| Internal parasites have a meaningful impact on wildlife health and pose a zoonotic health risk to humans. This study aimed to measured the overall prevalence of parasites in native Sonoma County populations. Fecal samples were collected from individuals presented for habilitation at the Sonoma County Wildlife Rescue center in 2017. Evidence of coccidia and pathogenic helminth infestations was determined using centrifugal fecal flotation technique.
Coccidia and pathogenic nematodes (hookworms, roundworms, and whipworms) were both found in significant numbers. A total of 36% (117/324) of all individuals tested positive. Among positive individuals coccidia was observed in 61% and one or more nematode species was observed in 50%, with similar trends across species groups. Opossums had a relatively lower parasite incidence (17%, 14/83), whereas most other mammals including raccoons, striped skunks, grey foxes and squirrels had a similar rate of overall parasitism (47%, 79/169). Within avian species a marked difference was seen between raptors (43%, 15/35) and non-raptors (24%, 9/37). This study confirms the ubiquity of internal parasitism in wildlife presented to a rehabilitation center, highlighting the relative risk to wildlife professionals and others in close contact with wildlife and their natural habitats.
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