Gastrointestinal Helminths in the River Otter (Lutra canadensis) in Tennessee

Abstract

The first records of 3 helminth parasites from otters, Lutra canadensis, collected in Tennessee are reported. Digestive tracts of 91 river otters collected from 1983 to 1993 were examined for helminth parasites. Thirty otters were infected with Baschkirovitrema incrassatum, 5 otters were infected with Acanthocephalus sp., and 1 otter was infected with 2 Strongyloides lutrae. No significant differences in prevalence, mean abundance, or mean intensity of B. incrassatum occurred between counties or months. No significant differences in the prevalence or mean intensity of B. incrassatum occurred between years, but significant yearly differences in mean abundance were recorded from 1988 through 1993 (P < 0.05). There were no statistical differences in B. incrassatum parasitization between males and females or juvenile and adult otters.