Host Habitat and Age as Factors in the Prevalence of Intestinal Parasites of the Muskrat

Muskrats (Ondatra zibethicus) collected from three different habitats: river, marshes and streams were examined for helminth parasites. Muskrats were aged by a lens-weight technique. Using the age specific prevalence, transmission rats for Wardius zibethicus, Quinque-serialis quinqueserialis, Echinostomum revolutum and the strobilo-cercus stage of Hydatigera taeniaeformis were constructed for stream muskrats. Parasite burdens and the occurrence of multiple infections increased with host age. Differences in prevalence between habitats were observed.