Giardia and Other Parasites of Small Mammals in Grand Teton National Park

Abstract

The objectives of this study are to document the effects and cost of parasitism on vole populations and to determine the potential of small mammals of Grand Teton National Park to serve as reservoirs of human parasites. Specific goals for this year were: (1) to continue surveying small mammals for Babesia microti; (2) to collect and identify ticks found with these animals; (3) to determine if I. eastoni is a tick vector of B. microti; (4) to compare spleen histology of babesiosis in laboratory-infected and uninfected animals; and (5) to continue documentation of the occurrence of Giardia as an intestinal parasite of the montane vole.