Trypanosoma [Herpetosoma] microti Laveran et Pettit, 1909 in the social vole, Microtus socialis [Pallas, 1771] from Ukraine

This study reports the light and electron microscopic examination of Trypanosoma (Herpetosoma) microti from the social vole (Microtus socialis, Rodentia) from the steppe near Askania Nova, Ukraine. Bloodstream trypomastigotes were identified morphometrically from 100 specimens from blood of 4 infected social voles. Body length ranged from 13.88-27.79 µm, and width from 0.53-2.06 µm, with the free flagellum 5.12-11.69 µm long. The trypanosomes were comparable to Trypanosoma microti from the short-tailed vole, Microtus agrestis, and the root vole, Microtus oeconomus. Cultured epimastigotes exhibited typical ultrastructural features similar to those of stercorarian and salivarian groups.