Northern bobwhite and lead shot deposition in an upland habitat.

We estimated total lead shotshell pellets expended, resultant pellet availability near soil surface, and the frequency of pellet ingestion by northern bobwhites ( Colinus virginianus) attributable to nearly a quarter century of bobwhite hunting on a 202-ha upland habitat at Tall Timbers Research Station, Leon County, Florida. A total of 7776 shots were fired, resulting in the expenditure of approximately 4.5 million pellets (approximately 22519/ha). Sixteen of 235 (6.8%) soil samples collected in 1989 and 1992 contained one or two pellets. Soil samples indicated that approximately 7800 pellets/ha (about 35% of the projected 24-year deposition) were within 2.54 cm of the soil surface. Pellet ingestion by bobwhites was evaluated by examining 241 gizzards collected from 1989-92. Three bobwhites (1.3%) had ingested pellets ( x = 1.3 pellets). No instances of suspected lead poisoning were noted in bobwhites over the 24-year period. Sport hunting of wild bobwhite populations on upland habitats appears to produce a low potential for lead poisoning compared to lead deposition in association with waterfowl and dove hunting.

Parelaphostrongylus tenuis on Wassaw Island, Georgia: a result of translocating white-tailed deer.

Meningeal worms (Parelaphostrongylus tenuis) were found in each of five white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) examined from Wassaw Island, Chatham County, Georgia, in September 1993. This represents the first reported occurrence of the parasite on a southeastern barrier island and extends its geographic distribution approximately 140 km beyond the nearest known infected mainland deer population. According to an anecdotal account, six white-tailed deer were imported from Pennsylvania and released on Wassaw Island in 1905 or shortly thereafter. Based on its absence elsewhere along the southeastern coast from North Carolina to Louisiana and its high prevalence in Pennsylvania, the enzootic focus of P. tenuis on Wassaw Island was attributed to translocation of infected deer.

Diseases and parasites of red foxes, gray foxes, and coyotes from commercial sources selling to fox-chasing enclosures.

Fifty-six red foxes (Vulpes vulpes), 18 gray foxes (Urocyon cinereoargenteus), and 13 coyotes (Canis latrans) obtained by the South Carolina Wildlife and Marine Resources Department during an investigation of suspected illegal wildlife translocation were examined for diseases and parasites. Red foxes and coyotes were confiscated from an animal dealer based in Ohio (USA), and gray foxes were purchased from an animal dealer in Indiana (USA). Emphasis was placed on detection of pathogens representing potential health risks to native wildlife, domestic animals, or humans. All animals were negative for rabies; however, 15 gray foxes were incubating canine distemper at necropsy. Serologic tests disclosed antibodies to canine parvovirus, canine distemper virus, canine adenovirus, canine coronavirus, canine herpesvirus, and canine parainfluenza virus in one or more host species. Twenty-three species of parasites (two protozoans, three trematodes, four cestodes, eleven nematodes, and three arthropods) were found, including species with substantial pathogenic capabilities. Echinococcus multilocularis, a recognized human pathogen not enzootic in the southeastern United States, was found in red foxes. Based on this information, we conclude that the increasingly common practice of wild canid translocation for stocking fox-chasing enclosures poses potential health risks to indigenous wildlife, domestic animals, and humans and, therefore, is biologically hazardous.

Ecology of helminth parasitism in bobwhites from northern Florida.

Examination of 700 northern bobwhites (Colinus virginianus), 50 each February from 1971 through 1984, from Tall Timbers Research Station, Leon County, Florida, disclosed 15 species of helminth parasites. Nine species (Raillietina cesticillus, R. colinia, Aproctella stoddardi, Cheilospirura spinosa, Cyrnea colini, Dispharynx nasuta, Heterakis isolonche, Tetrameres pattersoni, and Trichostrongylus tenuis) generally were found on an annual basis and were considered characteristic components of the helminth fauna. Infrequently found species were Brachylecithum nanum, Rhabdometra odiosa, Capillaria sp., Gongylonema ingluvicola, H. gallinarum, and Oxyspirura matogrosensis. Intensities of C. colini and H. isolonche differed among host sex and age classes, and prevalences and/or intensities of A. stoddardi, C. spinosa, T. pattersoni, and T. tenuis differed between host age classes. Prevalences and/or abundances of seven species (R. cesticillus, R. colinia, C. spinosa, C. colini, H. isolonche, T. pattersoni, and T. tenuis) varied with bobwhite density, apparently because bobwhites were either the primary or only definitive host on the area. Two species (A. stoddardi and D. nasuta) did not vary with bobwhite density, apparently due to the buffering effect of a broad range of definitive hosts on the area. Prevalences and/or intensities of R. colinia, C. spinosa, and T. tenuis differed with agricultural fields status (cultivated versus fallow) suggesting that land use and its attendant habitat changes influenced transmission of these species. The occurrence of C. spinosa and T. pattersoni in individual bobwhites was not independent and was attributed to utilization of the same species of grasshoppers as intermediate hosts. Localized tissue damage and inflammation were associated with A. stoddardi, D. nasuta, C. spinosa, C. colini and T. pattersoni. Decreases in body weight in juvenile bobwhites were associated with increasing intensities of H. isolonche and T. tenuis. The observed relationships to bobwhite density and other variables are discussed with regard to known aspects of life histories of the nine most common species.

