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Article: Latrine foraging strategies of two small mammals: Implications for the transmission of Baylisascaris procyonis
- Article from:
- The American Midland Naturalist
- Article date:
- October 1, 2001
- Author:
CopyrightCopyright American Midland Naturalist Oct 2001. Provided by ProQuest LLC. (Hide copyright information)
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ABSTRACT.-The raccoon parasite Baylisascaris procyonis is implicated in the decline of the Allegheny woodrat (Neotoma magister). Baylisascaris procyonis is highly pathogenic in non raccoon hosts and is transmitted by eggs which are passed in raccoon feces. Granivorous species foraging for seeds in raccoon latrine areas risk exposure to the parasite. Various granivores exhibit different foraging behaviors, which may affect their probability of consuming B. pro(yonis eggs. To investigate the effects of species specific foraging strategies on the likelihood of B. procyonis transmission, I compared the latrine foraging behaviors of the white-footed mouse (Peromyscus leucopus) and the Allegheny ...