Parasites of South African wildlife. XV. Helminths of scrub hares, Lepus saxatilis in the Kruger National Park

Abstract

A total of 145 scrub hares from three localities in the Kruger National Park were examined for helminths: 124 at Skukuza, 15 at Shingwedzi, and three each at Pretoriuskop and Pafuri. Trichostrongylus deflexus was the most prevalent and most abundant nematode, and was collected from hares from all four localities. Trichostrongylus falculatus was present in three localities. Trichostrongylus thomasi and Dermatoxys vlakhaasi occurred only at Skukuza in 50 and 23 %, respectively, of the hares examined. The cestode Mosgovoyia pectinata and the nematode genus lmpalaia were each recovered from three localities and Cooperia hungi from two. There was no apparent seasonal pattern of abundance of the worms, and the intensities of infection of male and female hares were similar. With the exception of D. vlakhaasi, all the helminths recovered in this study represent new records for scrub hares in South Africa.