39 children) from 18 different countries were reported. Major symptoms in humans are intermittent fever, hepatomegaly, leucocytosis with severe, persistent eosinophilia, anaemia, hypergammaglobulinaemia and hypoalbuminaemia. The serum activities of AST, ALT and LDH are elevated. Intra-vitam diagnosis of this partly lethal disease is only possible by liver biopsy or laparatomy. First serological tests are promising. Sporadic detection of Capillaria hepatica in humans, hares and nutria in Germany (Bavaria, Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt) can be regarded as an indication of existing endemic areas. A higher risk of Capillaria-hepatica-infection in humans (especially in small children) and domestic animals can be assumed on the basis of the wide distribution and the diagnostic problems. Metacestodes were found in 10.5 % of all examined mice. The bank voles showed the significantly highest rate of infection with 23.5 % (Meuselwitz 30.2 % and Hakel 15.1 %). Altogether metacestodes of 8 tapeworm genuses (Cladotaenia globifera, Mesocestoides spp., T. crassiceps, T. martis martis, T. martis americana, T. mustelae, T. polyacantha, T. taeniaeformis) could be detected in Muridae and Soricidae in Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia. The broadest metacestode-fauna (with 7 species) was found in the common vole (Microtus arvalis). Only one metacestode-species was detected in the stripped field mouse (Apodemus agrarius), the harvest mouse (Micromys minutus), the bicoloured whitetoothed shrew (Crocidura leucodon) and the eurasion common shrew (Sorex araneus). The pygmy shrew (Sorex minutus) was not infected by metacestodes. A distinct host specificity (in the common vole) could be established for T. crassiceps and T. polyacantha. Metacestodes of T. mustelae (infection rate 9.3 %) and T. martis martis (infection rate 6.4 %) dominated in Muridae of the Meuselwitz area. In the Hakel area T. martis martis (infection rate 2.5 %) and T. mustelae (infection rate 2.2 %) dominated as well. Whereas metacestodes of T. mustelae occurred in the bank vole with an infection rate of 24.7 % and T. martis martis in yellow-necked mice with an infection rate of 13.0 % in the Meuselwitz area, T. mustelae occurred in bank voles with an infection rate of 8.2 % and T. martis martis in yellow-necked mice with an infection rate of 4.8 % in the Hakel area. The infection rate of bank voles with metacestodes increased with age. No metacestodes were found in bank voles younger than 2 month of age. Infection with 2 different metacestode-species occurred in bank voles for the first time at the age of 4 month. 3 metacestode-species were found in 2 animals at the age of 9 to 12 months (Cladotaenia globifera + T. martis americana + T. mustelae; Cladotaenia globifera + T. martis martis + T. mustelae). In 10 Muridae occurred a mixed infection with Capillaria hepatica and metacestodes of tapeworms. In mice of the Soricidae-family only metacestodes from Cladotaenia globifera could be found. For the first time in Germany were detected metacestodes of Cladotaenia globifera in the bicoloured whitetoothed shrew, of T. martis americana in bank voles, of T. mustelae in the common field vole and the harvest mouse and of T. polyacantha in the wood mouse. For the first time in Europe T. martis americana-metacestodes could be detected in the common vole. Of high importance to the metacestode-fauna was the encounter of final host and intermediate host in certain biotopes.