Michael J Yabsley, Kayla B Garrett, Alec T Thompson, Erin K Box, Madeline R Giner, Ellen Haynes, Heather Barron, Renata M Schneider, Sarah M Coker, James C Beasley, Ernest J Borchert, Renn Tumlison, Allison Surf, Casey G Dukes, Colleen Olfenbuttel, Justin D Brown, Liandrie Swanepoel, Christopher A Cleveland
The genus Dracunculus contains numerous species of subcutaneous parasites of mammals and reptiles. In North America, there are at least three mammal-infecting species of Dracunculus . Reports of Dracunculus infections have been reported from river otters ( Lontra canadensis ) since the early 1900s; however, little is known about the species infecting otters or their ecology. Most reports of Dracunculus do not have a definitive species identified because females, the most common sex found due to their larger size and location in the extremities of the host, lack distinguishing morphological characteristics, and few studies have used molecular methods to confirm identifications...
April 2024: International Journal for Parasitology. Parasites and Wildlife