PARASITES OF THE ABERTS SQUIRREL (SCIURUS-ABERTI) AND RED SQUIRREL (TAMIASCIURUS-HUDSONICUS) OF NEW-MEXICO

Between 1989 and 1991, 29 Abert squirrels (Sciurus aberti) and 45 red squirrels (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus) were collected in New Mexico and e xamined for parasites. Of 29 S. aberti examined, 86.2% (25/29) were in fected with at least 1 parasite species. Helminths were found in 62.1% (18/29) of S. aberti; 37.9% (11/29) were infected with fleas and 37.9 % (11/29) with the coccidian Eimeria tamiasciuri. Among T. hudsonicus, 82.5% of the squirrels examined were infected with at least 1 parasit e. Helminths were found in 57.8% (26/45) of T. hudsonicus; 22.2% (10/4 5) were infected with fleas and 26.7% (12/45) with Eimeria tamiasciuri . Citellinema quadrivittati was found in squirrels of both species; 55 .2% (16/29) of S. aberti were infected, with 57.8% (26/45) of T. hudso nicus carrying the parasite. Enterobius sciuri was only found in S. ab erti with 17.2% (5/29) carrying the infection. One cestode, Hymenolepi s sp., was found only in T. hudsonicus with 6.7% (3/45) carrying the i nfection. Four species of flea were found on squirrels of both species . Ceratophyllus vison was found on 6.9% (2/29) of S. aberti and 6.7% ( 3/45) of T. hudsonicus examined. Opisodasys robustus was found on 6.9% (2/29) of S. aberti and 8.8% (4/45) of T. hudsonicus examined. Orchop eas caedens caedens was found on 3.4% (1/29) of S. aberti and 6.7% (3/ 45) of T. hudsonicus examined. Orchopeas neotomae was found on 10.3% ( 3/29) of S. aberti and 6.7% (3/45) of T. hudsonicus examined. Two spec ies of flea were only found on T. hudsonicus; Orchopeas leucopus was f ound on 2.2% (1/45) and Oropsylla idahoensis was found on 2.2% (1/45) of the T. hudsonicus examined. Eumolpianus eumolpi was only found on S . aberti with 17.2% (5/29) carrying the parasite. This is the first re port of helminth parasites from tree squirrels in New Mexico. New host records for both hosts are reported.