Endoparasites of the Wild Hare, Lepus Europaeus Pallas, in the Australian Capital Territory, with a note on breeding

Abstract

A total of 106 hares, Lepus europaeus Pallas, collected in the Australian Capital Territory was examined parasitoiogically. Coccidia (Eimeria spp.) infected 82% of the hares, and six species were recognized. These, in order of frequency of occurrence, were Eimeria leporis Nieschulz, E. semisculpta Madsen, E. europaea PeIlCrdy, E. robertsoni Carvalho, E. septentrionalis Yakimoff, Matschoulsky, & Spartansky, and E. hungarica Pellkrdy. Trichostrongylus spp.-T. retortaeformis (Zeder) and T. colubrijbrmis (Gi1es)- infected 94 % of hares examined. Graphidium strigosum (Dujardin) was found in 6% and Passalurus ambiguus (Rudolphi) in only 2 % of samples. Data for Eimeria and Trichostrongylus spp. are analysed in relation to age of host and season. Some information on the breeding of hares in the sample area is given.