Biology and Natural History of the Nutria, With Special Reference to Nutria in Louisiana The nutr... more Biology and Natural History of the Nutria, With Special Reference to Nutria in Louisiana The nutria or coypu (Myocastor coypus) is a rodent native to South America that has been introduced almost worldwide since the early 1900’s, originally with the intent of fur farming in many cases. The nutria is a large (over 6 kg), semi-aquatic rodent with a voracious appetite and high reproductive potential. Nutria became established in the Louisiana wetlands in the 1930’s. The habitat proved to be ideal and populations exploded, reaching an estimated 20 million animals in less than 20 years. Trapping of nutria for their pelts formed the backbone of the Louisiana trapping industry from the 1960’s until the early 1980’s when prices for furs on the world market and in Louisiana fell drastically. Since then the annual trapping harvest, which was over one million animals per year for many years, has dwindled to 29,544 in the 2000-2001 season. Since the virtual cessation of the annual harvest, nutr...
Trichinella spp. and Toxoplasma gondii are important zoonotic parasites that infect warm blooded ... more Trichinella spp. and Toxoplasma gondii are important zoonotic parasites that infect warm blooded animals and humans worldwide. Among domesticated food animals, pigs are the main host for Trichinella spiralis. Pigs, chickens, sheep, and goats are known to be infected with T. gondii at varying rates, depending on husbandry. Infections in wildlife with these parasites are generally higher than in domesticated species. Feral swine act as reservoirs of infection in the sylvatic ecosystem for Trichinella spp. and T. gondii, acting as sources of infection for peridomestic carnivores whose home ranges overlap with domestic pigs. Feral swine can have direct contact with non-biosecure domestic pigs, presenting opportunity for direct disease transmission through cannibalistic behavior. Determination of the prevalence of Trichinella spp. and T. gondii infection in feral swine is needed to understand the risk of transmission of these parasites to domestic pigs. A cross-sectional serological surv...
Biology and Natural History of the Nutria, With Special Reference to Nutria in Louisiana The nutr... more Biology and Natural History of the Nutria, With Special Reference to Nutria in Louisiana The nutria or coypu (Myocastor coypus) is a rodent native to South America that has been introduced almost worldwide since the early 1900’s, originally with the intent of fur farming in many cases. The nutria is a large (over 6 kg), semi-aquatic rodent with a voracious appetite and high reproductive potential. Nutria became established in the Louisiana wetlands in the 1930’s. The habitat proved to be ideal and populations exploded, reaching an estimated 20 million animals in less than 20 years. Trapping of nutria for their pelts formed the backbone of the Louisiana trapping industry from the 1960’s until the early 1980’s when prices for furs on the world market and in Louisiana fell drastically. Since then the annual trapping harvest, which was over one million animals per year for many years, has dwindled to 29,544 in the 2000-2001 season. Since the virtual cessation of the annual harvest, nutr...
Trichinella spp. and Toxoplasma gondii are important zoonotic parasites that infect warm blooded ... more Trichinella spp. and Toxoplasma gondii are important zoonotic parasites that infect warm blooded animals and humans worldwide. Among domesticated food animals, pigs are the main host for Trichinella spiralis. Pigs, chickens, sheep, and goats are known to be infected with T. gondii at varying rates, depending on husbandry. Infections in wildlife with these parasites are generally higher than in domesticated species. Feral swine act as reservoirs of infection in the sylvatic ecosystem for Trichinella spp. and T. gondii, acting as sources of infection for peridomestic carnivores whose home ranges overlap with domestic pigs. Feral swine can have direct contact with non-biosecure domestic pigs, presenting opportunity for direct disease transmission through cannibalistic behavior. Determination of the prevalence of Trichinella spp. and T. gondii infection in feral swine is needed to understand the risk of transmission of these parasites to domestic pigs. A cross-sectional serological surv...
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Papers by J. Baroch