title: A survey to detect Toxocara vitulorum and other gastrointestinal parasites in bison (Bison bison) herds from Manitoba and Saskatchewan.
abstract: An egg count survey using environmental fecal samples obtained in spring or early summer was conducted to estimate the apparent prevalence of Toxocara vitulorum in unweaned bison calves and of other intestinal parasites in adult bison on 98 farms in Manitoba and Saskatchewan. Calf samples were pooled (maximum 5 samples per pool) by farm and positive pools were examined to determine individual T. vitulorum counts. Toxocara vitulorum eggs were found on 4 farms in Manitoba and none in Saskatchewan. Apparent herd-level prevalence estimates were 12% [95% confidence interval (95% CI): 3.4% to 28.2%] and 0% (95% CI: 0% to 5.7%) respectively. Samples from adult bison contained eggs/oocysts from trichostrongyle species, Eimeria sp., Monieza sp., Capillaria sp., Nematodirus sp. and Trichuris sp. in 100%, 95%, 72%, 13%, 13%, and 5% of herds, respectively. Strongyloides sp. were not found in any herd. Further studies are needed to assess parasite distribution patterns in bison and to evaluate the risk that T. vitulorum may pose to bison, cattle, and wildlife.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Large Animal Clinical Sciences (Woodbury, Ben-Ezra) and Veterinary Microbiology (Wagner), Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, 52 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5B4; Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives, Veterinary Diagnostic Services, 545 University Crescent, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3T 5S6 (Douma); Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Health Unit, Room 202, 3085 Albert Street, Regina, Saskatchewan S4S 0B1 (Wilkins).
authors.forename: Murray R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Woodbury
authors.affiliation: Departments of Large Animal Clinical Sciences (Woodbury, Ben-Ezra) and Veterinary Microbiology (Wagner), Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, 52 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5B4; Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives, Veterinary Diagnostic Services, 545 University Crescent, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3T 5S6 (Douma); Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Health Unit, Room 202, 3085 Albert Street, Regina, Saskatchewan S4S 0B1 (Wilkins).
authors.forename: Brent
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wagner
authors.affiliation: Departments of Large Animal Clinical Sciences (Woodbury, Ben-Ezra) and Veterinary Microbiology (Wagner), Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, 52 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5B4; Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives, Veterinary Diagnostic Services, 545 University Crescent, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3T 5S6 (Douma); Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Health Unit, Room 202, 3085 Albert Street, Regina, Saskatchewan S4S 0B1 (Wilkins).
authors.forename: Elad
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ben-Ezra
authors.affiliation: Departments of Large Animal Clinical Sciences (Woodbury, Ben-Ezra) and Veterinary Microbiology (Wagner), Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, 52 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5B4; Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives, Veterinary Diagnostic Services, 545 University Crescent, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3T 5S6 (Douma); Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Health Unit, Room 202, 3085 Albert Street, Regina, Saskatchewan S4S 0B1 (Wilkins).
authors.forename: Dale
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Douma
authors.affiliation: Departments of Large Animal Clinical Sciences (Woodbury, Ben-Ezra) and Veterinary Microbiology (Wagner), Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, 52 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5B4; Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives, Veterinary Diagnostic Services, 545 University Crescent, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3T 5S6 (Douma); Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Health Unit, Room 202, 3085 Albert Street, Regina, Saskatchewan S4S 0B1 (Wilkins).
authors.forename: Wendy
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wilkins
mesh_terms: D000822:Animal Husbandry; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D016164:Bison; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000662:veterinary; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D008350:Manitoba / Q000453:epidemiology; D010270:Parasite Egg Count / Q000662:veterinary; D015995:Prevalence; D012525:Saskatchewan / Q000453:epidemiology; D014119:Toxocara / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D014120:Toxocariasis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology / Q000635:transmission