title: Parasitic helminths of red-bellied woodpeckers (Melanerpes carolinus) from the Apalachicola National Forest in Florida.
abstract: Seventy-four red-bellied woodpeckers (Melanerpes carolinus) from the Apalachicola National Forest (30 degrees 10'N, 84 degrees 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.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Wildlife Disease Research, Department of Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, PO. Box 110880, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32610-0880, USA. fosterg@mail.vetmed.ufl.edu
authors.forename: Garry W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Foster
authors.forename: John M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Kinsella
authors.forename: Eric L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Walters
authors.forename: Mathew S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Schrader
authors.forename: Donald J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Forrester
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001715:Bird Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology; D001717:Birds; D005260:Female; D005431:Florida / Q000453:epidemiology; D006374:Helminthiasis, Animal / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology; D006376:Helminths / Q000145:classification / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012737:Sex Factors