PERSISTENCE OF A RECURRENT GROUP OF INTESTINAL HELMINTH SPECIES IN A COYOTE POPULATION FROM SOUTHERN TEXAS

The persistence and interrelationships of a recurrent group of intesti nal helminth species in a coyote population from southern Texas were d etermined; data were collected at 4-yr intervals (1979, 1983, and 1987 ). The a priori expectation was that a defined recurrent group of helm inth species persisted over time and that the respective helminth spec ies were stable in terms of their abundances. The Fager index and subs equent recurrent group analysis indicated a small group of taxonomical ly unrelated recurring species of helminths that always demonstrated a ffinities with each other and occasionally with certain of the remaini ng species. Although there were differences across host subpopulations delineated by sex and age, temporal changes reflective of extrinsic e nvironmental variables acting on certain helminth species appeared to have the greatest effect on recurrent group size and structure. Three of the 8 common intestinal helminth species (Ancylostoma caninum, Onci cola canis, and Alaria marcianae) occurred in all recurrent groups. Th us, there was temporal persistence of a small recurrent group of domin ant helminth species that formed the basis of the intestinal helminth community in this coyote population.