Sarcocystis in mallards on the Southern High Plains of Texas

Two hundred thirty-one mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) collected during 1989-91 on the Southern High Plains of Texas were examined for macroscopically detectable Sarcocystis spp. Only eight adult mallards were infected. Based on small quantified tissue samples, five, one, and two birds had light, medium, and heavy infections, respectively. Prevalences were 4%, 8%, 9%, and 0% across two consecutive summer and winter periods, respectively. A new locality record for Sarcocystis spp. was established in both migratory and breeding populations of mallards. Our data suggest that geographic regions other than the Southern High Plains are more important in the transmission of Sarcocystis spp. in mallards.