GASTROINTESTINAL HELMINTHS OF EASTERN WOODRAT POPULATIONS IN CENTRAL OKLAHOMA

We surveyed the seasonal abundance and prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites of eastern woodrats (Neotoma floridana) from cross timbers upland forests in central Oklahoma. We recovered three helminth species (Longistriata neotoma, Bohmiella wilsoni, and Trichuris muris) from 99 collected woodrats. Overall, L. neotoma was the most prevalent and abundant nematode species recovered. Prevalence of all three species of nematodes was significantly influenced by season of collection; there were no differences due to gender. Mean abundance of B. wilsoni was higher in winter while abundance of L. neotoma was higher in summer.