title: Diagnostic stages of the parasites of the Florida manatee, Trichechus manatus latirostris.
abstract: Limited information is available on diagnostic stages of parasites in Florida manatees (Trichechus manatus latirostris). We examined 67 fecal samples from captive and wild manatees to define the diagnostic stages of the parasite fauna known to occur in Florida manatees. Parasite eggs were freshly extracted ex utero from identified mature helminths and subsequently characterized, illustrated, and matched to those isolated from fecal samples. In addition, coccidian oocysts in the fecal samples were identified. These diagnostic stages included eggs from 5 species of trematodes (Chiorchis fabaceus, Chiorchis groschafti, Pulmonicola cochleotrema, Moniligerum blairi, and Nudacotyle undicola), 1 nematode (Heterocheilus tunicatus), and oocysts of 2 coccidians (Eimeria manatus and Eimeria nodulosa).
authors.affiliation: Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611. Correspondence should be sent to: greinere@ufl.edu.
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bando
authors.forename: Iskande V
authors.initials: IV
authors.lastname: Larkin
authors.forename: Scott D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Wright
authors.forename: Ellis C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Greiner
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000835:Animals, Wild; D000836:Animals, Zoo; D001199:Ascaridoidea / Q000145:classification* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D003048:Coccidiosis / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D004539:Eimeria / Q000145:classification* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D005431:Florida; D005618:Fresh Water; D006374:Helminthiasis, Animal / Q000469:parasitology*; D008297:Male; D033661:Oocysts / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010063:Ovum / Q000145:classification / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010250:Paramphistomatidae / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification; D045483:Rivers; D014200:Trematoda / Q000145:classification* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D020457:Trichechus manatus / Q000469:parasitology*