Helminth parasites of lesser prairie-chickenTympanuchus pallidicinctusin southwestern Kansas: incidence, burdens and effects

Abstract

We conducted a 3-year study of helminth parasites to assess their effect on the lesser prairie-chicken Tympanuchus pallidicinctus. Helminth parasites were found in most of the examined wild prairie chicken carcasses: 95% had eye worm Oxyspirura petrowi, 92% had stomach worm Tetrameres sp., and 59% had caecal worm Subulura sp. Few parasite burdens or incidences of infection were related to prairie chicken body mass, gender, age or season of collection. Droppings from transmitter-equipped prairie chickens were examined for parasite eggs and the data were used to determine which free-ranging prairie chickens harboured parasites. Telemetry data from 46 heavily parasitized and 52 lightly parasitized or parasite-free prairie chickens indicated no difference between mean daily movements, monthly home ranges, clutch sizes, nest success or survival. No adverse impacts were evident in the lesser prairie-chicken population from the incidences or burdens of the helminth parasites found in our study.