Arthropod and Helminth Parasites from the Plains Pocket Gopher, Geomys bursarius bursarius from the Hosts' Northern Boundary Range in Minnesota

Authors

• Monroe H. Bartel, Moorehead State University
• Scott Lyell Gardner, University of Nebraska - LincolnFollow

Document Type

Article

Date of this Version

2-1-2000

Comments

Published in the Journal of Parasitology, v. 86, no. 1 (2000): 153-156. Copyright 2000, the American Society of Parasitologists. Used by permission.

Abstract

As part of a continuing and more general study of the diversity of parasites from subterranean mammals in central North America, individuals of the Plains pocket gopher, Geomys bursarius bursarius, were collected from 7 localities in northwestern Minnesota from September 1991 through October 1996. Arthropods collected included the fleas, Opisocrostis bruneri (4 of 124, 3.20/0), Foxella ignota ignota (85 of 124, 68.50/0); the chewing louse, Geomydoecus geomydis geomydis from 98 of 124 (790/0), and larvae of the tick, Dermacentor variabilis (1 of 124, 0.8%). Nematodes found included Physaloptera limbata (2 of 118 gophers, 1.7%), Capillaria americana (4 of 118, 3.40/0), and Ransomus rodentorum (31 of 118, 26.30/0). Cestodes recovered included Anoplocephaloides infrequens (12 of 136 gophers, 8.8%), Anoplocephaloides variabilis (19 of 136, 140/0), Andrya macrocephala (20 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 (0.8%). No parasites were found in the cheek pouches, thoracic, or peritoneal cavities.