Proceedings of the Vertebrate Pest Conference

Between 2009 and 2011, fecal samples were collected from ten species of wild rodents in locations adjacent to leafy green blocks in a major produce production region of California. Samples were screened for Cryptosporidium spp. oocysts and Giardia spp. cysts using immunofluorescent microscopy. Five and seven species of wild rodents carried Cryptosporidium spp. and Giardia spp., respectively. In general, 26.0% and 24.2% of the trapped wild rodents were positive for Cryptosporidium spp. and Giardia spp., respectively. Deer mice (Peromyscus manicultus) were the primary trapped species, with 30.3% (63/208) positive for Cryptosporidium spp. and 25.5% (53/208) positive for Giardia spp.