\u3ci\u3eNEOLABIDOPHORUS YUCATANENSIS\u3c/i\u3e GEN. ET SP. N. AND A NEW RECORD FOR \u3ci\u3eDERMACARUS ORNATUS\u3c/i\u3e FAIN, 1967 (ACARINA: GLYCYPHAGIDAE) FROM \u3ci\u3eHETEROMYS GAUMERI \u3c/i\u3eALLEN AND CHAPMAN, 1897, GAUMER\u27S SPINY POCKET MOUSE (RODENTIA: HETEROMYIDAE)

Two species of hypopial nyrnphs of mites of the family Glycyphagidae were recovered from Heteromys gaumeri from Yucatan, Mexico. Numerous specimens of a hypopus identified as Dermacarus ornatus. Fain were recovered from the hair and skin. A single specimen of an endoparasitic hypopus identified as a new genus and species, Neolabidophorus yucatanensis, was recovered from the hair follicles. The new genus differs from similar forms of the subfamily Metalabidophorinae in having a rudimentary clasper organ represented by a median sclerite behind legs IV without external serrated claspers, structure and slightly dorsal position of the tarsal solenidia on legs I and 11, and a modified pair of subpalposoinal setae on the median venter

Helminth Community Dynamics in Populations of Blue-Winged Teal (Anas discors) Using Two Distinct Migratory Corridors

The influence of spatially distinct host subpopulations on helminth community structure and pattern was examined in a migratory avian host species. Forty helminth species represented by 24,082 individuals were collected from 184 blue-winged teal (Anas discors; BWT) from 2 primary migratory corridors in Florida (eastern migratory corridor; EMC) and Louisiana and Texas (western migratory corridor; WMC). Mean species richness was greater in BWT from the WMC (x̅±SE = 10.2 ± 0.3 species) than the EMC (8.6 ± 0.2). The helminth community from the WMC had higher abundances of 6 common/intermediate species. Corridor helminth communities were similar in species composition but less similar when incorporating abundances of those species. Overlapping distributions of phylogenetically related host species that share generalist helminth species across ecologically similar habitats seem to mitigate the isolating mechanisms that are necessary for the distinct coevolutionary pathways to develop between adjacent corridors

DISEASE AND COYOTES IN TEXAS

The coyote (Canis latrans) population in southern Texas has a recurring group of 3 common helminthes and several peripheral species of lesser importance. Although recurrent group analyses have not been applied to other macro- or microparasite communities, there are certain infectious agents with high prevalences that could form recurrent groups, and that are potentially important in tams of impacting host population (ie , coyote) abundance. While the current rabies epizootic involving coyotes in southern Texas is of public health concern, it probably will not have a major impact on the coyote population. Most likely, the net effect of canine rabies will be compensatory with other mortality factors as occurred in other introduced microparasitic (canine distemper virus, canine parvovirus) and periodically recurring macroparasitic (sarcoptic mange) infections that have caused recent epizootics in this coyote population. In contrast, neotatal mortality from hookworm is conjectured to have a possible regulatory effect on the coyote population in southern Texas, but this remains unproven The effects of disease on the host populations should always be considered prior to initiating management or control strategies for any vertebrate species

Keys, species and host list, and bibliography for nasal mites of North American birds (Acarina-Rhinonyssinae, Turbinoptinae, Speleognathinae, and Cytoditidae) /

no.8 (1975

Ectoparasites of the swift fox in northwestern Texas

NoneEctoparasites were collected from chemically immobilized swift foxes (Vulpes velox) in the Texas Panhandle (USA). Three species of fleas (Pulex irritans, Dactylopsylla percernis, and Euhoplopsyllus affinis) and one species of tick (Ixodes sculptus) were found. Pulex irritans was the only abundant ectoparasite; it occurred on all 23 foxes brushed in 1999-2000 and all but one of 34 hosts examined in 2000-01. Otherwise, this swift fox population had a depauperate ectoparasite fauna; the remainder of the ectoparasites only occurred on a few (≤5%) of the hosts. Because of previous taxonomic confusion between P. irritans and the closely related P. simulans, the zoogeographic distribution of these two species in many areas of western North America needs to be verified. Apparently, only the human flea P. irritans occurs on wild canids in the Texas Panhandle. However, there are previous records of P. simulans on other carnivores in western and central Texas. Some of these specimens were reexamined, and their identifications were reconfirmed. Also, the recent literature on the controversial taxonomic status of these two flea species is reviewed. The male terminal aedeagal sexual apparatus is the only means currently available to separate P. irritans and P. simulans. © Wildlife Disease Association 2004

Letter to the Editors: Critical Comments on a Recent Letter to the Editors regarding the Use of Frozen Carcasses in Parasite Surveys

Critical comments on a letter to the editors of the Journal of Parasitology regarding the use of frozen carcasses in parasite surveys