In Canada, parasitism in people and well-managed animal populations is less common now than a century ago, likely due to accessible anthelmintics, heightened public awareness, and improved sanitation. Some zoonotic parasites, such as Echinococcus canadensis are now rarely diagnosed in people, but persist mainly in northern populations where diagnostic services are limited. Veterinary services are also limited in these areas, and as a result, human and animal incidence data does not exist, is outdated, or underestimates the true incidence. We closed this knowledge gap in certain areas of western Canada by determining the prevalence of E. canadensis and other zoonotic parasites in wildlife (wolves [Canis lupus] and ungulates; Chapters 2 and 3), domestic dogs (Canis familiaris; Chapters 4 and 5), and people (Chapters 6-8). Using a One Health framework, we also explored parasite control practices and potential policy solutions for rural and remote communities (Chapters 8 and 9). During post-mortem examination, we observed E. canadensis in approximately 11% (11/105) of elk [Cervus canadensis], and 21% (34/165) of wolves. Our examination of historical post-mortem reports of ungulates demonstrated that E. canadensis is distributed throughout Canada, except for the high Arctic islands, the Maritime provinces, and the island of Newfoundland. Our analysis of dog feces collected throughout Saskatchewan suggested that patent taeniid (Taenia or Echinococcus spp.) infection was rare (0-4%), and that rural and northern dogs had higher endoparasitism than urban dogs. Sero-surveillance for four zoonoses (E. canadensis, Toxoplasma gondii, Trichinella, and Toxocara canis) by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay indicated similar results - that people in northern SK (65% of 201) had higher exposure to one or more parasites than those in southern SK (12% of 113). Using patient health records, we reported annual incidence rates for clinical illness for the following zoonotic parasites: echinococcosis – 1.4/1 000 000; toxoplasmosis- 1.7/1 000 000; and toxocariasis-0.06/1 000 000. In the final chapter we compared the cost of treating human echinococcosis cases with a prevention program based on dosing dogs with praziquantel at 6 week intervals in the Kelsey Trail region, where human incidence is highest. Based on direct healthcare costs, such a program is not currently cost saving, but could become so if echinococcosis incidence increased. Preventative programs should be considered for high risk communities, which are often economically marginalized and lack appropriate resources to effectively control zoonotic parasitism. Putting One Health into action may require integrated human-animal healthcare services, introduction of community-based animal health workers, and increased transdisciplinary research to improve access to and uptake of preventative healthcare services for parasitic zoonoses in northern and remote communities.

Invasive species are becoming more common as human interactions within coastal waters and the aquarium trade continues to increase. The establishment of the invasive lionfish complex Pterois volitans and P. miles from the Indo-Pacific to the Western Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, and the Caribbean Sea has had significant negative effects on reef fish biodiversity and economically important species. Their rapid colonization and success has been attributed to their biological and ecological life history traits as well as their absence of predation. Past research has highlighted these characteristics; however, there is a knowledge gap in lionfish parasitism. This research explored the enemy release hypothesis as a key success factor in rapid establishment in the invaded range on a biogeographical scale. The diversity of lionfish parasitism was compared among 15 geographically diverse sites within the invaded range, incorporating the time of introduction at each site. Eight new parasites are described for the first time in the invasive lionfish: (1) a Cymothoid isopod: Rocinela stignata, (2) four nematodes: Raphidascais sp., Contraceacum sp., Paracuria adunca and Hysterothylaceum sp., (3) one digenean: Tergestia sp., (4) two acanthacephalans: Serracentis sp. and Dollfusentis sp., and (5) two cestodes: Nybelinia sp. and Tentacularia sp. Lionfish from the east coast of Florida exhibited the highest abundance in parasite fauna while other invaded areas yielded low abundance and diversity. Comparisons between lionfish parasitism from the past native range studies and the invaded range suggest that vectors of time, life history traits, and trophic interactions structure the lionfish parasite community. Lionfish in the Western Atlantic and Caribbean were found to be host for generalists parasite species within the coastal ecosystem. Consequently, lionfish have relatively low parasite abundance, supporting the enemy release hypothesis and its direct relation to their invasion success.

No description available.

