SURVEY OF THE SHELL-BEARING TERRESTRIAL GASTROPODS OF MUSKINGUM COUNTY, OHIO: POSSIBLE HOSTS OF PARELAPHOSTRONGYLUS TENUIS

A survey of shell-bearing terrestrial gastropods at The Wilds, North America's largest endangered species preserve located in Muskingum County, Ohio, was conducted to generate a faunal list of snail species at the preserve, to make additions to the previous survey of snails in Muskingum County (Taft,1961) and to identify which snails are susceptible to become secondary hosts of Parelaphostrongylosis tenuis, a protostongylid nematode parasite of White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), that has been demonstrated to cause illness and death in many ungulates. Recent losses of several endangered ungulates at the Wilds are hypothesized to have been caused by P. tenuis. Collections from 25 sites just north of the Wilds main animal ranges were made in May 1997 and from August to November 1997. 571 snail shells were collected. 13 species representing 7 families were found. 7 species were amongst those previously reported for Muskingum County. 6 species were not previously reported. Examination of recent literature on this subject has suggested that of these species, Triodopsis albolabris, Stenotrema fraternum, and Cionella lubrica have been reported to be hosts of P. tenuis. Snails of the genus Ventridens have been reported as secondary hosts. Two species of the genus Ventridens were recovered. This survey suggests that if P. tenuis is present in the deer inhabiting the Wilds, several species of snail could infect endangered animals.