Garry W. Foster

Hookworms of feral cats in Florida

Thirty feral cats (Felis catus) from Alachua county (northern Florida) and 30 from Palm Beach county (southern Florida) were examined for hookworms. Two species, Ancylostoma tubaeforme and Ancylostoma braziliense, were identified. Forty-five cats (75%) were infected with A. tubaeforme, with a mean intensity of 48 hookworms per cat. Twenty cats (33%) were infected with A. braziliense, with a mean intensity of 28 worms per cat. The prevalence of A. tubaeforme was greater than that of A. braziliense in Alachua (P=0.002) and Palm Beach (P=0.004) counties. The intensity of A. tubaeforme infections was higher in Palm Beach county than Alachua county (P=0.013). The intensities of A. tubaeforme and A. braziliense were positively correlated (increased together) in Palm Beach county (P=0.011). These hookworms have also been identified in bobcats (Felis rufus), gray foxes (Urocyon cinereoargenteus), and red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) in Florida. The prevalence of A. tubaeforme was significantly greater in feral cats than those reported in bobcats (P<0.001). The prevalence of A. braziliense was significantly greater in feral cats than in those reported in gray foxes (P=0.008). The hookworm that infects Florida panthers and bobcats, A. pluridentatum, was not found.

Culex nigripalpus: a natural vector of wild turkey malaria (Plasmodium hermani) in Florida.

During 1977 and 1978, more than 21,000 female mosquitoes of 15 species were live-trapped in south Florida where high numbers of wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo) are known to harbor malarial infections. By inoculation of mosquito extracts into uninfected domestic poults, the presence of sporozoites of Plasmodium hermani was demonstrated in Culex nigrapalpus. This mosquito, previously shown to be a competent experimental vector, is believed to be the primary natural vector of wild turkey malaria in Florida.

HELMINTH AND ARTHROPOD PARASITES OF EXPERIMENTALLY INTRODUCED WHOOPING CRANES IN FLORIDA

Nine species of nematodes, unidentified larval nematodes, three species of trematodes, two species of acanthocephalans and a single species of chewing louse were collected from 1993 to 1995 from 25 introduced whooping cranes (Grus americana) in Florida (USA). In spite of a quarantine procedure involving anthelmintic therapy, three helminth parasites may have been introduced from captive populations. Other parasites acquired were similar to those found in a local congener, the Florida sandhill crane (Grus canadensis pratensis), or only occurred infrequently.

Parasitic Helminths of Black Bear Cubs (Ursus americanus) From Florida

Twenty-two Florida black bear (Ursus americanus floridanus) cubs (≤12 mo old) from Florida were examined for endoparasites between 1998 and 2003. Eleven species of helminths were found (8 nematodes, 2 trematodes, and 1 acanthocephalan). The most prevalent helminths were Ancylostoma caninum (64%), Macracanthorhynchus ingens (36%), Strongyloides sp. (27%), Baylisascaris transfuga (23%), and A. tubaeforme (14%). New host records include A. tubaeforme and Brachylaima virginianum. This is the first report of B. transfuga in black bears from Florida.

Survey of raccoons on Key Largo, Florida, USA, for Baylisascaris procyonis.

Numbers of the endangered Key Largo woodrat (KLWR; Neotoma floridana smalli) have been declining for at least 25 yr. The raccoon (Procyon lotor) roundworm, Baylisascaris procyonis, has been found to have an adverse effect on the survival of Alleghany woodrats (N. magister). High densities of raccoons can exacerbate this problem by increasing the amount of feces containing viable eggs of B. procyonis available to woodrats. In 2002, 64 fecal samples were collected and examined for eggs of B. procyonis from >32 raccoons within the KLWRs known range on Key Largo, Florida, USA. All samples were negative for eggs of B. procyonis. Raccoon density in this area was approximately 0.62 raccoons/ha. Despite this high density of raccoons, B. procyonis does not appear to be a threat to the KLWR population.

Parasitic Helminths and Arthropods of Coyotes (Canis latrans) from Florida, U.S.A

Abstract Twenty-six coyotes (Canis latrans) collected in Florida, U.S.A., were examined for parasites. Nine species of helminths (1 trematode, 1 cestode, 6 nematodes, and 1 acanthocephalan), 1 species of biting louse, and 2 species of ticks were identified. Dirofilaria immitis (43%), Ancylostoma caninum (33%), Physaloptera rara (29%), and Taenia pisiformis (24%) were the most prevalent helminths. Macracanthorhynchus ingens is reported from coyotes for the first time, and Spirocerca lupi is reported in coyotes from Florida for the first time. Ectoparasites collected included the biting louse Trichodectes canis and the ticks Amblyomma maculatum and Dermacentor variabilis. A coyote infected with 66 Di. immitis had evidence of chronic pulmonary arteritis and medial hypertrophy of pulmonary aterioles.

