Distribution and prevalence of Dracunculus spp. (Nematoda: Dracunculoidea) in mammals in Ontario

Abstract

Within Ontario Dracunculus insignis (Leidy 1858) Chandler 1942, a common parasite of raccoon, Procyon lotor (L) (prevalence > 50%), and mink, Mustela vison Schreber (prevalence > 50%), is apparently confined to the southern part of the province. In this area D. insignis was also found in fisher, Martes pennanti (Erxleben); and Dracunculus sp. was found in short-tailed weasel, Mustela erminea (L), muskrat, Ondatra zibethicus (L), and opossum, Didelphis marsupialis (L). The distribution of D. insignis coincides with that of raccoon in Ontario, and it is suggested that raccoon may be a reservoir host for this species and that mink became incorporated into its life cycle secondarily. Dracunculus lutrae Chrichton and Beverley-Burton 1973 of the otter, Lutra canadensis (Schreber), was found across the entire province and, in most areas, the prevalence exceeded 75%. During the trapping season (October–April) larvigerous females were found in 20 (44.4%) of 45 otter infected with D. lutrae in southern Ontario, but were absent from the limbs of 132 infected otter from northern Ontario.