The endoparasite community of the eastern spotted skunk (Spilogale putorius) is poorly known. We surveyed parasites found in the feces of 29 eastern spotted skunks captured between March 2005 and January 2007 from a population in west-central Arkansas as part of a broader study of the ecology of the species. We identified 13 species (nine nematodes, four protozoa) from 82 fecal samples. Mean (±SD) number of species per individual skunk was 4.1±2.1, although this is likely an underestimate because some individuals were sampled more intensively than others. Most of the identified parasite species were also found in other skunk species or in other small carnivore species.
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1 October 2008
A Survey of Parasites Identified in the Feces of Eastern Spotted Skunks (Spilogale putorius) in Western Arkansas
Damon B. Lesmeister,
Joshua J. Millspaugh,
Susan E. Wade,
Matthew E. Gompper
Journal of Wildlife Diseases
Vol. 44 • No. 4
October 2008
Vol. 44 • No. 4
October 2008
Arkansas
carnivore
eastern spotted skunk
Ouachita National Forest
parasites
Spilogale putorius
survey