Der Nordamerikanische Waschbär (Procyon lotor Linné, 1758) gehört zu den neozonalen Vertretern der heimischen Raubsäugerfauna. Seit den 1990er Jahren tritt der in Deutschland mittlerweile fest etablierte Kleinbär verstärkt in Erscheinung und ist damit Auslöser kontroverser Diskussionen über negative Auswirkungen auf einheimische Tierarten sowie über seine Rolle als potentieller Krankheitsüberträger. Ausgehend von der Hypothese, dass der Waschbär durch Prädation lokale Bestände naturschutzfachlich relevanter Tierarten beeinträchtigen kann, wurden Waschbär-Kotproben aus einem naturnahen Tieflandbuchenwald im Müritz-Nationalpark (Mecklenburg-Vorpommern) nahrungsökologisch und im Hinblick auf den Endoparasitenbefall analysiert. Das Untersuchungsgebiet repräsentiert ein charakteristisches Binnenentwässerungsgebiet der nordostdeutschen Tiefebene, das hinsichtlich der Ressourcenausstattung ein überaus geeignetes Habitat für Waschbären darstellt. Gleichzeitig wurde anhand eines Referenzgebietes im Naturpark Feldberger Seenlandschaft (Mecklenburg-Vorpommern) geprüft, ob der Waschbär in einem anthropogen beeinflussten Lebensraum aufgrund schlechterer Ressourcenausstattung einen größeren Prädationseinfluss haben kann. Die vorliegende Dissertation ist Teil eines mehrjährigen, integrierten Forschungsprojektes (Projekt Waschbär), welches zwischen 2006 und 2011 im Teilgebiet Serrahn des Müritz-Nationalparks durchgeführt wurde. / The North American raccoon (Procyon lotor L., 1758) is an introduced carnivore species in Germany. Against the background of a vast in­crease of raccoon numbers in Germany over the last years, a contro­versial dis­cussion has developed regarding the influence of the new inha­bi­­tant on indi­genous resp. pro­tec­ted species and the potential trans­mission of diseases and parasites. Based on the hypothesis that raccoons may affect local stock of ecological relevant species through predation raccoon faecal samples were collected in a close to nature beech forest in the Müritz National Park (Mecklenburg-Western ­­Pome­ra­nia, Germany) and analysed with regard to nutrition ecology and endoparasite infes­ta­tion. The study area represents a characteris­tic inland drainage area of North-Eastern German lowlands, which provides a very suitable habitat for raccoons with regards to essential resour­ces. Simulta­neously, examinations were carried out in raccoons from a control area in the Nature Park Feldberger Seen­land­schaft (Mecklenburg-Western ­­Pome­ra­nia), focusing on the question as to whether raccoons might have higher ecological impact in an anthropogenically modified habitat due to poorer food resources. This thesis is part of a long-term and integrated research project (Projekt Waschbär), which was con­­­ducted between 2006 and 2011 in the subterritory Serrahn of the Müritz National Park.

Der Nordamerikanische Waschbär (Procyon lotor Linné, 1758) gehört zu den neozonalen Vertretern der heimischen Raubsäugerfauna. Seit den 1990er Jahren tritt der in Deutschland mittlerweile fest etablierte Kleinbär verstärkt in Erscheinung und ist damit Auslöser kontroverser Diskussionen über negative Auswirkungen auf einheimische Tierarten sowie über seine Rolle als potentieller Krankheitsüberträger. Ausgehend von der Hypothese, dass der Waschbär durch Prädation lokale Bestände naturschutzfachlich relevanter Tierarten beeinträchtigen kann, wurden Waschbär-Kotproben aus einem naturnahen Tieflandbuchenwald im Müritz-Nationalpark (Mecklenburg-Vorpommern) nahrungsökologisch und im Hinblick auf den Endoparasitenbefall analysiert. Das Untersuchungsgebiet repräsentiert ein charakteristisches Binnenentwässerungsgebiet der nordostdeutschen Tiefebene, das hinsichtlich der Ressourcenausstattung ein überaus geeignetes Habitat für Waschbären darstellt. Gleichzeitig wurde anhand eines Referenzgebietes im Naturpark Feldberger Seenlandschaft (Mecklenburg-Vorpommern) geprüft, ob der Waschbär in einem anthropogen beeinflussten Lebensraum aufgrund schlechterer Ressourcenausstattung einen größeren Prädationseinfluss haben kann. Die vorliegende Dissertation ist Teil eines mehrjährigen, integrierten Forschungsprojektes (Projekt Waschbär), welches zwischen 2006 und 2011 im Teilgebiet Serrahn des Müritz-Nationalparks durchgeführt wurde. / The North American raccoon (Procyon lotor L., 1758) is an introduced carnivore species in Germany. Against the background of a vast in­crease of raccoon numbers in Germany over the last years, a contro­versial dis­cussion has developed regarding the influence of the new inha­bi­­tant on indi­genous resp. pro­tec­ted species and the potential trans­mission of diseases and parasites. Based on the hypothesis that raccoons may affect local stock of ecological relevant species through predation raccoon faecal samples were collected in a close to nature beech forest in the Müritz National Park (Mecklenburg-Western ­­Pome­ra­nia, Germany) and analysed with regard to nutrition ecology and endoparasite infes­ta­tion. The study area represents a characteris­tic inland drainage area of North-Eastern German lowlands, which provides a very suitable habitat for raccoons with regards to essential resour­ces. Simulta­neously, examinations were carried out in raccoons from a control area in the Nature Park Feldberger Seen­land­schaft (Mecklenburg-Western ­­Pome­ra­nia), focusing on the question as to whether raccoons might have higher ecological impact in an anthropogenically modified habitat due to poorer food resources. This thesis is part of a long-term and integrated research project (Projekt Waschbär), which was con­­­ducted between 2006 and 2011 in the subterritory Serrahn of the Müritz National Park.