GASTROINTESTINAL HELMINTHS OF EASTERN WOODRAT POPULATIONS IN CENTRAL OKLAHOMA

We surveyed the seasonal abundance and prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites of eastern woodrats (Neotoma floridana) from cross timbers u pland forests in central Oklahoma. We recovered three helminth species (Longistriata neotoma, Bohmiella wilsoni, and Trichuris muris) from 9 9 collected woodrats. Overall, L. neotoma was the most prevalent and a bundant nematode species recovered. Prevalence of all three species of nematodes was significantly influenced by season of collection; there were no differences due to gender. Mean abundance of B. wilsoni was h igher in winter while abundance of L. neotoma was higher in summer.