GASTROINTESTINAL HELMINTHS IN THE RIVER OTTER (LUTRA-CANADENSIS) IN TENNESSEE

The first records of 3 helminth parasites from otters, Lutra canadensi s, collected in Tennessee are reported. Digestive tracts of 91 river o tters collected from 1983 to 1993 were examined for helminth parasites . Thirty otters were infected with Baschkirovitrema incrassatum, 5 ott ers were infected with Acanthocephalus sp., and 1 otter was infected w ith 2 Strongyloides lutrae. No significant differences in prevalence, mean abundance, or mean intensity of B. incrassatum occurred between c ounties or months. No significant differences in the prevalence or mea n intensity of B. incrassatum occurred between years, but significant yearly differences in mean abundance were recorded from 1988 through 1 993 (P < 0.05). Their were no statistical differences in B. incrassatu m parasitization between males and females or juvenile and adult otter s.