Aspiculuris tetraptera in wild Mus musculus. The prevalence of infection in male and female mice

Abstract

A survey was carried out of the levels of infection with Aspiculuris tetraptera and Syphacia obvelata in a wild house mouse population living in the Charles Clore Small Mammals Pavilion at the London Zoo in Regent's Park. The extent of infection with A. tetraptera is analysed according to the sex of the host. It is shown that the prevalence of infection was greater in male than in female mice and frequency distribution studies suggest that this is not only because fewer female mice become infected but also because females resist larvae more effectively than do males.