INTRODUCTION

In Ontario, hunters and trappers continue to show their awareness and concern for the effects of parasites and diseases on wildlife and man.  This manual has assisted field personnel in answering questions from our interested public and in field diagnosis of some common diseases and parasites.  As the title of the manual indicates, only common diseases and parasites have been described.  It should also be pointed out that, in general, only those diseases and parasites have been described that (a) can be readily seen on the surface of the body or become obvious when the carcass is dressed or skinned, (b) can be readily distinguished from any other disease or parasite and (c) can be identified with some degree of certainty without laboratory examination.  However, some bacterial and viral diseases of wildlife which require identification have been described because of their public health implications and the possibility of their transmission to domestic animals.

Data from the field report forms have provided us with a basic knowledge of the distribution of wildlife parasites and diseases but not an indication of their prevalence, seasonal and annual fluctuations or pathological effects on wildlife.  Valid expression of the prevalence and incidence of parasites and diseases must be based on data collected by uniform methods.  Uncontrolled variables such as the amount of time spent by staff in the field, the amount of time examining wildlife, the number of staff in an area and the mode of travel have restricted treatment of the data recorded on the field report forms (Form Research 49).  We have removed the field report forms from the second edition of the manual but strongly encourage field personnel to continue reporting new host and geographic records of parasites and diseases.

Extending our awareness of the extent of parasitism and disease in wildlife of Ontario has been and will continue to be of great importance.  Data originating from the diagnostic work and the field report forms have contributed greatly to our present awareness.  Using this background knowledge we must gain an understanding of the importance of diseases and parasites to wildlife and wildlife management.  This goal will be achieved most effectively through specific studies of local populations of wildlife.

Additional information on most of the parasites ,and diseases described in the manual is available in a series of three books listed below.  These books are recommended for use in field offices, some of which have already purchased the series.

Davis, J. W., L. H. Karstad and D. O. Trainer (eds.). 1970.  Infectious diseases of wild mammals.  The     Iowa State University Press, Ames, Iowa. xi + 421 pp. 

Davis, J. W. and R. C. Anderson (eds.) 1971.  Parasitic diseases of wild mammals.  The Iowa State University Press, Ames, Iowa. x + 364 pp.

Davis, J. W., R. C. Anderson, L. H. Karstad and D. O. Trainer (eds.). 1971.  Infectious and parasitic diseases of wild birds.  The Iowa State University Press, Ames, Iowa. ix + 344 pp.

        In the future, the manual will be updated and expanded to include additional parasites and diseases as well as related topics.