University of Nebraska - Lincoln DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln Faculty Publications from the Harold W. Manter Laboratory of Parasitology Parasitology, Harold W. Manter Laboratory of 2-1-2000 Arthropod and Helminth Parasites from the Plains Pocket Gopher, Geomys bursarius bursarius from the Hosts' Northern Boundary Range in Minnesota Monroe H. Bartel Moorehead State University Scott Lyell Gardner University of Nebraska - Lincoln, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/parasitologyfacpubs Part of the Parasitology Commons Bartel, Monroe H. and Gardner, Scott Lyell, "Arthropod and Helminth Parasites from the Plains Pocket Gopher, Geomys bursarius bursarius from the Hosts' Northern Boundary Range in Minnesota" (2000). Faculty Publications from the Harold W. Manter Laboratory of Parasitology. 28. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/parasitologyfacpubs/28 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Parasitology, Harold W. Manter Laboratory of at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in Faculty Publications from the Harold W. Manter Laboratory of Parasitology by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. RESEARCH NOTES 153 the language of evolution. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washing­ McNAMARA, K. J. 1986. A guide to the nomenclature of heterochrony. ton, D.C., 429 p. Journal of Paleontology 60: 4-13. DOBROVOLNY, C. G. 1939. Life history of Plagioporus sinitsini Mueller RAFF, R. A. 1996. The shape of life: Genes, development, and the evo­ and embryology of new cotylocercus cercariae (Trematoda). Trans­ lution of animal form. University of Chicago Press, Chicago, Illi­ actions of the American Microscopical Society 58: 121-155. nois, 520 p. 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Contributions to (Digenea: Azygiidae) from Michigan's upper peninsula and a key the life history of Proterometra dickermani (Digenea: Azygiidae). to species of Proterometra. Journal of Parasitology 81: 442-445. Journal of Parasitology 76: 447-450. 1. Parasitol., 86(1), 2000 p. 153-156 © American Society of Parasitologists 2000 Arthropod and Helminth Parasites from the Plains Pocket Gopher, Geomys bursarius bursarius from the Hosts' Northern Boundary Range in Minnesota Monroe H. Bartel and Scott L. Gardner*, Department of Biology, Moorhead State University, Moorhead, Minnesota 56563; and "Harold W. Manter Laboratory of Parasitology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska 68588-0514 ABSTRACT: As part of a continuing and more general study of the di­ of G. bursarius report cestodes and nematodes from Oklahoma versity of parasites from subterranean mammals in central North Amer­ (Burnham, 1953); Hymenolepis from the midwestern states ica, individuals of the Plains Pocket Gopher, Geomys bursarius bursar­ ius, were collected from 7 localities in northwestern Minnesota from (Douthitt, 1915); Hymenolepis spp. from Colorado (Gardner September 1991 through October 1996. Arthropods collected included and Schmidt, 1988); Foxella from North Dakota (Larson, the fleas, Opisocrostis bruneri (4 of 124, 3.20/0), Foxella ignota ignota 1997); Geomydoecus, Foxella, and Acari from Colorado (Miller (85 of 124, 68.50/0); the chewing louse, Geomydoecus geomydis geo­ and Ward, 1960); Geomydoecus and Foxella from South Dakota mydis from 98 of 124 (790/0), and larvae of the tick, Dermacentor var­ iabilis (1 of 124, 0.8%). Nematodes found included Physaloptera lim­ (Rissky, 1962); Geomydoecus and Acari from Illinois and Mis­ bata (2 of 118 gophers, 1.7%), Capillaria americana (4 of 118, 3.40/0), souri (Spicka, 1981); Geomydoecus from throughout the host's and Ransomus rodentorum (31 of 118, 26.30/0). Cestodes recovered in­ range (Timm and Price, 1980); Geomydoecus, Foxella, and Ac­ cluded Anoplocephaloides infrequens (12 of 136 gophers, 8.8%), Ano­ ari from Indiana (Tuszynski and Whitaker, 1971); and Andrya, plocephaloides variabilis (19 of 136, 140/0), Andrya macrocephala (20 Anoplocephaloides, and Nemata from Kansas (Ubelaker and of 136, 14.7%), and Hymenolepis weldensis from 12 of 136, 8.80/0. The acanthocephalan, Moniliformis clarki was found in 1 of 118 gophers Downhower, 1965). (0.8%). No parasites were found in the cheek pouches, thoracic, or We examined 144 individuals of G. b. bursarius for the pres­ peritoneal cavities. ence of both endo- and ectometazoan parasites collected from 7 localities in Minnesota. We found 2 species of fleas, 1 species Pocket gophers (Geomyidae), primarily southern Nearctic of lice, 1 species of tick, 3 species of nematodes, 4 species of and extreme northern Neotropical in distribution, are subterra­ cestodes, and 1 species of Acanthocephala. Seven new host and nean mammals that only infrequently leave their burrows (Hall, 6 new locality records are reported (Table I). 