We found trombiculid mite (Trombiculidae) infestations in 32 of 101 (32%) free-ranging Florida black bears (Ursus americanus floridanus) live-captured or necropsied in Florida from January 1999 to April 2000. Prevalence of chigger infestation was greatest in June with no infestations seen October to March. Chigger infestations were recognized as accumulations of bright orange granular material usually associated with hair shafts. Mites were found in clusters of one to 102 (mean ± SD = 8.5 ± 19.5) and were distributed primarily over the ventral abdomen and thorax, inguinal and axillary regions, and proximal medial aspect of the extremities. Mites were identified as larval Eutrombicula splendens. Cutaneous lesions were seen in two of 32 (6%) infested bears.
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July 01 2001
Trombiculiasis in the Florida Black Bear
Mark W. Cunningham;
Mark W. Cunningham
5
1 Department of Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611, USA
2 Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, 4005 South Main Street, Gainesville, Florida 32601, USA
5 Corresponding author (e-mail: [email protected]).
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Lynette A. Phillips;
Lynette A. Phillips
1 Department of Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611, USA
3 Current address: Department of Pathobiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, USA
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Cal Welbourn
Cal Welbourn
4 Division of Plant Industry, Bureau of Entomology, Plant Pathology, and Nematology, Gainesville, Florida 32614, USA
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J Wildl Dis (2001) 37 (3): 634–639.
Article history
Received:
July 15 2000
Citation
Mark W. Cunningham, Lynette A. Phillips, Cal Welbourn; Trombiculiasis in the Florida Black Bear. J Wildl Dis 1 July 2001; 37 (3): 634–639. doi: https://doi.org/10.7589/0090-3558-37.3.634
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