Prevalence and intensity of Typhlocoelum cucumerinum (Digenea) in wild anatids of Quebec, Canada.

Abstract

The upper respiratory tracts of 534 wild anatids representing 20 species, shot during the 1976, 1977 and 1978 hunting seasons, were examined for Typhlocoelum cucumerinum (Rudolphi, 1809). Typhlocoelum cucumerinum cymbium (Diesing, 1850) were recovered from Anas platyrhynchos, Anas rubripes, Anas acuta, Anas discors and Anas crecca. The maximum prevalence (16.7%) and intensity of infection (1.6) occurred in mallards (A. platyrhynchos). Aythya valisineria and Aythya marila harboured Typhlocoelum cucumerinum cucumerinum (Rudolphi, 1809). The maximum prevalence (14.3%) and intensity of infection (8.0) occurred in canvasbacks (A. valisineria). Of the 13 other species of ducks examined, none were infected with T. cucumerinum.