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Parasites of Three Species of South Dakota Lagomorphs

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Parasites of Three Species of South Dakota Lagomorphs South Dakota State University Open PRAIRIE: Open Public Research Access Institutional Repository and Information Exchange Electronic Theses and Dissertations 1983 Parasites of Three Species of South Dakota Lagomorphs Glenn E. Kietzmann Follow this and additional works at: https://openprairie.sdstate.edu/etd Recommended Citation Kietzmann, Glenn E., "Parasites of Three Species of South Dakota Lagomorphs" (1983). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 4375. https://openprairie.sdstate.edu/etd/4375 This Thesis - Open Access is brought to you for free and open access by Open PRAIRIE: Open Public Research Access Institutional Repository and Information Exchange. It has been accepted for inclusion in Electronic Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Open PRAIRIE: Open Public Research Access Institutional Repository and Information Exchange. For more information, please contact [email protected]. DATE DUE DEL 3t I r�.;, NO I 2 1993 UPI 201·9509 PRINTED IN USA PARAS ITES OF THREE SPECIES OF SOUTH DAKOTA LAGOMORPHS by Glenn E. Kietzmann , Jr. A thesis submitted in pa rtial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Master of Science Ma jor in Zoology South Dakota State University 1983 PARASITES OF THREE SPECIES OF SOUTH DAKOTA LAGOMORPHS This thes is is ap proved as a credi tab le and independent inves tigation by a ca ndidate for the degree, Mas ter of Science , and is acceptable for meeting the thes is requirements for this de gree . Acceptance of this thesis does not �mply tha t the conclusions reached by the cand idate are necessarily the co nclus ions of the major department . Thes�s Advis�� Da te Head, Bi�ogy Dep��ent Date ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The au thor wishes to extend his gratitude and unreserved thanks to the following : Dr . Ernest J. Hugghins, the au thor's ma jor advisor , for his sincere interest and guidance during this study . I would al so like to thank him for the valuable technical advice he offered . Silva Trautman for technical advice on the preparation of speci­ mens for study and her friendship . Dr . Charles McMullen for his advice and he lp in preparing the photographs included in this thesis . Dr . Omer Larson , University of North Dakota , Grand Forks , North Dakota 58 202, for his identification of all fleas collected during this study . All the farmers and ranchers that allowed me to collect speci­ mens on their property. The au thor would al so like to thank all the many people who gave constructive criticism, offered advice, and he lped with the collec t ion of specimens during the course of this study. I also extend a sincere thank you to Cathy Haan for typing this manuscript . -- GEKJ TABLE OF CONTENTS Page INT'RODUCTION . • • • • • • • . • • • • • • • • • • . • • • • . • . • . • • • • . • • . • • . • • • . • . • • 1 METHODS • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 2 Map I . • . • . • . • . • . 3 WHITE-TAILED JACK RABBIT . • . • • • • • . .. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • . • . • • • • • • • • • • . 6 Literature Review Concerning Helminths In White-tailed Jack Rabbits •••••••••••••••••••.••.••••••. 6 Helminths Collected in this Study •• .••••••••.•••.••••••••• 9 Arthropods Collected in this Study ..•••.••••••••••••.••••• 13 • EASTERN COTTONTAIL RABBIT . • • • . • • • • . • • • • • . • • . • . • • • • • • • • • . • . • 16 Literature Review Concerning Helminths In Eastern Cottontail Rabbits •. .•••••••••..•••••.••••...•• 16 Helminths Collected in this Study ••• •..••••.•••.•••••••••• 23 Arthro pods Collected in this Study .•••.•••......••••••••.• 27 DESERT COTTONTAIL RABBIT • • • • • . • . • . • • • • • . • • . • • • • • . • . • • • . • • • • 30 Literature Review Concerning Helminths In Desert Cottontail Rabbits •.••••..••.••.••.••..•.•••.••. 30 Helminths Collected in this Study ••••••••.•••••••• ••.•.... 31 SUIDIA.R.Y AND CONCLUSIONS • • . • • • • . • • • • • . • • • • • • • . • • . • • . • • • . • • 3 4 LITERA.TURE CITED . • • • • . • . • . • . • 3 8 APPENDIX I . • . • • . • . • . • • . • • • . 55 Table A. Helminths Reported from Whi te-tai led Jack Rabbits in North America ..••..•.••.•••••••• 56 Table B. He lminths Reported from Eas tern Cottontail Rabbits in North America ••.•••••••••• 58 Table C. He lminths Reported from Desert Cottontail Rabbi ts in North America ••••...••.... 66 LIST OF TABLES Table Page 1. He lminths of Thirty-five White-tailed Jack Rabbits from South Dakota .••..••. .••.•.•.•.••••••••.. 10 2. Ectoparasites from Thirty-five White-tai led Jack Rabbits from South Dakota .••..•••..•••••..•.••••••••. 14 3. He lminths of Eighteen Eastern Cot tontail Rabbits from South Dakota •••••••••••••••••••a••• •••••••••• 24 4. Ectoparasites from Eighteen Eastern Cot tontail Rabbits from South Dakota ··························�······ 28 5. He lminths of One Desert Cot tontail Rabbit from South Dakota ••.••••••••••••••..•.••••••••••••• 32 LIST OF FIGURES Page Map I . • • . • . • • . • . • . • . • . • . • . • . • . • • . 3 Plate I ......................................................... 45 Figures 1. Immature scolex of Cittotaenia perplexa 2 . Mature scolex of Cittotaenia perplexa Plate II • •.•..•..•.•...•.••••..•.•••..•...•.•..•....•..••••.•... 46 Figures 3. Immature strobila of Cittotaenia perplexa 4 . Immature scolex of Cittotaenia perplexa Plate III ......................... .............................. 47 Figures 5. Gravid proglottid of Cittotaenia pectinata americana 6 . Mature scolex of Cittotaenia pectinata americana Plate IV .................. ............................•......... 48 Figures 7. Immature scolex of Cittotaenia variabilis 8. Posterior of immature Cittotaenia variabilis showing single and double genital organs Plate V . • . • . • . • • . • • • • • • . • . • . • 4 9 Figures 9 . Anterior of female Dermatoxys veligera showing cervical alae 10 . Posterior of female Dermatoxys veligera showing eggs in ut erus Plate VI . ...................................................... 50 Figures 11 . Posterior of male Dermatoxys veligera 12 . Cysticercus of Taenia pisiformis LIST OF FIGURES (continued) Page Plate VII • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 51 Figures 13 . Cediopsylla simplex female 14 . Cediopsylla simp lex male Plate VIII . • • • • . • • • . • • • . • • . • • • • • • . • • • • • . • . • • • • • . • • • • • • . • • • • • • 52 Figures 15 . Euhoplopsyllus glacialis affinis female 16 . Euhoplopsyllus glacialis affini s male Plate IX • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 53 Figures 17 . Opisocrostis bruner! female 18 . Pulex irri tans male Plate X . 54 Figures 19 . Haemaphysalis leporispalustris female INTRODUCTION The wild lagomorpha of North America have in the past been the subject of numerous parasitological examinations . Many of these sur­ veys have been performed on cottontail rabbits (Sylvilagus spp .), while comparatively fewer studies have been done on the jack rabbits (Lepus spp.). In South Dakota, parasite su rveys have yet to be. completed on both cottontail rabbits and jack rabbits . The representatives of the Leporidae found in South Dakota are the white-tailed jack rabbit (Lepus townsend!! campanius) , the black­ tailed jack rabbit (Lepus californicus melanotis), the eastern cot­ tontail rabbits (Sylvilagus floridanus similis and Sylvilagus flori­ danus mearnsii) , the desert cottontail rabbit (Sylvilagus audubon!! bailey! ) and the Black Hi lls cottontail rabbit (Sylvilagus nut talli granger! ) (Hall, 1981 ). The species examined for parasites in this study however, included only Lepus townsend!! campanius, Sylvilagus floridanus similis and Sylvilagus audubon!! bailey! . Since the parasites of hares and rabbits have never been studied in South Dakota, this study wi ll present data on the subject . The objectives of this research were as follows : 1) To determine the species of parasites and their incidence in the three lagomorph species studied . 2) To determine the distribution of each parasite species found in South Dakota lagomorpha . 3) To summarize the data concerning parasites of other areas in relation to the parasites found in South Dakota . 2 METHODS During this study 35 whi te-tailed jack rabbits, 18 eastern cot­ tontail rabbits and one de sert cottontail rabbi t were examined for parasites . All lagomorphs were shot wi th either a 12-guage shotgun or a 22 caliber rifle between October 13, 1982, and June 10, 1983 . The distribution of lagomorpha examined in this study is illustrated in Map I. When killed, the lagomorpha were usually placed in white plastic bags to prevent the escape of ec toparasites . Specimens were necropsied as soon after death as possible or frozen until adequate time was available for their dissection . Lagomorphs were brought to room temperature, removed from the plastic bags, and placed in a high-sided, enameled pan . Each speci­ men was combed to remove parasites from the fur, and bags were exa­ mined for any additiona l parasites which may have fa llen from the host. In preparation for study, ec toparasites were handled by two methods . Ticks were le ft in small screw-cap vials fi lled with 70 percent ethanol . Fleas were cleared in a 10 percent KOH solution . Dehydration was ac complished by placing the fleas in successive solu­ tions of 35 percent, 50 percent, 70 percent, 90 percent and absolute ethanol . Specimens were transferred to pure xylol prior to mounting . 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