Mauritz C. Sterner

Helminths of the Coyote (Canis latrans Say) in Montana1

desirable to confirm conclusively that one injection is completely effective in eliminating psoroptic mites from bighorn sheep. The high degree of acanicidal effectiveness demonstrated indicate that injectable ivermectin has a strong potential for management of P. avis infections in bighonn sheep. Of particular interest is the possibility of using aerial delivery systems that may allow efficient injection of this acanicide without the necessity of capturing the animals for treatment.

An Overview of the Biology of Echinostomes

Echinostomes are digenean parasites in the class Trematoda. The adult worms are parasites of fishes, reptiles, birds and mammals, including humans. Their characteristic morphological feature is a crown of spines and a collar-like tegumentary flap surrounding the oral sucker. Larval stages develop in freshwater and marine snails, mussels, insects, amphibians and reptiles. Adult and larval echinostomes are used widely as models for laboratory work for the following reasons: 1). They are wide spred and common and some species are cosmopolitan. Other species are found in several geographical regions. Relatively few species are restricted locally. 2). They are found in many wild and domestic birds and mammals, including humans. Many echinostomes are hematophagous, ingesting lymph and blood from their hosts. Therefore, they are parasites with significant health and economic importance. Some species such as Echinostoma lindoense Sandground & Bonne, 1940 (known after Kanev, 1985 as E. echinatum Zeder, 1803) and E. ilocanum (Garrison, 1908) cause severe health problems in humans in Southeast Asia. 3). Echinostomes infect most organs and sites in the abdominal cavity of birds and mammals, including the alimentary, excretory and reproductive systems. 4). Larval and adult echinostomes provide good material for biological, physiological, biochemical, immunological and other studies in modern biology. 5). Echinostomes can be maintained easily and inexpensively in the laboratory.

Meningeal Worm in Deer from Western Nebraska

One hundred seventy-eight white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) and 275 mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) collected from locker plants in the western 2/3 of Nebraska (USA) in November 1997 were examined for the meningeal worm (Parelaphostrongylus tenuis). Parelaphostrongylus tenuis was identified in 17 (10%) of 168 white-tailed deer and in one (<1%) of 273 mule deer. This is the first naturally occurring infection of P. tenuis recorded in a mule deer.

Serratospiculoides amaculata in a Cooper's Hawk (Accipiter cooperii)

During a routine examination of a female Coopers hawk (Accipiter cooperii) nematodes were found in the thoracic air sacs. A total of 12 females and nine males were recovered and identified as Serratospiculoides amaculata. This is the first record of this parasite found in a raptor, other than a falcon, in North America.

New Species of Parapharyngodon (Nematoda: Pharyngodonidae) in Rhinella marina (Anura: Bufonidae) from Grenada, West Indies

Abstract: Parapharyngodon grenadaensis n. sp. (Nematoda: Pharyngodonidae) from the large intestine of the cane toad, Rhinella marina, is described and illustrated. Parapharyngodon grenadaensis n. sp. is the 48th species assigned to the genus and the 16th species from the Neotropical region. It differs from other species in the genus by possessing 4 pairs of caudal papillae, an echinate anterior cloacal lip, and a blunt spicule of 67–104 μm. This is only the second report of R. marina harboring a species of Parapharyngodon.

Parasitic ulcerative ventriculitis in mallards (Anas platyrhynchos).

Natural infections of Streptocara crassicauda and Streptocara incognita were diagnosed in four mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) from Red Rock Lakes National Refuge, Beaverhead County, Montana. Lesions at the junctions of the gizzard and proventriculus were associated with the nematodes, and resulted in debilitation, emaciation and death.

Prevalence of agglutinating antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii in adult and fetal mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) from Nebraska.

Toxoplasma gondii is an apicomplexan parasite of mammals and birds. Herbivores acquire postnatal infection by ingesting oocysts from contaminated food or water. Toxoplasma gondii infection is common in white-tailed deer, Odocoileus virginianus, but little is known about the prevalence of infection in mule deer, O. hemionus. We examined sera from 89 mule deer from Nebraska for agglutinating antibodies to T. gondii using the modified direct agglutination test (MAT) with formalin-fixed tachyzoites as antigen. Thirty-one (35%) of the samples were positive at dilutions of ≥1:25. Samples were examined from 29 fetuses from these mule deer and none were positive in the MAT. Sera from 14 white-tailed deer from Nebraska were also examined and 6 (43%) were positive for T. gondii. Samples were examined from 5 fetuses from these white-tailed deer and none was positive in the MAT. Our results in both deer species from Nebraska are similar to studies conducted in white-tailed deer from other regions of the United States. Our findings indicate that mule deer are frequently infected with T. gondii and that mule-deer meat may be a source of human infection.

Absence of Tuberculosis in Free-Ranging Deer in Nebraska

Lymph nodes from 271 white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) and mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) in Nebraska (USA) were examined microscopically for tuberculoid lesions. Lymph nodes lesions in at least one node were found in 12 deer. Lesions were examined with Zeihl-Neelson acid fast stains and by polymerase chain reactions using M. bovis specific probes. No evidence of tuberculosis was found. The small granulomatous lesions were likely caused by other bacteria.

PARASITES OF FISHES IN THE COLORADO RIVER AND SELECTED TRIBUTARIES IN GRAND CANYON, ARIZONA

abstract:  As part of the endangered humpback chub (HBC; Gila cypha) Adaptive Management Program, a parasite survey was conducted from 28 June to 17 July 2006 in 8 tributaries and 7 adjacent sections of the main stem of the Colorado River, U.S.A. In total, 717 fish were caught, including 24 HBC. Field necropsies yielded 19 parasite species, 5 of which (Achtheres sp., Kathlaniidae gen. sp., Caryophyllaidae gen. sp., Myxidium sp., and Octomacrum sp.) are new records for Grand Canyon, Arizona, U.S.A. Spearmans correlation coefficient analyses showed no correlations between parasite burden and fork length for various combinations of fish and parasite species. Regression analyses suggest that no parasite species had a strong effect on fish length. The most diverse parasite community (n  =  14) was at river kilometer (Rkm) 230, near the confluence of Kanab Creek. The most diverse parasite infracommunity (n  =  12) was found in the non-native channel catfish (CCF; Ictaluris punctatus). Overall parasite prevalence was highest in CCF (85%) followed by that in HBC (58%). The parasite fauna of humpback chub was mainly composed of Bothriocephalus acheilognathi and Ornithodiplostomum sp. metacercariae.

Meningeal Worm in Free-Ranging Deer in Nebraska

The meningeal worm (Parelaphostrongylus tenuis) was found in 22 (7%) of 300 white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) (257 adults, 43 fawns) examined from Nebraska (USA) during November 1996. None of 53 mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) (47 adults and 6 fawns) examined were infected. Twenty-two white-tailed deer from 18 counties in eastern Nebraska were infected with Parelaphostrongylus tenuis. This is the first record of P. tenuis in white-tailed deer from this state.