Host and geographic differences in prevalence and diversity of gastrointestinal helminths of foxes (Vulpes vulpes), coyotes (Canis latrans) and wolves (Canis lupus) in Quebec, Canada.

ABSTRACT: Wild canids are hosts to a wide range of parasites and can play a role in transmission of zoonoses. As many parasites are transmitted through food webs, and wild canids are at high trophic levels, parasite prevalence and diversity in wild canids can serve as excellent indicators of ecosystem health. Our main objectives were to update knowledge on the composition of gastrointestinal helminths in wild canids from Québec, Canada, and to describe differences in parasite prevalence and diversity among canid species and regions. Hunters and trappers provided whole carcasses of red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) (N = 176), and intestinal tracts of coyotes (Canis latrans) (N = 77) and gray wolves (Canis lupus) (N = 23) harvested for non-research purposes over the winter of 2016-2017. A

SUBMITTER: Bouchard E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8441108 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature