HELMINTH INFECTIONS ACROSS A NORTHERN BOBWHITE (COLINUS VIRGINIANUS) ANNUAL CYCLE IN FISHER COUNTY, TEXAS

Northern Bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) populations in Texas have been declining during the past several decades. Declines have been attributed to habitat loss, but other causes and potential contributing factors (e.g., parasites, disease) have been posited. Little is known about helminth parasites in bobwhites from Texas. Previous studies often used bobwhites collected during the hunting season, which only samples individuals that survive after the summer breeding season. Our objectives were to (1) assess the prevalence, intensity, and abundance of helminths in bobwhites from Fisher County, Texas, during an annual cycle; (2) identify which species are known to be pathogenic; and (3) determine whether infections are related to host age, sex, and season of collection. We collected 142 bobwhites during February-March 2010 (n = 37), August 2010 (n = 51), and December 2010-January 2011 (n = 54). We found 7 helminth species, of which 3 (Oxyspirura petrowi, Tetrameres pattersoni, and Dispharynx nasuta) are known to cause tissue damage to bobwhites. Aulonocephalus pennula was the most common (82% prevalence) and numerically abundant species (96% of all specimens). Prevalence and mean abundance of A. pennula, O. petrowi, and T. pattersoni were higher in adults than juveniles. Prevalence of A. pennula, O. petrowi, and T. pattersoni did not vary with host sex. Mean abundance of T. pattersoni was higher in females than males. Prevalence of A. pennula, O. petrowi, and T. pattersoni was lower in summer than early and late winter and was related to low infections in young juveniles. Our findings provide insight into helminth infection dynamics of Northern Bobwhites across an annual cycle.