First record of Trypanosoma infection in Mediterranean mouse (Mus macedonicus Petrov & Ružić, 1983) in Bulgaria

The study presents a Trypanosoma infection in Mediterranean mouse (Mus macedonicus Petrov & Ružić, 1983) from Plovdiv region (Bulgaria). The average established prevalence of the parasite in Mus macedonicus was 23.5 %, whereas the infection rate was lower in female (11.1%) compared to male (37.5%) individuals. All observed parasite forms are trypomastigotes, possessing the morphological characteristics of the sub-genus Herpetosoma (Stercoraria section), to which T. lewisi-like parasites belong. These features are: free flagellum, ‘‘C shape’’ of the parasite with size about 25 ± 5 μm, clear visible undulating membrane, subterminal kinetoplast with oval shape, anterior located nucleus. These morphological characteristics and the absence of infection in the other investigated rodents, hosting other Trypanosoma species, allow us to provide evidence-based assumption that the registered parasite is Trypanosoma musculi. Further studies with molecular methods are required to confirm the registered species.