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Title: NORTHERN BOBWHITES AS DISEASE RESERVOIRS FOR THE ATTWATER'S PRAIRIE- CHICKEN

Author
item PURVIS, JON - S DAKOTA ST UNIV,BROOKING
item PETERSON, MARKUS - S DAKOTA ST UNIV,BROOKING
item DRONEN, NORMAN - S DAKOTA ST UNIV,BROOKING
item Lichtenfels, James
item LESTER, THOMAS - VET MED DIAG LAB, TEXAS
item SILVY, NOVA - S DAKOTA ST UNIV,BROOKING

Submitted to: Journal of Wildlife Diseases
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/8/1997
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Trichostrongylus tenuis is an important nematode parasite of domesticated birds including chickens, turkeys and a wide variety of wild gallinaceous birds. Recently, evidence was published that indicated the Trichostrongylus sp. present in bobwhite quail and the endangered Attwater's prairie-chicken is a different species. Morphological studies were completed of Trichostrongylus from the bobwhite quail and the prairie-chicken and those from domesticated birds and several wild birds. The conclusion that the species in the bobwhite and the endangered prairie-chicken are Trichostrongylus cramae and not the Trichostrongylus tenuis of domesticated and other wild birds should be useful in managing populations of both domestic and wild birds.

Technical Abstract: We surveyed free-living northern bobwhites (Colinus virginianus) during spring and fall 1993 for helminthic endoparasites, hemoparasites, and specific antibodies against the etiologic agents of nine infectious diseases. Trichostrongylus cramae was collected from 97%, Strongyloides avium from 32% and Raillietina sp. from 44% of northern bobwhites examined. No gross lesions due to parasites were found and we found no evidence that these agents were detrimental to individual birds. Specific antibodies of Pasteurella multocida were found in three of 53 plasma samples. No hemoparasites were found in 49 blood films. Sympatric populations of the endangered Attwater's prairie-chicken (Tympanuchus cupido attwateri) may be at risk and controlled investigations to determine whether these disease organisms can be transmitted between northern bobwhites and prairie grouse should be conducted.