Helminth fauna of the nine-banded armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus) in north-central Florida.
The gastrointestinal tracts of 32 free-ranging, 9-banded armadillos (Dasypus novemcinctus) from north-central Florida were examined for the presence of helminths during July 1991 to November 1993. Aspidodera sp. (Nematoda: Aspidoderidae), most closely resembling Aspidodera sogandaresi, were recovered from 20 of 32 armadillos examined. Total numbers of A. sogandaresi ranged from 1 to 1,021 per infected animal, and followed an inverse correlation to body condition index for those animals. The cystacanth stage of 1 acanthocephalan, Macracanthorhynchus ingens, was present in 1 armadillo, and is the first report of M. ingens in the 9-banded armadillo. The present study contributes to the known natural history of the 9-banded armadillo, an important animal research model.
Varela-Stokes
A S
AS
Department of Basic Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, Mississippi 39762, USA. stokes@cvm.msstate.edu
Ludwig
S Y
SY
Herbst
L H
LH
Greiner
E C
EC
D000049:Acanthocephala / Q000302:isolation & purification; D000818:Animals; D001135:Armadillos / Q000469:parasitology*; D017162:Ascaridida / Q000302:isolation & purification; D017191:Ascaridida Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary; D005260:Female; D005431:Florida / Q000453:epidemiology; D006374:Helminthiasis, Animal / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology*; D007411:Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male