LE3 .A278 2012

2012

Smith, Todd
O'Brien, Michael

Acadia University

Bachelor of Science

Honours

Biology

Biology

Coyotes (Canis latrans) are widely distributed in North America, and were first recorded in Nova Scotia in 1977. Common parasitic worms of coyotes outside of Nova Scotia include canine heartworms (Dirofilaria immitis), lungworms (Oslerus osleri) and tapeworms (Echinococcus spp.). However, the parasite fauna of coyotes from Nova Scotia has not been investigated. The objectives of this study were to determine geographical range, prevalence, mean intensity and relative density of worm parasites in coyotes from Nova Scotia, and to investigate if prevalence, mean intensity and relative density were consistent among different age classes of this mammal. A total of 235 coyotes were collected from trappers in 2010 and 2011. Hearts, lungs and gastrointestinal tracts were removed from coyotes and examined for parasites. Teeth from lower jaws were examined to assess the age of each coyote. Crenosoma vulpis and O. osleri, two species of lungworms, were by far the most prevalent parasites, found in 31% and 37% of coyotes, respectively, throughout the province. There was a mean intensity of 6.9 adult C. vulpis and 8.9 nodules of O. osleri in infected coyotes across all age classes, but a significant difference in the mean intensity of either parasite was not observed among different age classes. There was a relative density of 2.1 C. vulpis and 3.4 O. osleri in coyotes sampled across all age classes, with a significantly higher density of each parasite in juveniles. Uncinaria stenocephala (hookworm), Toxocara canis (intestinal roundworm), Alaria spp. (intestinal fluke), and Taenia spp. (tapeworm) were present at lower prevalences. The life history implications of these novel findings will be discussed in relation to the possibility of parasite transmission to domestic dogs.

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https://scholar.acadiau.ca/islandora/object/theses:893