Blood parasites of geese of the McConnell River, N.W.T.

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Abstract
Of 736 blue, snow, and Canada geese from the McConnell River, N.W.T. which were examined for blood parasites only 21 birds (2.9%) were found to be infected. Of these, 15 infections were with Leucocytozoon simondi (2.0%) and 2 each with Parahaemoproteus nettionis, Plasmodium species, and microfilaria. Both adults and young of the year were infected. We suggest that the low incidence is an indirect result of adaptations of the simuliid vectors to tundra conditions. It is possible that increased incidence of L. simondi in the boreal forest is a factor contributing to the restriction of five of the six North American goose species to the tundra nesting habit.

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