title: Parasites of the Abert's squirrel (Sciurus aberti) and red squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus) of New Mexico.
abstract: Between 1989 and 1991, 29 Abert squirrels (Sciurus aberti) and 45 red squirrels (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus) were collected in New Mexico and examined for parasites. Of 29 S. aberti examined, 86.2% (25/29) were infected with at least 1 parasite species. Helminths were found in 62.1% (18/29) of S. aberti; 37.9% (11/29) were infected with fleas and 37.9% (11/29) with the coccidian Eimeria tamiasciuri. Among T. hudsonicus, 82.5% of the squirrels examined were infected with at least 1 parasite. Helminths were found in 57.8% (26/45) of T. hudsonicus; 22.2% (10/45) were infected with fleas and 26.7% (12/45) with Eimeria tamiasciuri. Citellinema quadrivittati was found in squirrels of both species; 55.2% (16/29) of S. aberti were infected, with 57.8% (26/45) of T. hudsonicus carrying the parasite. Enterobius sciuri was only found in S. aberti with 17.2% (5/29) carrying the infection. One cestode, Hymenolepis sp., was found only in T. hudsonicus with 6.7% (3/45) carrying the infection. Four species of flea were found on squirrels of both species. Ceratophyllus vison was found on 6.9% (2/29) of S. aberti and 6.7% (3/45) of T. hudsonicus examined. Opisodasys robustus was found on 6.9% (2/29) of S. aberti and 8.8% (4/45) of T. hudsonicus examined. Orchopeas caedens caedens was found on 3.4% (1/29) of S. aberti and 6.7% (3/45) of T. hudsonicus examined. Orchopeas neotomae was found on 10.3% (3/29) of S. aberti and 6.7% (3/45) of T. hudsonicus examined. Two species of flea were only found on T. hudsonicus; Orchopeas leucopus was found on 2.2% (1/45) and Oropsylla idahoensis was found on 2.2% (1/45) of the T. hudsonicus examined.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque 87131, USA.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Patrick
authors.forename: W D
authors.initials: WD
authors.lastname: Wilson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004478:Ectoparasitic Infestations / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D006373:Helminthiasis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology; D006374:Helminthiasis, Animal; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions; D007411:Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D007422:Intestines / Q000469:parasitology; D009516:New Mexico / Q000453:epidemiology; D012376:Rodent Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology*; D012589:Sciuridae / Q000469:parasitology*; D005423:Siphonaptera / Q000502:physiology