Naturally occurring hepatozoonosis in coyotes from Oklahoma

Nine of 16 free-ranging coyotes (Canis latrans) from central Oklahoma (USA) had naturally acquired infections of Hepatozoon americanum. Infections wer e confirmed by recognition of tissue stages closely resembling H. americanu m in skeletal and cardiac muscle. At the time coyotes were collected they w ere infested with a variety of ticks, including adult Gulf Coast ticks (Amb lyomma maculatum). We propose that the high prevalence of H, americanum in this small sample of free-ranging coyotes and the ability of these same ani mals to harbor adult populations of A. maculatum is an important component of the epizootiology of canine hepatozoonosis in North America.