SEASONAL CHANGES IN THE PREVALENCE OF OVA OF Diphyllobothrium ursi AND Baylisascaris transfuga IN THE FECES OF THE BLACK BEAR (Ursus americanus)

Abstract

An analysis of 114 samples of feces from black bears (Ursus americanus) from La Verendrye Park, Quebec revealed that the prevalence of eggs of Diphyllobothrium ursi and Baylisascaris transfuga varied seasonally. D. ursi ova were most prevalent during the summer and fall and at their lowest in spring while the converse was true for B. transfuga. This phenomenon possibly is associated with the cessation of feeding during the winter denning of black bears.