A heterogeneous distribution of Emmonsia parva var. crescens in an agro-ecosystem.

The lung tissue of 1143 rodents of five species, caught at a number of sites and habitats in an agro-ecosystem (southern Moravia, Czech Republic) in 1988-1993, was examined for the presence of adiaspores of Emmonsia parva var. crescens (Emmons et Jellison) van Oorschot. The overall prevalence of adiasporomycosis was 16.6%, but its distribution varied significantly according to rodent species (Clethrionomys glareolus 37.6%, Apodemus flavicollis 33.3%, A. sylvaticus 21.1%, A microps 9.2%, Microtus arvalis 2.7%) and habitat (lucerne fields 2.8%, fields with other crops 10.6%, windbreaks 33.1%, woods 15.8%). Wooded areas have consistently higher prevalence rates of rodent adiasporomycosis than arable fields. Some windbreaks could form natural foci of adiasporomycosis in the agricultural, largely deforested landscape.