Coccidian Assemblages in the Wyoming Ground Squirrel, Spermophilus elegans elegans

Abstract

One thousand nineteen Wyoming ground squirrels (Spermophilus elegans elegans) from 4 populations in southern Wyoming were examined for intestinal parasites. The most prevalent parasites were 6 species of coccidia: Eimeria beecheyi, Eimeria bilamellata, Eimeria callospermophili, Eimeria larimerensis, Eimeria morainensis, and Eimeria spermophili. Most ground squirrels harbored 2 or more species. This eimerian assemblage was present across populations and over years. Differences in the prevalence of infection were not found among host age classes or between sexes. The presence or absence of helminths was independent of the presence and absence of Eimeria. A log-linear model to test the independence of the distribution of Eimeria spp. among hosts revealed 3 significant positive associations, for E. bilamellata and E. beecheyi, E. morainesis and E. callospermophili, and E. larimerensis and E. bilamellata.

Two New Species and Temporal Changes in the Prevalence of Eimerians in a Free-Living Population of Townsend's Ground Squirrels (Spermophilus townsendii) in Idaho

“…Because the 3 most common eimerians differ in their temporal patterns of prevalence and because animals were captured and recaptured on different dates and at different intervals, it is difficult to determine accurately both actual and expected rates of coinfection; thus, it is difficult to determine if competition is important. Stanton et al (1992) showed that there were 3 significant positive associations in Spermophilus elegans (E. bilamellata and E. beecheyi; E. morainensis and E. callospermophili; E. lateralis and E. bilamellata) but no negative associations.…”

Türkiye’de Anadolu Yer Sincaplarında (Spermophilus xanthoprymnus) Bulunan Eimeria (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) Türleri

“…. Eimeria morainensis and E. callospermophili were also reported from Wyoming ground squirrels (S. elegans elegans) 6 . These Eimeria species were reported from Alaska, Russia, Wyoming, Idaho and Alberta In this paper we reported Eimeria morainensis, E. callospermophili and E. lateralis, from a new host, Anatolian ground squirrel (Spermophilus xanhoprymnus) for the first time in Turkey.…”

“…These species were reported from different kinds of rodents including ground squirrels [2][3][4][5][6] . Seventeen named and two unnamed Eimeria species were reported from 18 species of ground squirrels (Spermophilus spp.)…”

Eimeria species (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) detected from the Anatolian ground squirrel, Spermophilus xanthophrymnus (Rodentia: Sciuridae) in Niğde province, Turkey

“…Stanton et al (5) suggested that of all S. elegans elegans examined, 69 % harbored 1 or more of 6 species of Eimeria. Stanton et al (5) reported that squirrels in relatively mesic habitats have a higher prevalence of infection than do those in xeric habitats.…”

“…Stanton et al (5) reported that squirrels in relatively mesic habitats have a higher prevalence of infection than do those in xeric habitats. According to these investigators (5), oocyst survivorship is expected to be higher more dense vegetation cover may offer some protection from high temperatures, UV radiation, and desication.…”