Helminth parasites of California quail (Lophortyx californicus) from the Okanagan Valley, British Columbia

Abstract

One hundred and thirty-seven California quail (Lophortyx californicus) were collected from the Okanagan Valley of British Columbia and examined for helminth parasites during the summers of 1965 and 1966. The following helminth species were found parasitizing California quail from four study areas: two cestodes, Rhabdometra odiosa and Choanotaenia infundibulum, and one nematode, Acuaria spinosa.R. odiosa was recovered from quail from all areas; the other two species were less common and more restricted in distribution. The frequency of infection for R. odiosa was 53.8% in adult quail and 45.8% in juvenile quail. Intensity of infection for R. odiosa was 13.5 specimens from adult and 22.4 from juvenile quail. For C. infundibulum the frequency was 1.5% from adult and 9.7% from juvenile quail; intensity was 2 and 1.7 specimens from adult and juvenile quail respectively. A. spinosa was recovered from three adult quail in 1965; none were found in 1966. Neither C. infundibulum nor A. spinosa has previously been reported from California quail.