1981). The Plains Pocket Gopher, Geomys bursarius (Shaw) Gophers were trapped using Victor Macabee gopher traps, complex, which consists of about 21 subspecies, occurs in the placed in plastic bags, cooled on ice, and taken to the labora­ midwestern and southern United States from Texas to southern tory. Traps were checked every few minutes and gophers re­ Manitoba (Canada), and from Illinois to Wyoming and New moved as soon as they were captured. Ectoparasites were Mexico (Hall, 1981). brushed from the fur with a fine brass brush into an enamel­ Few data exist concerning the parasites of the subspecies, coated tray and preserved in 70% ethanol. Cheek pouches and Geomys bursarius bursarius, which occupies Minnesota near cavities of the thorax and abdomen were examined for para­ the northern limit of its range (records also being from southern sites. The contents of the stomachs, small intestines, large in­ Manitoba), but searching in marginal localities for this species testines, and cecae were separately washed over a 100-mesh by R. L. Rausch (pers. comm. to S.L.G.) revealed possible local screen, the screenings of which were examined for helminths extirpation of this species. From collections made in Minnesota, in a petri dish using a dissecting microscope. Douthitt (1915) described the cestodes, Andrya macrocephala, Cestodes found were relaxed in ice water and, after death, Anoplocephaloides infrequens, and Anoplocephaloides varia­ were immediately fixed in hot buffered formalin. Other hel­ bilis, and Timm and Price (1980) collected Geomydoecus geo­ minths were fixed directly in buffered formalin. Standard tech­ mydis. niques of dehydrating, clearing, staining, and mounting of par­ Studies of the arthropods and helminths of other subspecies asites were used (Dailey, 1996). Voucher specimens have been 154 THE JOURNAL OF PARASITOLOGY, VOL. 86, NO.1, FEBRUARY 2000 TABLE I. Prevalence (0/0) and mean intensity (range) of parasites found in the plains pocket gopher from 7 localities in Minnesota. Parasite n* (%) x (range) County locality'[ Location in host Siphonaptera Opisocrostis bruneris 4/124 (3.2) 2 (0-3) 5, 6 Fur Foxella ignota ignota§ 85/124 (68.5) 4.5 (0-18) 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 Fur Mallophaga Geomydoecus geomydis geomydis 98/124 (79.0) 31.4 (0-504) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 Fur Ixodida Dermacentor variabiliss 1/124 (0.8) 1 (0-1) Fur Nemata Physaloptera limbatasii 2/118 (1.7) 4 (0-7) 1 Stomach Capillaria americanasii 4/118 (3.4) 2.5 (0-4) 6 Small intestine Ransomus rodentorumf.§ 31/118 (26.3) 4.8 (0-17) 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 Large intestine, cecum Cestoda Anoplocephaloides infrequens 12/136 (8.8) 1.4 (0-3) 2,3,5 Small intestine Anoplocephaloides variabilis 19/136 (14.0) 3.7 (0-20) 1,2,3,5 Small intestine Andrya macrocephala 20/136 (14.7) 1.3 (0-3) 1, 2, 3, 5, 6 Small intestine Hymenolepis weldensissii 12/136 (8.8) 3.3 (0-13) 1, 4, 5, 6, 7 Small intestine Acanthocephala Moniliformis clarkif.§ 1/118 (0.8) 1 (0-1) Small intestine * Number infected/number examined. t 1 = Kittson, 2 = Roseau, 3 = Polk,4 = Beltrami, 5 = Clay, 6 = Becker, 7 = Big Stone. t New host record. § New state or geographic record. deposited in the Harold W. Manter Laboratory of Parasitology occurred on 85 (68.5%) of the gophers we collected and rep­ (HWML), University of Nebraska-Lincoln: Opisocrostis resents a new state record. bruneri (HWMLI4802-14803), Foxella ignota ignota Timm and Price (1980), in their extensive study of chewing (HWMLI4804-14812), Geomydoecus geomydis geomydis lice of the order Mallophaga from the 23 described subspecies (HWMLI4813-14824), Physaloptera limbata (HWMLI4931), of G. bursarius, list 15 species and subspecies of Geomydoecus Capillaria americana (HWMLI4930), Ransomus rodentorum exclusively from this host. Geomydoecus g. geomydis is the (HWMLI4922-14929),