The occurrence and abundance of helminth parasites of the mountain hareLepus timidus(L.) and the wild rabbitOryctolagus cuniculus(L.) in Aberdeenshire, Scotland

Abstract

ABSTRACTMountain hares were collected each month between April 1984 and March 1985 and their intestines examined for helminths. 26 rabbits were also collected between Juny and December 1984 and examined for gastro-intestinal helminths. Three nematode and two cestode species were found in the hares while only two nematode and one cestode species were found in the rabbits.Trichostronglylus retortaeformiswas recorded form 88% of the 193 hares and 92% of the rabbits While comparable figures forPassalurus ambiguuswere 0·5% and 54% and forMosgovoyia pectinata14% and 81%. Seasonal fluctuations were observed in theT. retortaeformispopulations in the hare; numbers tended to be low during the winter months and high throughout the summer.Paranoplocephala wimerosawas reported for the first time from the British Isles andTrichostrongylus axeiwas recorded for the forst time in the mountain hare.