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Prevalence of Trypanosoma otospermophili (Protozoa: Trypanosomatidae) in five species of Spermophilus (Rodentia: Sciuridae)*

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 April 2009

Donald F. J. Hilton  and
Jerome L. Mahrt
Donald F. J. Hilton
Affiliation:
Department of Zoology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Jerome L. Mahrt
Affiliation:
Department of Zoology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
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Extract

During the summers of 1969–71, 554 ground squirrels belonging to six species (115 Spermophilus columbianus, 46 S. franklinii, 13 S. lateralis, 327 S. richardsonii, 20 S. tridecemlineatus and 33 S. undulatus) were sampled for trypanosomes. Natural infections were recorded in all but S. lateralis. In 1969 and 1970 the prevalences of infection were approximately equal within, but varied between each species of ground squirrel. In 1971 the prevalences of infection increased for all host species sampled. Trypanosomiasis was detected in twice as many ground squirrels when the haematocrit centrifuge technique was used for diagnosis instead of stained thin blood films. In S. richardsonii the prevalences of infection varied from month to month but showed the same trends in both 1969 and 1970. Prevalence was lowest in May and highest in June. It is suggested that susceptible juveniles accounted for the high prevalence in June.

Type
Research Article
Information
Parasitology , Volume 65 , Issue 3 , December 1972 , pp. 427 - 432
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1972

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References

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