COCCIDIA, GIARDIA SP, AND A PHYSALOPTERAN NEMATODE PARASITE FROM BLACK-FOOTED FERRETS (MUSTELA NIGRIPES) IN WYOMING

Oocysts of 3 species of Eimeria were found in feces and intestinal con tents of free-ranging and captive black-footed ferrets (Mustela nigrip es) from Wyoming. Oocysts, meronts, and gamonts of 2 of the intestinal coccidia; meronts and oocysts of an unidentified coccidian in the res piratory tract; and merozoites of an unidentified coccidian from the w all of the urinary bladder were seen histologically or in impression s mears. Based on oocyst morphometry, 2 of the intestinal coccidia were identified as E. ictidea and E. furonis. The third intestinal coccidia n and the respiratory and urinary bladder forms were not identified. O ther parasites observed included Giardia sp. and Physaloptera sp. All parasites constitute new host records. The coccidia also represent new distribution records and the developmental stage descriptions are pre viously unreported in black-footed ferrets.