Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Semester of Degree Completion

1977

Thesis Director

Bill T. Ridgeway

Abstract

Hepatozoon and microfilariae are described from the blood of fox and gray squirrels captured in Coles and Lake Counties in Illinois during 1976 and 1977. The hepatozoon species is identified as Hepatozoon griseisciuri on the basis of parasite morphology and hosts. A higher rate of infection (35.7% : 11.1%) was observed in gray squirrels than in fox squirrels and more adults were infected than juveniles. No microfilariae were found in gray squirrels but fox squirrels had a 57.1% infection rate with no difference based on age. The observed microfilariae are similar to that described by Davidson from Maryland gray squirrels in 1975. They are presumed to be Dirofilariaeformia pulmoni. Chipmunks and thirteen-lined ground squirrels captured in Coles County, Illinois were negative for blood parasites.

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