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1 April 2008 Hemoparasites in Oregon Spotted Frogs (Rana pretiosa) from Central Oregon, USA
Patricia L. Stenberg, William J. Bowerman
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Abstract

Between 2001 and 2003, we screened blood smears of 156 Oregon spotted frogs (Rana pretiosa) from three populations in central Oregon for blood parasites. A Lankesterella sp. and a Trypanosoma sp. were detected in 31% and 35% of the frogs, respectively. Parasite loads were generally light, with Lankesterella sporozoites in 1–2% of erythrocytes, and extracellular trypanosomes were seen at rates of about one parasite per 200 fields of view at 1000×. Little work has been published on hemoparasites of ranids in the western USA in the past 30 yr. Because of the recent taxonomic division of the Rana pretiosa complex, this may be the first published report of blood parasites for R. pretiosa sensu stricto. Both parasites reported here differed in morphologic features and morphometric comparisons from previous descriptions of anuran hemoparasites. Much work remains to sort out the taxonomy of hemoparasites among western USA ranids and to determine the ecological significance of these parasites; both tasks are important steps in understanding and managing these, and related, sensitive and threatened species.

Stenberg and Bowerman: Hemoparasites in Oregon Spotted Frogs (Rana pretiosa) from Central Oregon, USA
Patricia L. Stenberg and William J. Bowerman "Hemoparasites in Oregon Spotted Frogs (Rana pretiosa) from Central Oregon, USA," Journal of Wildlife Diseases 44(2), 464-468, (1 April 2008). https://doi.org/10.7589/0090-3558-44.2.464
Received: 10 January 2007; Published: 1 April 2008
KEYWORDS
hemoparasites
Lankesterella
Oregon Spotted Frog
Rana pretiosa
Trypanosoma
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