Transcript Species: Martes pennanti

Kingdom : Animalia
Phylum : Chordata
Subphylum : Vertebrata
Class : Mammalia
Order : Carnivora
Suborder : Caniformia
Family: Mustelidae
Subfamily : Mustelinae
Genus : Martes
Species: Martes pennanti
Active Day and night, but very
elusive
Climber – sleeps in trees, but
hunts on ground
Preys on small mammals but
also eats fruits, nuts, and fungi
Attracted to carrion
Known for attacking adult
porcupines
Does not hibernate
Prefers mature coniferous or
deciduous-coniferous forest with
ample CWD (coarse woody
debris)
Distribution (see map)
Male fisher observed at farmhouse
Abnormal behavior
Attacked by dog
Live-trapped and submitted to DNR
alert with ataxia in pelvic limbs
Became lethargic and whole body
tremors; developed hindquarter
paralysis
Euthanized; sent to College of
Veterinary Medicine for diagnostic
examination
• Estimated to be 5-7 months old, weighing 2.2 kg and in fair
condition
• Pale organs including mucus membranes, skeletal muscle,
and liver
• hemorrhages found in the heart, lung, skeletal muscle,
brain, and under the skin.
Brain had extensive areas of necrosis and inflammation in
brain, especially in gray matter
Cytoplasm of several
neurons contained oval
schizonts arranged in an
irregular pattern
Within neurons : oval
to elongated protozoal
zoites were found
Brain : schizonts with
numerous merozoites
developing internally
Giardia
Amoebiasis
Toxoplasmosis
Neosporosis
Sarcocystis
bradyzoites and
organelles typical of
Sarcocystis
Symptoms - no external signs
severe infections include:
loss of muscle tissue
lameness
weakness
paralysis
Gross lesions
o Peterson Field Guide to Mammals of North America Fourth edition
o http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Martes_pennanti.html
o Gerhold, Richard W., Elizabeth W. Howerth and David S. Lindsay. Sarcocystis
neurona-associated Meningoencephalitis and Description of Intramuscular
Sarcocysts in a Fisher (Martes pennanti). Journal of Wildlife Diseases, 41(1),
2005, pp. 224-230 © Wildlife Disease Association 2005
o Field Manual of Wildlife Diseases : Birds. Sarcocystis. Pg 219 – 222. Online