Plasmodium forresteri n. sp., from raptors in Florida and southern Georgia : Its distinction from Plasmodium elongatum morphologically within and among host species and by vector susceptibility

Plasmodium forresteri n. sp. naturally infects eastern screech-owls (Otus asio), great horned owls (Bubo virginianus), barred owls (Strix varia), bald eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus), red-shouldered hawks (Buteo lineatus), broad-winged hawks (Buteo platypterus), and red-tailed hawks (Buteo jamaicensis) in Florida and southern Georgia. Schizonts occur in mature or nearly mature erythrocytes, produce 2-6 merozoites arranged most commonly in fan or cruciform configuration, with mean dimensions among host species varying from 3.7 to 4.8 x 2.5 to 3.4 microns. Gametocytes are elongate, with mean dimensions among host species varying from 11.5 to 13.1 x 2.0 to 2.4 microns. One or both gametocyte margins are irregular and often crenulate. Gametocytes seldom fill the space between the erythrocyte nucleus and margin. Species characteristics were maintained in isodiagnostic Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica) and Pekin ducks (Anas platyrhynchos). In mosquito infection studies, only Culex restuans could support sporogony of P. forresteri, in contrast to Plasmodium elongatum of raptor origin that completed sporogony in both Cx. restuans and Culex nigripalpus.

Survival Rate of Young Southeastern Brown Bats, Myotis austroriparius, in Florida

Mortality of young Myotis austroriparius from birth to weaning was measured by censusing carcasses that fell from a nursery roost in northern Florida. Rates were determined from population counts and published data on natality and population structure. Shape of the mortality curve was the same in 2 years. Most deaths (75%) occurred in the first week of life, and the survivors that acquired their first permanent tooth had a high probability (97%) of living to weaning age. A total of 88.2% of the young survived to weaning age. Total preweaning survival in M. austroriparius is relatively low. This high loss and previously recorded features of M. austroriparius natality (twinning and altricial de- velopment of the young) are interpreted in the context of characteristics of the nursery roosts and climate, as follows. Low preweaning survival results from certain death when young fall into water under the roost, without parental retrieval. Selection of roosts over water is favored by predation pressure. Adults maintain high-risk activity almost all year, with only brief periods of hibernation, so adult mortality probably is relatively high. These two sources of heightened mortality have selected for twinning, but physiological limitations dictate that young are born at an early stage of develop- ment.

Leucocytozoon toddi and Haemoproteus tinnunculi (Protozoa: Haemosporina) in the Chimango caracara (Milvago chimango) in southern Chile

Two species of blood protozoans were identified from blood smears collected from 15 specimens of the Chimango caracara (Milvago chimango) on Isla Grande de Chiloé in southern Chile. These included Leucocytozoon toddi in 13 birds, including all 5 of the 4-6 week old nestlings examined, and 8 of the subadults or adults. One of the nestlings also had a dual infection of L. toddi and Haemoproteus tinnunculi. These are the first reports of blood parasites from M. chimango.

PARASITIC HELMINTHS OF RED-BELLIED WOODPECKERS (MELANERPES CAROLINUS) FROM THE APALACHICOLA NATIONAL FOREST IN FLORIDA

Seventy-four red-bellied woodpeckers (Melanerpes carolinus) from the Apalachicola National Forest (30°10′N, 84°40′W) in northwest Florida were examined for helminths. The most prevalent parasites were the nematode Aproctella stoddardi (11%) and the acanthocephalan Mediorhynchus centurorum (11%). New host records include Pseudaprocta samueli, A. stoddardi, Tridentocapillaria tridens, Diplotriaena americana, Dispharynx nasuta, Procyrnea pileata, Orthoskrjabinia rostellata, and Brachylaima fuscatum. The helminth fauna was characterized by low prevalences and intensities of infection and low numbers of species per bird (1.2). The frequency of prescribed burning and habitat understory flora composition did not influence the prevalences or intensities of helminths in red-bellied woodpeckers collected from 2 similar but differently managed sites within the forest.