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Title: A SEROLOGIC AND PARASITOLOGIC SURVEY OF THE ENDANGERED ATTWATER'S PRAIRIE CHICKEN (TYMPANUCHUS CUPIDO ATTWATERI)

Author
item PETERSON, MARKUS - TEXAS A&M,COLLEGE STATION
item PURVIS, JON - TEXAS A&M,COLLEGE STATION
item Lichtenfels, James
item CRAIG, THOMAS - TEXAS A&M,COLLEGE STATION
item DRONEN,JR, NORMAN - TEXAS A&M,COLLEGE STATION
item SILVY, NOVA - TEXAS A&M,COLLEGE STATION

Submitted to: Journal of Wildlife Diseases
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/18/1998
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 Trichostrongy- lus 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: Conservation biologists have speculated that parasitism and infectious disease might have contributed to the endangerment of the Attwater's prairie chicken (Tympanuchus cupido attwateri). No studies addressing this potentiality have been conducted. We surveyed free-living Attwater's prairie chickens from all remaining populations for hemoparasites, helminthic endoparasites, and antibody against the etiologic agents of nine infectious diseases. No hemoparasites were found on blood films collected from 22 adult males. Samples from 4 of 27 adult males were positive for anti- Pasteurella multocida antibody. All other serologic tests were negative (n=19). We identified Dispharynx nasuta, a parasite previously associated with disease in other North American grouse, in one of three adult Attwater's prairie chickens examined. Evidence of Trichostrongylus cramae was found for eight of nine suitable samples, which represents the first report of this parasite in pairie grouse. The mean intensity of T. cramae was more similar to that seen for Trichistrongylus tenuis in red grouse (Lagopus lagopus scoticus) in northern England and Scotland, where it is detrimental than to T. cramae in northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) in the southeastern United States, where it is not thought to be pathogenic.