| General Description |
Gastro-intestinal
nematode infection is common in bears.
A study of helminths in
Ursus americanus - American black bear
in North America noted that all of 104 individuals examined were infected
with 1-10 helminth species (nematodes, plus one acanthocephalan, one
cestode and one trematode species). Of the 104 bears, 17 bears (16%)
carried only one helminth species, nine bears carried two species, 22
bears carried three species, 18 carried four, nine carried five, 16
carried 6, three carried seven, and one each carried nine or ten species.
(J11.69.w1)
Occurrence
- During a review of helminth infections of 104 wild Ursus americanus - American black bear.
it was noted that only eight helminths were found in more than 25% of
bears: Capillaria putorii, Molineus barbatus, Placoconus
lotoris, Strongyloides sp., Macracanthorhynchus ingens
[see Acanthocephalan Infection in Bears],
Gonglyonema pulchrum [see Gonglyonema pulchrum Infection in Bears],
Baylisascaris transfuga [see Baylisascaris Infection in Bears]
and Capillaria aerophila [see Lungworms in Bears].
(J11.69.w1)
- Ancyclostoma caninum were found in the small intestine of 6% of bears during a survey of
Ursus americanus - American black bear
from six states in the southeastern USA, July 1973-November 1976. Only female worms were found and only one parasite per bear. This is the first record of this parasite in
Ursus americanus; it is probably an accidental host of this parasite.
(J1.14.w10)
- Arthrocephalus lotosis were found in the small intestines of 23% of bears during a survey of
Ursus americanus - American black bear
from six states in the southeastern USA, July 1973-November 1976. This is the first record of this parasite in
Ursus americanus. (J1.14.w10)
- Capillaria putorii were found in the stomach of 38% of bears during a survey of
Ursus americanus - American black bear
from six states in the southeastern USA, July 1973-November 1976. This is the first record of this parasite in
Ursus americanus. (J1.14.w10)
- Cyathospirura sp. were found in the stomach of2% of bears during a survey of
Ursus americanus - American black bear
from six states in the southeastern USA, July 1973-November 1976. This is the first record of this parasite in
Ursus americanus; it is probably an accidental host of this parasite.
(J1.14.w10)
- Gnathostoma sp. were found in the liver capsule of 4% of 51 bears during a survey of
Ursus americanus - American black bear
from six states in the southeastern USA, July 1973-November 1976. This is the first record of this parasite in
Ursus americanus; it is probably an accidental host of this parasite.
(J1.14.w10)
- Molineus barbatus were found in the small intestines of 28% of 53 bears during a survey of
Ursus americanus - American black bear
from six states in the southeastern USA, July 1973-November 1976. This is the first record of this parasite in
Ursus americanus. (J1.14.w10)
- Physaloptera sp. (immature) were found in the stomach of 8% of 53 bears during a survey of
Ursus americanus - American black bear
from six states in the southeastern USA, July 1973-November 1976. This is the first record of this parasite in
Ursus americanus; it is probably an accidental host of this parasite.
(J1.14.w10)
- Strongyloides sp. were found in the small intestines of 47% of 53 bears during a survey of
Ursus americanus - American black bear
from six states in the southeastern USA, July 1973-November 1976. This is the first record of this parasite in
Ursus americanus. (J1.14.w10)
- Strongyloides sp. were detected in the intestines of 87.0% of 46
Ursus americanus - American black
bears examined during a survey in Florida, October 1976-April 1981. The pathological impact of these helminths on bears is not known but since several species of Strongyloides are known to be pathogenic to young animals,
"the high prevalence and intensity of this parasite in black bears in
Florida" is of concern.
(J381.50.w1)
- Intensity of infection in black bears in Florida was reported as
1-4,767 worms per bear, mean 412 per bear (based on 35 bears). (B419.14.w14)
- Molineus barbatus were detected in the intestines of 45.7% of 46
Ursus americanus - American black
bears examined during a survey in Florida, October 1976-April 1981.
(J381.50.w1)
- Placoconus lotoris was detected in the intestines of 46 Ursus americanus - American black
bears examined during a survey in Florida, October 1976-April 1981.
(J381.50.w1)
- Gnathostoma sp. larvae were detected in the intestines, oesophagus, stomach, liver and spleen of 17.4% of 46
Ursus americanus - American black
bears examined during a survey in Florida, October 1976-April 1981. (J381.50.w1)
- Physaloptera sp. larvae were detected in the stomach of 15.2% of 46
Ursus americanus - American black
bears examined during a survey in Florida, October 1976-April 1981.
