THE INFLUENCE OF HELMINTH PARASITISM ON THE ABUNDANCE OF THE SNOWSHOE RABBIT IN WESTERN CANADA

Abstract

The results are given of a survey of the helminth parasites of 420 rabbits (Lepus americanus) from the province of Manitoba. The survey yielded three species of Cestoda, two larval and one adult form, five species of Nematoda, two of which are regarded as new to science, an unidentified Acanthocephalan, and several species of the protozoan genus Eimeria. No Trematoda were found.The biology and pathogenicity of the helminth parasites suggest that the three most dangerous parasites to the health of the rabbit population are Nematodirus triangularis, Synthetocaulus leporis, and Eimeria sp. A definite correlation between the percentage of rabbits infested by parasites and the meteoro-topographical conditions in the different soil areas of the province appears to exist.