CESTODES OF WOLVES, COYOTES, AND COYOTE-DOG HYBRIDS IN ONTARIO

Abstract

Echinococcus granulosus, Taenia hydatigena, and T. krabbei were the most common cestodes encountered in timber wolves of Ontario, with T. pisiformis, T. laticollis, and T. crassiceps being less common. Taenia pisiformis was the only common cestode of coyotes, although T. hydatigena, T. laticollis, E. granulosus, and Mesocestoides sp. were recovered. No Multiceps sp. was found. In Ontario, propagation of T. pisiformis apparently depends mainly on coyotes, whereas E. granulosus, T. hydatigena, and T. krabbei depend on wolves. E. granulosus was approximately twice as common in wolves from areas where moose are more common than deer, and conversely T. hydatigena and T. krabbei were approximately twice as common in wolves from areas where deer are more common than moose.