(J381.50.w1)
- Capillaria putorii were detected in the stomach of 8.7% of 46
Ursus americanus - American black
bears examined during a survey in Florida, October 1976-April 1981.
(J381.50.w1)
- Gnathostoma didelphis were detected in the oesophagus, liver and pancreas of 6.5% of 46
Ursus americanus - American black
bears examined during a survey in Florida, October 1976-April 1981.
(J381.50.w1)
- Lagochilascaris sp. were found in the stomachs of two bears (immature worms in one bear, mature worms of an undescribed species in another bear)
out of 46 Ursus americanus - American black
bears examined during a survey in Florida, October 1976-April 1981.
(J381.50.w1)
- Physaloptera rara were detected in the stomach of 4.3% of 46 Ursus americanus - American black
bears examined during a survey in Florida, October 1976-April 1981.
(J381.50.w1)
- Haemonchus contortus were found in the duodenum and large
intestine of a 19-year-old Ursus maritimus - Polar bear.
(J157.11.w1,
J345.3.w2)
- Macracanthorhynchus ingens were found in the small intestines
of eight of 22 bears (36%) bears during a survey of 22 Florida black bears
Ursus americanus floridanus (Ursus americanus - American black bear)
cubs (up to 12 months old) between 1998 and 2003, with one to 22
acanthocephalans per bear (mean 8.1). (J11.90.w2)
- Ancyclostoma caninum were found in the small intestines of 14
of 22 bears (64%) during a survey of 22 Florida black bears
Ursus americanus floridanus (Ursus americanus - American black bear)
cubs (up to 12 months old) between 1998 and 2003, with one to 15
nematodes per infected bear (mean 5.4). (J11.90.w2)
- Strongyloides sp. were found in the small and large
intestines of six of 22 bears (27%) during a survey of 22 Florida black bears
Ursus americanus floridanus (Ursus americanus - American black bear)
cubs (up to 12 months old) between 1998 and 2003, with one to 86
nematodes per infected bear (mean 34.8). (J11.90.w2)
- Ancyclostoma tubaeforme were found in the small intestines of
3/22 bears (14%) during a survey of 22 Florida black bears
Ursus americanus floridanus (Ursus americanus - American black bear)
cubs (up to 12 months old) between 1998 and 2003, with one to 13 worms
per bear (mean 6.0). This parasite had not been reported previously in
Ursus americanus. (J11.90.w2)
- Molineus barbatus were found in the small intestines of 2/22
bears (9%) during a survey of 22 Florida black bears
Ursus americanus floridanus (Ursus americanus - American black bear)
cubs (up to 12 months old) between 1998 and 2003, with two nematodes
in one bear and 17 in the other. (J11.90.w2)
- Capillaria putorii were found in the small intestines of 1/22
bears (4%) during a survey of 22 Florida black bears
Ursus americanus floridanus (Ursus americanus - American black bear)
cubs (up to 12 months old) between 1998 and 2003, with six nematodes
present. (J11.90.w2)
- Strongyles were detected in 11% of 56 faecal samples from grizzly bears
(Ursus arctos - Brown bear) collected from the central Canadian Arctic
spring and summer 1995 and 1996. (J1.35.w7)
- Nematodirus sp. eggs were detected in 2% of 56 faecal samples from grizzly bears
(Ursus arctos - Brown bear) collected from the central Canadian Arctic
spring and summer 1995 and 1996. The presence in a single bear was probably secondary to ingestion of infected
prey such as caribou. (J1.35.w7)
- An "unidentified species of dorsal spined first stage protostrongylid larvae
(L1)" were found in 9% of 56 faecal samples from grizzly bears
(Ursus arctos - Brown bear) collected from the central Canadian Arctic
spring and summer 1995 and 1996. (J1.35.w7)
- Nematode larvae, thought to be of the Strongyloidea family, were found in 23
of 25 Tremarctos ornatus - Spectacled bear
scats examined in Venezuela. (P77.1.w1)
- During examination of faecal samples from 19 "dancing
bears" in Turkey, eggs of Ancyclostoma sp., (in six bears)
and Apophallus sp. (in one bear), and larvae of Strongyloides
sp. (one bear) were detected. (P85.1.w7)
- Spirocerca lupi (two larvae) were found once during a review
of helminth infections of 104 wild Ursus americanus - American black bear.
(J11.69.w1)
- Dracunculus sp. were found uncommonly during a review of
helminth infections of 104 wild Ursus americanus - American black bear.
(J11.69.w1)
- Roundworm infections are "a very common problem" in
Ursus maritimus - Polar
bears in zoos. (D315.3.w3)
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