Haemogregarines of the genus Hepatozoon (Apicomplexa : Adeleina) in rodents from northern Europe

We studied the prevalence and distribution of Hepatozoon infections:in small rodents from Finland and other areas in northern Europe. Hepatozoon infections were more common in voles (Arvicolinae), than mice (Murinae) and more prevalent in voles of the genus Clethrionomys than in voles of the genus Microtus. Transmission electron microscopical examination of Hepatozoon erhardovae Krampitz, 1964 from bank voles Clethrionomys glareolus (Schreber) showed that intracellular lung meronts were located in alveolar septa. Meronts consisted of varying numbers of merozoites packed with amylopectin vacuoles inside electron-lucent parasitophorous vacuole. The size of the meronts was approximately 19 x 14 mum. Monozoic or dizoic cysts were frequent findings in the lung alveoles; the size of cysts was approximately 10 x 6 mum. Gametocytes were found inside eosinophilic granulocytes in the capillaries of lung tissue. Ultrastructurally, micronemes, microtubules, mitochondria, nuclei and lipid droplets were visible.