Ectoparasites collected from bobwhite quail in the southeastern United States.

Twenty-one species of ectoparasites representing 19 genera were collected from 481 bobwhite quail (Colinus virginianus) from nine areas in four southeastern states. Sixteen species, Amblyomma americanum, Haemaphysalis chordeilis, Haemaphysalis leporispalustris, Eutrombicula alfreddugesi alfreddugesi, Neoschoengastia americana, Boydaia colini, Pterolichus sp., Colinophilus wilsoni, Megninia sp., Apionacarus wilsoni, Colinoptes cubanensis, Menacanthus pricei, Colinicola numidiana, Gonoides ortygis and Oxylipeurus clavatus were previously known from bobwhites, whereas five species, Ixodes minor, Neotrombicula whartoni, Dermoglyphus sp., Microlichus sp. and Rivoltasia sp. (near coturnicola) represented new host-parasite associations. Data are presented giving prevalence, geographic location, host age and numbers of quail infested with each species. Significant lesions were not associated with any species.

Seasonal trends of helminth parasites of bobwhite quail.

Helminthologic examination of 120 adult and 65 juvenile bobwhites (Colinus virginianus) from Leon County, Florida, during a one-year period revealed seven common (> 30% prevalence) species including Raillietina cesticillus, R. colinia, Cheilospirura spinosa, Cyrnea colini, Heterakis bonasae, Tetrameres pattersoni, and Trichostrongylus tenuis. Less frequently found helminths included Hymenolepis sp., Rhabdometra odiosa, Mediorhynchus papillosis, Aproctella stoddardi, Dispharynx nasuta, Gongylonema ingluvicola, Strongyloides avium, and Subulura sp. Juvenile bobwhites had acquired infections of 6 of the 7 common helminths by July and all seven species by August. A shift from a predominance of immature to mature parasites was noted with increasing age of juvenile bobwhites followed both linear and non-linear (plateau effect) trends when compared to age of the host. By mid-winter total helminth burdens of juvenile birds approached levels in adults. Cheilospirura spinosa, C. colini and T. pattersoni showed marked peaks in transmission between June and September. The two cecal nematodes, H. bonasae and T. tenuis, showed seasonal shifts in relative abundance with H. bonasae predominating during the summer and T. tenuis predominating during the winter. Lesions attributable to helminths were rare and involved minimal tissue damage.

An epornitic of avian pox in wild bobwhite quail.

An outbreak of avian pox, with an estimated 12-fold increase in the incidence of infection, occurred among wild bobwhites (Colinus virginianus) in the southwestern Georgia/northcentral Florida region. The outbreak was first detected in July, 1978, and continued at least until March, 1979. During this period, 26 separate clinical case accessions involving 43 bobwhites from 8 counties in Florida and Georgia were diagnosed as avian pox. A survey of 2,586 bobwhites from 6 southeastern states revealed avian pox infections in 312 bobwhites from Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and Tennessee. Seventy-seven percent of the infected birds in the survey had only mild lesions on the legs and feet; however, 23% had more extensive lesions on the head. Severely affected birds had lesions around the eyes, nares, and in the mouth which impaired vision, respiration, and/or feeding. Infection rates were not related to age or sex of the birds but varied greatly among locales, even on adjoining properties. A morbidity rate of approximately 2% and a mortality rate between 0.6 and 1.2% were estimated for a 13,000 km2 region in Georgia and Florida.

Failure of Heterakis bonasae to transmit Histomonas meleagridis.

Studies were conducted to determine whether Heterakis bonasae eggs from bobwhite quail infected with Histomonas meleagridis would transmit histomoniasis to turkeys. Fifteen helminth-free bobwhites were inoculated per os with embryonated H. bonasae eggs. Each bobwhite was then infected with H. meleagridis via rectal inoculation. Bobwhites that developed cecal lesions rarely retained mature H. bonasae. H. bonasae eggs recovered from bobwhites exposed to or known to have concurrent H. meleagridis infections were inoculated per os to eleven helminth-free turkeys. None of the turkeys developed H. meleagridis infections.