[The occurrence of protozoa in the intestinal microflora of laboratory mice]

The intestinal content of 216 white SPF laboratory mice was examined for the presence of protozoa. 153 (70.8%) were found to be positive. The following protozoa species were determined: Trichomonas muris in 31.5%, Trichomonas sp. in 29.6%, Chilomastix becentourti in 18.5%, Octomitus intestinalis in 7.8%, Giardia muris in 6.9%, Spironucleus muris in 4.1%, and Entamoeba muris in 14.8%. The given species occurred in the mice either individually or, in the majority of cases, combined infections involving 2-5 species were recorded. Young mice transferred from the breeding station were but rarely colonized, and that only by a small number of protozoa. They contract infection from older animals in the animal room. (Tab. 3, Ref. 11.).