PARASITISM AND DISEASE IN WILD GROUSE 



411 



It is likewise important to point out that the number of parasites found in any one bird 

 does not necessarily indicate the importance of the infection, since the presence of as many 

 as 78 intestinal roundworms has been noted without evidence of damage to the host. On the 

 other hand, only a few stomach worms may be found in a badly diseased stomach. Table 65 

 shows the average numbers of parasites per bird of those infected and the maximum number 

 encountered in any one based on observations made during the Investigation. 



I'ABLE 65. AVERAGE AND MAXIMUM NUMBERS OF PVRASITES ENCOUNTERED IN 



GROUSE IN NEW YORK— 1931-19H 



Since this lack of relationship exists between the abundance of parasites and their pathogen- 

 icity, a tubulation of the disease conditions encountered offers information of greater signifi- 

 cance in the evaluation of the role of these itnaders. 



TAHLh; ()(.. RELATIVE OCCURRENCE OF I'ATIIOLOGICM, CONDITIONS IN ADULT AND 



YOUNG (iROUSE IN NEW YORK— l'):il-l<)U 



An examination of table 66 reveals the significance of stomach worm infection in its true 

 light, since it is apparent that inflannnatory reactions due to this helminth lead the list of 

 disease conditions observed. \S ith the exception of one case of tick infestation, all animal 

 parasitism resulting in death has been attributable to this small roundworm. 



The only other fatal infections observed were due to aspergillosis. This disease, caused by 

 tile invasion of the bodv bv a mold or fungus organism, was the onlv maladv which was found 



