Incidence of Worm Parasites in Minnesota Mustelidae and Host Lists and Keys to North American Species

Abstract

The parasitological examination of various species of wild North American Mustelidae, until recently, has been limited to a few animals or has been incidental to other investigations such as food habit studies. Much of the information pertaining to this group of host species has resulted from the investigations carried on in the interest of fur farmers. Some additional parasitological data have been obtained by the examination of animals which have died in zoological gardens. The present report is based on the necropsy findings for 547 mustelids of eight species. The known helminth parasites of North American Mustelidae are listed under their hosts, and keys for their determination are appended.